Making a DocumentaryMark Farkas, C-SPAN's Executive Producer of History Programming, talks about the process of creating a documentary, and gives some helpful hints for young documentarians. Your documentary may focus on any section of the Preamble, Articles, or Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. You should not focus your documentary on failed or proposed amendments that have yet to pass.
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Looking for help getting started with StudentCam? Here are some tips you may find helpful as you plan your StudentCam entry.
The Format The contest calls for a specific format for your video--a documentary. A documentary could be described as a type of "non-fiction story." The video should "document" a provision of the U.S. Constitution and demonstrate why it is important to you. The video elements (content, editing, voiceover, B-roll, music, titles) should be combined to explore the topic. It may include entertainment, instruction, or news, but the end product should tell a non-fiction story.
Team Work Before you get started, if you are working in a team, you should consider how the team is going to divide up the responsibilities. Typical roles may include: writer, editor, director, and videographer. Of course, one person can play more than one role!
Research Find all the information--facts and opinions--you can on this issue. Keep note cards, a legal pad, a database; whatever method is best for you. Take note of sources and jot them down. It may be useful to keep notes with two columns; the left side with facts or information, and on the right side, ideas for video footage: "What or who can I show, with the camera, that will visually communicate this information to the audience?"
Treatment At this stage you may wish to write a "treatment"--a one-two paragraph description of your documentary's topic. You can refer to the treatment throughout the production process to keep the project focused.
Outline The Content Before production, you may wish to create a script outline, including storyboards illustrating specific shots. It should include: locations to explore, people to be interviewed, events to capture, situations to show, documents or still photos to include, artwork, quotations, C-SPAN video clips to insert (Take a look at our FAQ page for suggestions on accessing C-SPAN video). **Be sure any copyrighted material is used under "fair" use guidelines.
Video Equipment This is the production phase. If you have video and editing equipment --great. If not, consider asking your local cable provider (try their community relations or public affairs divisions), public access channel, or service organization for help with resources.
Shooting Video There are some basic rules to follow when shooting your video footage. Consider lighting, framing, positioning, camera steadiness, speed of camera movement, sound, how many seconds you hold a shot, etc. A note about interviewing--think carefully about the questions and answers, the preparation, position, location and appearance of the interviewee. Careful planning can lead to better video footage for your final product.
Editing Editing is a critical phase of creating your video. Think of the editing process as similar to the writing process, and your video footage as the words you will use to tell your story. In what order will you arrange the story? How will it end? What pieces work well together? What piece should be left out? You may want to look at all of your content then write out an "editing script." You may also realize you are missing some pieces and have to shoot more video. This is ok. Write any narration or voice-over you may need from your editing script.
Feedback Ask a friend, family member, or teacher to watch your video and give you feedback about what worked well and what needs improvement.