Lecture notes
Week by week
Week 1 – Introduction to Module
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The first lecture back covered an over view of the module and a back down of what is to be covered over the entire module. We are introducted to the world of documentary and that genre in which they fall under e.g. Expository mode, Observational mode, and Reflective mode, all of which could be used within our own documentary.
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The yola site was also introduced and the structure in which it has to be presented.
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Plus a reminder from last year of the rules and regulations that have to be obeyed, for our documentary to be accepted by the Univeristy Ethics board.
Week 2 – Photojournalism and Documentary
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This week focused mainly on past and present photo-journists and their impact on the documentary industry today such as Henri Bresson, Martin Pow and Lewis Hine.
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Visual language was also a main part of the lecture, and different images and theories such as the voyeur image, yin / yang visual theory and juxtapositions and the rule of engagment.
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The history of photojournalism was also very important, in the 20th century for the images brought to the masses through the media, especially in America and whether of not they are real or actually staged.
Week 3 – Introduction to 450D Camera’s
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The techical details of the 450D was the main focus, especially on the settings such on the ISO, shutter speed, depth of field, white balance, exposure, AF point, gain, and the modes such as AV and TV, which are used for RAW Images professionally.
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The describition and example of the photos needed breaking edges, foreground vs background, above or below and minimalism vs clutter were shown and ideas given.
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Different modes of reality and 'depth of reality fields' to stop the event and take a picture was shown with different examples.
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The hyper and meta aesthetics of photojournliasm was also shown realting back to the images needed and gain emotion.
Week 4 – Shoting Photo Essays
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This week we each individually went out shoting with the Canon 450D cameras that we had been learnt about the previous week.
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I went to both Southampton and Eastleigh at night and day to get a different perspective on the photo essay pictures.
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The training from the previous week really helped putting the camera to use, and using its full range of features.
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Using all of the critiea for the photos breaking edges, foreground vs background, above or below and fianlly minimalism vs clutter was to aim of the photos I tried to take.
Week 5 – Advanced Photoshop
- Within this week discussed and practised using the new Advanced Photoshop
- This included Raw Processing the photos that I had taken the week previously and tryng to apply the new techniques used on the photos.
- Meta data was also introduced, and how each photo is has it assigned individually for copyright issues.
- Industry standards were also discussed, for example resolution - TV - 22 dpi, HD 600dpi.
- Key terms were also used and decirbed - Clartiy, toon curve, exposure, brightnessradicy, noise reduction, saturation, ssplit toning, netting which all related back to advanced Photoshop.
Week 6 – Advanced Camera Training
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This week we re-capped some training of the Canon 450D camera, and new techniques in which to use the camera.
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The history of the camera, TV broadcasting and satalight stations and news production companies such as Merdian, demonstrating how much the industry is changed. There was also discuss on roles within the industry and how companys recurire multi skilled people to fit in, and that you have to adapt to the new technolgy.
Week 7 – Preparing for Group Presentation
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The group pitch for our documentaries was the focus in week 7, and how we demonstrate of ideas to an audience.
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The supporting and promotional material is key to get media convergence of the documentary and to generate audeince participation and awareness for both the pitch and for screening of the docuntemtary.
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Promotion is also key and another website using www.wix.com should be made, independantly for the film.
- Media language was discussed including visual signature, repeated context (NO), experts, breathing shots, contextual and emotive fillers, roll on's, primary and secondary unitsand what the documentaries USP is.
Week 8 – Advanced Final Cut Prop
- Within week 8 the entire group went through the ways in which we would be using Final cut pro relating back to the documentary will be be making. We went all of the indivual icons that would be help, especially the different 'cut' tools and drop in and out points. Also transfers different sounds and music into the timeframe, and levels and speed which can be used.
Week 9 – Presentation Idea's and Film Screenings
- The lecture went into detail of soundscapes which are contextual to the film including fillers and signifiers.
- Also went on to discusses Cartes Bason's DM - Decisive moments
- We then watched Nick Broomfield's documentary on Biggie and TuPac and then style in which the film is constructed such as the interview style, cutting to the answers that he originally wanted, but started through using warm up questions and the interviewer jumping in to again get the answers he wanted, and then linking it too rollovers and 5 set questions
- Next was the set of questions for interviews, starting of with past events recollection, then current events context for the story, and finally future ideas of what effects the event on the subject / issues
Week 10 - Second Final Cut Pro
- We went into detail on the use of titles and how to import them, edit then and the different varieties you can use for different types of films
Week 11 - Presentations
- In this week we did our presentation to the group whilst viewing the rest of the groups
- We gained a lot of feedback, relating to types of theorists, the over riding themes, and the style of the documentary we are going to make. It was also discussed that we should focus on a journey of a family that our preparing for the 2012 events
