First Term Course Credits
Required: 18.00
- CMNS 131 Business Writing for Documentary 3.00
- DOCS 101 Documentary Equipment Field Use 1.50
- DOCS 107 Documentary Audio and Video Post Production - Foundation 1.50
- DOCS 111 Documentary Development, Level I 1.50
- DOCS 121 Documentary Story, Level I 1.50
- DOCS 123 Documentary Story, Level II 1.50
- DOCS 127 Documentary Studies I 1.50
- DOCS 137 Documentary Project I 6.00
Credits 18.00
Second Term Course Credits
Required: 15.00
- DOCS Documentary Audio and Video Post Production - Advanced 1.50 *
- DOCS Documentary Development, Level II 1.50 *
- DOCS Documentary Lighting and Camera 0.75 *
- DOCS Documentary Project II 6.00 *
- DOCS Documentary Story, Level III 1.50 *
- DOCS Documentary Studies II 1.50 *
- DOCS Financing, Business Affairs & Professional Development - Documentary 1.50 *
- DOCS Sound for Documentary 0.75 *
* Under development
Credits 15.00
Total Program Credits 33.00
DOCS 101
Documentary Equipment Field Use
1.50 credits (4,0,0) hrs 08 wks
This course is designed to provide an operational understanding of professional video and audio production equipment including various cameras, lighting, sound and other essential production equipment used in field operations. The course offers instruction in both basic production skills and the skills required to make the equipment work on locations far from technical support. Despite being mostly technical in nature, the course will touch upon visual aesthetics and the importance of visual story telling.
DOCS 107
Documentary Audio and Video Post Production - Foundation
1.50 credits (4,0,0) hrs 08 wks
This course is an intensive grounding in the art and science of storytelling through film editing. The course features a foundational analysis of editing principles, history and phases of postproduction, which include offline and online editing, sound editing, effects, graphics and format distribution.
DOCS 111
Documentary Development, Level I
1.50 credits (4,0,0) hrs 08 wks
This course provides students with the skills to turn their story ideas into films during the first phase of production. Students will learn how to develop their artistic voice as they learn about creative and professional processes to making a film, from research and writing to funding opportunities and how to exploit them. During the course students will develop their Project I documentary.
DOCS 121
Documentary Story, Level I
1.50 credits (4,0,0) hrs 08 wks
The first story course focuses on the basic theoretical and creative principles of non-fiction storytelling as they apply to the students' development of their first term projects. Students will explore the fundamentals of storytelling as they relate to film, from the basic three-act structure, to developing theme, visual style and point-of-view. Focusing on the creative process of idea generation through story development to final treatment for a one-off/stand alone documentary or small unit production, the course will include the writing of material for the first project.
DOCS 123
Documentary Story, Level II
1.50 credits (4,0,0) hrs 08 wks
Prerequisite: DOCS 121 is a prerequisite or co-requisite
The second story module focuses on advanced story development, as students apply their storytelling skills to the creation of their first film. As they execute their Term 1 project, students will learn how to add nuance and sophistication to their stories through the developing perspective that comes with experience. Learning how to recognize the universal and psychological underpinnings of story, students will study how to add depth and breadth to their films through character development and the aesthetic choices they apply in production and post.
DOCS 127
Documentary Studies I
1.50 credits (4,0,0) hrs 08 wks
This course provides a historical and theoretical background to documentary film and video, with a particular emphasis on the documentary's role in social and political commentary. Learning how the "masters" did it, students will explore how their different aesthetic approaches were informed by historical events, creative movements, technological and industrial developments, as well as the personal, artistic and political vision that shaped their version of reality. Through immersion in the diverse language of the documentary form and aesthetics, students will be able to explore how their own philosophies and vision will influence the creative choices they make to tell their own stories.
DOCS 137
Documentary Project I
6.00 credits (8,4,12) hrs 08 wks
Prerequisite: DOCS 101, 107, 111 and 121 are prerequisites or co-requisites
This course acknowledges the invaluable hands-on production skills learned during practical work on a video project. Students will be granted credit for successful work in project planning, preparation and execution. Working in a mentored environment, the student will be directly involved in planning, producing and editing one or more student projects. Instruction will be in the form of practical demonstrations, individual assistance and supervised work on specific projects.
