Please note: For week courses, registrations close at 12:00 on the Monday before the start of the course. So please, make sure to register ASAP!
The one-week course “Documentary: Visual Storytelling” focuses on creating powerful scenes, both visually and aurally. You will learn to see things differently: to observe, analyze, and translate those observations into a film. The one-week course Documentary: Visual Storytelling focuses on creating powerful scenes, both visually and aurally. You will learn to see things differently: to observe, analyze, and translate those observations into a film.
What will we be doing?
During the course, we’ll explore questions such as: When is a subject suitable for a documentary? How do you prepare your research? How do you approach someone you’d like to film? What technical equipment do you need- and who? How do you develop strong, feasible, and filmable storylines? What works and what doesn’t in editing? How do you build suspense in your story?
We will also explore what actually distinguishes a strong cinematic documentary from a news report.
For inspiration, we’ll look at clips from a variety of styles and genres. This will include found footage and audio recordings from archives.
You’ll learn the basics of camera technique—or build on them if you already have experience—in camera movement, composition, and lighting, in order to develop your own cinematic language. Interview techniques are not part of the course: the focus is on dialogue, on-camera and off-screen sound, music, and voice-over. In short: the various types and functions of sound in documentary filmmaking.
The technique always serves the story. The course is therefore ideal if you come from another visual or narrative discipline. All levels welcome.
During the week, participants will create (either individually or in collaboration) a short documentary film or media installation.
You are welcome to bring your own camera.
