Shoestring Dox, Lecture Notes, Class 02

Toby Younis

Producer and Director

Videotero, LLC

Documentaries on a ShoestringA Course in Low Budget Field Production

Lecture Notes: Class #02

Discuss “Influencers” Template Review:

“Documentary Title, Logline and Treatment” Template Review:

“Documentary Planning” Discussion: Story Discussion: Structure and Scripting Template Introduction:

Script Outline Discussion: Homework Assignments Open Q & A

04/09/2023 2Documentaries on a Shoestring. Copyright © 2011. Videotero, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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

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

LINK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcxIutv6vE&feature=fvsr






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Planning (#1)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

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Template ReviewDocumentary Title, Logline and Treatment

This template enables you to envision your documentary. It is a form of “planning” document. Written correctly it can be used to solicit funding or underwriting for your documentary.

If you can’t complete it, you probably don’t have a story to tell.






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Template Review

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Documentary Planning

This template enables you to build out a time-driven plan for making your documentary.






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Story: It’s a Journey!

Beginning15-25%

Establishes the Foundation

Middle50-70%

Builds the Case

End15-25%

Living with the Result

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Story

Beginning15-25%

Establishes the Foundation

Middle50-70%

Builds the Case

End15-25%

Living with the Result

This segment should establish a foundation for telling the rest of the story. What is the subject matter? Who are the characters? What “journey” are you going to take your audience on? How will you make the transition to the Middle Segment?

This is the main part of your story. Every scene must add to the story line. In this segment, you take your audience on your journey you promised in the Beginning Segment. You also have to END the Middle Segment in a way that enables you to transition to the Ending Segment.

This segment closes your story with some form of resolution. It brings the journey to a LOGICAL end. You should end the story with either a positive (happy) or negative (sad) result.






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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

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Loose ScriptMichael Moore Model

Beginning Middle Ending


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Titles Intro Interview Connector Connector Interview Outro CreditsInterview



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Scripted


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Scripted Questions

Tight ScriptKen Burns Model

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Titles Intro Script Outro Credits


Scripted

Hybrid Script

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Titles IntroTightScript

Connector ConnectorTight Script Outro Credits

LooseScript


Your Documentary for this CourseLoose Script: Michael Moore Model

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Scripted Questions






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Planning (#1)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

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Template IntroductionDocumentary Script Outlining Template

This template enables you to start telling your story. Make as many copies of the second page as you need to outline your documentary.

Draft the first try as quickly as possible, then go back to add depth and texture.






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Review Lecture Notes Class #02 Download and Complete the “Script

Outlining Template” for Your Own Documentary

Revise your Planning Templates as Required

Link to, View, and Be Prepared to Discuss the Online Documentary “HOME.”

Optional: Download and Complete a “Critical Analysis Template” for the Above Documentary

Homework Assignments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&feature=player_embedded






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Documents

Shoestring Dox, Lecture Notes, Class 02