ANTHR 6110 - Documentary Production Fundamentals

(crosslisted) PMA 6510

Fall. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Permission of instructor required. Course fee: $150; cost of materials: TBA (est. $300). Co-meets with ANTHR 3110/PMA 3510.

N. Raheja.

This introductory course familiarizes students with documentary filmmaking and audiovisual modes of knowledge production. Through lectures, screenings, workshops, and labs, students will develop single-camera digital video production and editing skills. Weekly camera, sound, and editing exercises will enhance students’ documentary filmmaking techniques and their reflexive engagement with sensory scholarship. Additionally, students will be introduced to nonfiction film theory from the perspective of production and learn to critically engage and comment on each other’s work. Discussions of debates around visual ethnography, the politics of representation, and filmmaking ethics will help students address practical storytelling dilemmas. Over the course of the semester, students conduct pre-production research and develop visual storytelling skills as they build a portfolio of short video assignments in preparation for continued training in documentary production.