Prerequisites

• A degree in media.
• At least one year of experience in journalism for non-media graduates.

Course Description

“There is nothing more amazing than reality”. This quote of Federico Fellini opens up the appetite and desire to wander in this world and ponder over its details and it emits the challenge of discovering the truth, and transforming it into an enjoyable visual and narrative reality.
To make a good documentary, one needs vigilant eyes, emotional involvement, intellectual ability and good perception, in addition to the ability to ask relevant questions about life, the universe and nature. If the subject and the materials are very important in the documentary, the deep thinking about the appropriate artistic form is of great importance in this course.

Course Objective

By the end of this course, participants will:
• Clarify the basic concepts of documentary filmmaking.
• Develop skills for storytelling and the structure of documentary films.
• Create shooting scripts that support visual storytelling.
• Improve editing skills for documentary films.

Course Outline

• Documentary filmmaking fundamentals:
- Introduction to the impact of documentary films.
- Definition of "documentary"; terminology and specific characteristics.
- Schools of documentary filmmaking.
- Docudrama; origins and conditions.

• Storytelling and structure in documentary filmmaking:
- Theories and methods of visual narrative in documentaries.
- The successful documentary concept; specifications and challenges.
- Develop the overall concept for a documentary film or program.
- Methods for refining the artistic treatment and preparing the script and shooting schedule.

• Production and filming of documentary films:
- Specifications and procedures for documentary filming, and technical rules for moving images.
- How to conduct a documentary interview.
- The role of the script in a documentary film and its various forms.
- Types of scriptwriting for documentary visuals and effective voiceover in both writing and recording.

• Editing and montage in documentary films:
- The magic of editing and its value in weaving the story and shaping the film's rhythm and identity.
- Sound design and select the appropriate soundtrack that enhances the documentary.
- Evaluate film edits, leading to the final approved version.
- Produce a short documentary film.

Course Benefits

• A graduation certificate by Aljazeera Media Institute.