Making a Documentary

What makes a good documentary and how will this

film be worthwhile?

What is a Documentary Film?

A factual record of events on filmPhoto-based

Using still picturesUsing video clipsUsing voiceovers

Not a piece of propaganda Has a point of view or message

What Makes a Good Digital Photograph?

PixelsShort word for Picture ElementSingle point in a graphic imageA dot of color

Chose images with a high number of pixels1000 x 1000Can be blown up and still be sharp and clear

Photo quality is essential to making good documentaries

Choosing a Topic

What topic in American history are you comfortable applying American values to?

Need to consider images available for the topic

Can you relate the documentary message to the topic?

Writing Scripts

Tell a storyResearch will be transformed into a 5

minute scriptMake a story board

Break down story chronologicallyEach box needs a

TitleDescription

Stories will be made into one large film

Creating a Script Will be read into a microphone Work must be saved on flash drives and computers Break down research into storyboard format Start with a skeleton outline of the major events of your

topic How your topic started or emerged How it developed The climax of the event How it concluded (if it did) How is your message conveyed

Finding the Right Photographs

A list of websites will be provided to youPhoto search

Select high-definition historical photosShould mesh with documentary scriptsUse accredited websites or historical booksShould find at least 20 photos Check accuracy

Must keep bibliography

Finding the Right Music or Video

FootageMusic

Itunes - $ .99 eachDigital History Site - free

VideoUnited Streaming - free for usInterviews

Movie Making Software

IMovieSupplies

Video camerasTape

Sources Digital History

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu Gilder Lehrman Institute

www.gilderlehrman.org Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive -

http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/ Historical Photo Archive

http://www.historicphotoarchive.com/ American Memory (Library of Congress)

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.htm

US History Place

http://historyplace.com U.S. Historical Archive

http://www.ushistoricalarchive.com The National Archives

http://www.archives.gov