Length: 4 minute minimum
Topic: Student Selected
Points: 200
Documentary Resources::
What is a documentary?
There are no official rules for documentaries, however there are certain ideals
you may associate with documentary films:
• People, places, and events presented are real.
• Events are filmed as they happen and are not staged for the camera.
• Events take place in the order in which they happened in real life.
• The record presented by the film is consistent with available historical
evidence.
• Filmmakers’ opinions and personal feelings are not expressed
While there are certainly many excellent films that obey the traditional “rules” of documentary, nonfiction films do much more than simply document the facts of our world. They give us glimpses of other people’s minds and imaginations; they educate, illuminate, persuade, and even (gasp!) entertain.
IMPORTANT PIECES TO YOUR DOCUMENTARY:
|
Knowledge. It will be obvious if you don't know what
you are talking about. Do research. |
An Interview with an adult or student who knows something
about the subject. |
Images that "move" across your screen. Static
images are boring |
Have a point. State it at the beginning, support it
with information and state it again at the end. |
Topics: Suggestions are below. These topics can lead you to other ideas.
Cell Phones |
Iraq war |
Human memory |
Terrorist/Suicide Bombings |
Steroid Use |
Fattening of America |
Anorexia and Bulimia |
Discrimination (race, sex, age, disabled) |
Human Senses (hearing, site, taste, smell) |
Why music makes us feel happy or sad |
Child Labor |
Pandemics |
Environment |
Illegal Immigration |
Health Issues that disable |
Lead Poisoning |
Mental Health Care |
How Something is made or done (i.e. how digital watches
work) |
Sports History (NASCAR, Football, Baseball, etc) |
Styles (clothing, hair) |
Death Penalty |
Natural Disasters |
Plastic Surgery |
Transportation (historic look at one type) |
|
Tagging |
TV Sit Coms |
Abortion |
Woman’s Rights |
Endangered Animals |
How something is made |
Technology related (gamers, programmers, development) |
Global Warming |
Human Genetics |
Events in music, food, space exploration, war |
Any subject you have studied in science, math, history,
sports |
New Orleans: After the Storm |
| 1) TO START: Complete a Treatment, have it approved. (look at an explanation of what a Treatment should contain) |
| 2) This is the 2-column form you will use to script your Documentary script. This is mandatory!! |
| 3) Here is an example of a 2-column Documentary script. |
| 4) PowerPoint of What Documentaries Have in Common |
Whatever topic you decide on for your
documentary, you must have or develop a passion for the topic in order to be
successful.
Online
Adobe Documentary Page
IU Department
of Telecommunications