This intensive lab is designed to introduce young people to the world of documentary filmmaking.
Making a documentary is much more than simply filming what surrounds us. It can be a way of understanding the world, a tool to make it a better place, an art form where you can find your own voice. This intensive lab is designed to introduce young people to the world of documentary filmmaking. Through watching and discussing, they discover the possibilities of the genre. They learn new ways of looking at the reality that surrounds them, and where to find powerful and engaging stories. They are trained to open their eyes to what is going on around them as well as to themselves, helping them find their own unique way of telling stories that come from their world.
In small teams, students make short documentaries from initial concept to final product. By going through development, research, pre-production, filming and recording images and sounds, editing and post-production, students experience the complete process of making a film. Experienced professional mentors guide students throughout the filmmaking process. The goal of the lab is to provide new skills, to discover cinematic language, and to transform students into filmmakers who are ready to change the world and tell their stories.
Application Deadline: 17 March, 2017
Dates:
14 April to 24 May, 2017
Friday: 2:00 – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday through Wednesday: 5:15 – 9:45 PM
Thursday: no session
During pre-production and filming, participants may be asked to make time outside these hours, including on weekdays during the daytime.
Language: English
Group Size: Up to 16 participants
Lab Fee: 2,200.00 QAR
Programme Levels: Intermediate
Applicants should demonstrate some experience in filming and storytelling.
Schedule and Course Description
WEEK 1
Introduction to documentary filmmaking
Introduction to documentary filmmaking: exploration of documentary form, screenings and discussion.
Sessions involve all students.
Introduction to documentary filmmaking.
Definition of documentary.
Sub-genres within the documentary field.
Formats and new trends.
Why make documentaries?
Reality and point of view.
Looking inside yourself: what do you want to talk about?
Looking outside yourself: discovering reality.
Ethics in documentary filmmaking.
Overview of the creative process, from idea to the final product.
Relationship between you and reality during the process.
Relationship between your goal as filmmaker and the expected final product.
WEEK 2
Development of four projects
Based on the discoveries of the first week, students begin to work in smaller groups as four projects begin to take shape. The goal is for each group to pitch the project successfully, having generated a synopsis, treatment and basic production design.
Brainstorming, teamwork: ideas, approaches, selection of projects.
During the process, students learn the differences between subject, idea, theme, narrative device and approach.
Development of projects focuses on:
The development sessions combine teamwork, individual work and meetings of teams: each team pitches its project while the other teams work as a soundboard, helping to improve the other teams’ projects.
WEEK 3
Pre-production
WEEK 4
Shooting
WEEK 5
Editing
WEEK 6
Post-Production and Lab Conclusion
By the end of the course, students will have created four documentary short films, which are screened for the class. As a group, we prepare distribution strategies. Then, based on their personal experience, each student proposes a new idea for another documentary. The lab ends imagining new films and defining the personal style of each student.
Class Participation
The importance of participation in this class cannot be overstated. Students should be prepared for every class and should always have their materials with them for presentation, discussion and in-class workshops, and should be prepared to contribute ideas or ask questions in every session. They should demonstrate the self-discipline, commitment and respect toward others that is necessary for successful creative explorations and film production within a team. They should show initiative, take responsibility for their own work, and be able to solve problems when plans do not turn out as expected.
In small teams, students make short documentaries from initial concept to final product. By going through development, research, pre-production, filming and recording images and sounds, editing and post-production, students experience the complete process of making a film. Experienced professional mentors guide students throughout the filmmaking process. The goal of the lab is to provide new skills, to discover cinematic language, and to transform students into filmmakers who are ready to change the world and tell their stories.
Application Deadline: 17 March, 2017
Dates:
14 April to 24 May, 2017
Friday: 2:00 – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Sunday through Wednesday: 5:15 – 9:45 PM
Thursday: no session
During pre-production and filming, participants may be asked to make time outside these hours, including on weekdays during the daytime.
Language: English
Group Size: Up to 16 participants
Lab Fee: 2,200.00 QAR
Programme Levels: Intermediate
Applicants should demonstrate some experience in filming and storytelling.
Schedule and Course Description
WEEK 1
Introduction to documentary filmmaking
Introduction to documentary filmmaking: exploration of documentary form, screenings and discussion.
Sessions involve all students.
Introduction to documentary filmmaking.
Definition of documentary.
Sub-genres within the documentary field.
Formats and new trends.
Why make documentaries?
Reality and point of view.
Looking inside yourself: what do you want to talk about?
Looking outside yourself: discovering reality.
Ethics in documentary filmmaking.
Overview of the creative process, from idea to the final product.
Relationship between you and reality during the process.
Relationship between your goal as filmmaker and the expected final product.
WEEK 2
Development of four projects
Based on the discoveries of the first week, students begin to work in smaller groups as four projects begin to take shape. The goal is for each group to pitch the project successfully, having generated a synopsis, treatment and basic production design.
Brainstorming, teamwork: ideas, approaches, selection of projects.
During the process, students learn the differences between subject, idea, theme, narrative device and approach.
Development of projects focuses on:
- Genre, style, language
- References, narrative structure, point of view
- Production design
The development sessions combine teamwork, individual work and meetings of teams: each team pitches its project while the other teams work as a soundboard, helping to improve the other teams’ projects.
WEEK 3
Pre-production
WEEK 4
Shooting
WEEK 5
Editing
WEEK 6
Post-Production and Lab Conclusion
By the end of the course, students will have created four documentary short films, which are screened for the class. As a group, we prepare distribution strategies. Then, based on their personal experience, each student proposes a new idea for another documentary. The lab ends imagining new films and defining the personal style of each student.
Class Participation
The importance of participation in this class cannot be overstated. Students should be prepared for every class and should always have their materials with them for presentation, discussion and in-class workshops, and should be prepared to contribute ideas or ask questions in every session. They should demonstrate the self-discipline, commitment and respect toward others that is necessary for successful creative explorations and film production within a team. They should show initiative, take responsibility for their own work, and be able to solve problems when plans do not turn out as expected.
