Shoestring Dox, Lecture Notes, Class 01

Toby YounisProducer and Director

Videotero, LLC

Documentaries on a ShoestringA Course in Low Budget Field Production

Lecture Notes: Class #1

IntroductionViewing: Shoestring DocumentaryDiscussion: Critical AnalysisTake a Break at the Halfway MarkDiscussion: Categories of DocumentaryDiscussion: Documentary-Making StepsDiscussion: Homework Assignments & TemplatesOpen Q & A

05/03/2023 2Documentaries on a Shoestring. Copyright © 2011. Videotero, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Tonight’s Class #1

05/03/20233

Documentaries on a Shoestring. Copyright © 2011. Videotero, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Videotero, LLC – Produce Audio/Video Content DVDs Online Broad or Narrowcast

Also: Write, Do Sets, Lights, Audio, Camera, Direct, Edit, Publish Most Recent Documentary:

“Threads of Devotion: The Wardrobe of La Conquistadora” Current Programs on ABQ Encantada Ch 27 and SFCTV Ch 16

New Mexican Santera (Wednesdays at 900pm) New Mexican Tinsmith (Wednesdays at 930pm

New Program in March: “Spanish Colonial Art and Artists” Hosted by Carla Aragon Sponsored by Spanish Colonial Art Society Underwritten by Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce

Current Field Kit Valued at Less than $5000 (New)

Toby Younis

StorytellingMaking Your Own DocumentaryField (vs Studio) ProductionHow to Work With Limited Resources

Time Money Crew Equipment

Learning the Steps Inspiration

What This Course is About


A Notebook or JournalA Camera…Something to Collect Still/Video ContentA Microphone…Something to Collect Audio ContentA Light or TwoEditing Platform

HardwareSoftware


Eventually, You’ll Need

Each Class’ Lecture Notes (After the Class)Links and Templates Referred to in Lecture

(Organized by Class)Links to the ShoestringDox Twitter and Facebook

PagesContact InformationDownloadable Documents, e.g.,

SyllabusList of Documentary Related Links


ShoestringDox.com




05/03/20238


Documentary of an Icon and an Exhibit

Produced for the Spanish Colonial Art Society and

The Museum of Spanish Colonial Art

Produced in 30 Days from Agreement to DVD

2010 DVD Sales: $4,200

30 Minutes + 15 Minutes in Archival Material

Lead to Underwritten Program:

“Spanish Colonial Art & Artists”

Budget: $0.00 - Crew: 1 Full Time, 2 Part Time

Threads of Devotion:The Wardrobe of La Conquistadora




05/03/202310


What/Who is the story about?Who was the intended audience?What was the objective of the documentary?How well did it achieve its objective?How did the documentary make you feel?What would you say to someone who was

planning to see the documentary?What would you have done differently?

Documentary Critical Analysis

05/03/202311


5 Minute Break




05/03/202313


Subject MatterStorySettingStructureStyleTechnique

Documentary Categories

05/03/202314


Art Biography Business Comedy Crime & Conspiracy Culture Family Health & Medicine History Military & War Music Nature & Wildlife Politics Personal Religions Science & Technology Sports

Subject Matter

Art Biography Business Comedy Crime & Conspiracy Culture Family Health & Medicine History Military & War Music Nature & Wildlife Politics Personal Religions Science & Technology Sports

Subject Matter

PeopleThingsEvents


05/03/202316


Beginning (15-25%)Establishing the Foundation

Middle (50-70%)Building the Case

End (15-25%)Living with the Result

Story

05/03/202317


Loose Script: Interviews and ConnectorsWrite OutlineCollect Content to Support OutlineWrite Script (Intro, Connectors, Outro)e.g., Michael Moore

Tight Script: Audio Visual PresentationWrite ScriptCollect Content to Support the Scripte.g., Ken Burns

Hybrid: Combination of the Two

Structure

05/03/202318


Location(s)Enclosed Space(s)Time(s)Lighting (Natural and Artificial)Ambient SoundCharacters

Setting (Macro and Micro)Rational or Logical Choices(Thinking)

05/03/202319


Rational (Logical)Thinking Documentaries

Sentient (Emotional)Feeling Documentaries

Hybrid

Style

05/03/202320


Camera & Lens Choice Placement Recording

Video-like Contemporary Archaic

Film-like Frame Shutter & Aperture Light Sound Direction, Action & Behavior

TechniqueSentient or Emotional Choices(Feeling)




05/03/202322


Scripting (#2)Collecting Content (#3)

Interviewing (#4)Lights & Sound (#5)B-Roll (#6)Voiceover (#7)

Editing (#8)Publishing & Repurposing (#9)Film Festival (#10)

Documentary-Making Steps

(#6)




05/03/202324


Refer to ShoestringDox.com – Class 1 Tab Download and Review “Lecture Notes: Class 1” Download and Complete the “Documentary Title, Logline and

Treatment Template” for Your Own Documentary Download and Complete the “Documentary Planning Template” for

Your Own Documentary Link to, View, and Be Prepared to Discuss the Online Documentary

“Influencers: How Trends and Creativity Become Contagious” Optional: Download and Complete a “Critical Analysis Template”

for the Above Documentary

Homework Assignments


