Documentary filmmaking
Time: 18:00 - 21:00
Location: Keeley Street
- Course Code: VG167
- Dates: 23/01/25 - 27/03/25
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Thu, Evening
- Duration: 10 sessions (over 10 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Lily Markiewicz
Course Code: VG167
Duration: 10 sessions (over 10 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
On this practical course you will be introduced to the most important stages and elements needed to make a successful short film. Learn about identifying and defining your goals, and how to efficiently prepare your shoot. How to use any camera to get some good footage. Learn about the importance of editing in putting it all together.
What will we cover?
- Research – identifying what’s important
- Proposal/outline – defining the point and goal of your project
- Production – essential camera skills and positions
- Finding the right story – thinking about editing
- Editing essentials – making a first sequence.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
1. Create an outline for a project
2. Name some different documentary formats
3. Identify the basics of storyboarding
4. Operate a camera on automatic to shoot some footage
5. Differentiate most used shot types and their uses
6. Import footage into Premiere Pro
7. Edit a short sequence using the footage you shot.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introduction to making a short film documentary. It covers the basic principles of planning and execution from idea to final output. No experience is necessary but it will be helpful and an advantage if you have some prior experience with shooting moving image footage and are comfortable using a computer.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
In each session there will be demonstrations, discussions and practical work, including group and individual exercises, allowing for some individual guidance and tutorial support. Periodically there will be forum sessions where we will look at each other’s work to discuss different aspects of the process in general and your own work in particular. Asking questions and commenting is encouraged at all times. Handbooks, manuals and worksheets are available. This class strongly encourages homework and additional, independent engagement between sessions.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You may want to purchase removable storage to collect and keep your data safe, though you will have your own account in class where you can accumulate your work from week to week.
You might also want to consider purchasing other books related to the subject of film making and editing. We will also provide you with a range of hand-outs and you can make use of books in the library.
Please note that a portable hard drive/USB stick if PC formatted can be read by Apple mac computers, but not written to.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can enhance your documentary skills through courses in Documentary film shorts: improving your film with B-roll and in Documentary Interview techniques. You can also further develop your skills and interest in Film and Video through a range of courses at the City Lit in digital film making, including experimental and narrative film making, editing on a range of platforms to cater for different levels, digital and traditional animation, animated SFX using Adobe After Effects and sound.
Lily is a freelance film editor and consultant. Her main work over the past 10 years has been in helping people turn their dreams and visions into interesting films and successful artworks. She specialises in film editing, but also consults on all other aspects of film making and fine art. “To me, helping people find the stories the really want to tell and turn them into enjoyable and interesting films is uniquely rewarding and deeply fulfilling. I am particularly interested in enabling people’s own capacity, teaching them both practical skills (e.g. use of software and technical aspects of filmmaking) alongside conceptual underpinnings and critical engagement (version of visual literacy).” She has been teaching film and video related subjects ever since her own postgraduate student days. She is also an award-winning and internationally exhibited/collected artist.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.