CHAPTER 8CHAPTER 8

NONFICTION NONFICTION

CHAPTER OBJECTIVESCHAPTER OBJECTIVES

Survey the Survey the History and Varied History and Varied PhilosophiesPhilosophies of nonfiction filmmaking; of nonfiction filmmaking;

Examine popular nonfiction Examine popular nonfiction Approaches, Styles and FormatsApproaches, Styles and Formats;;

Introduce documentary Introduce documentary Research, Research, Writing, Financing and ProductionWriting, Financing and Production;;

Explore the process of planning and Explore the process of planning and recording effective recording effective On-Camera On-Camera InterviewsInterviews..

APPROACHES TO APPROACHES TO NONFICTION PROGRAMSNONFICTION PROGRAMS

First First

PROJECTED FILM:PROJECTED FILM:

The Arrival of a The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat Train at La Ciotat (1895)(1895)

First First

DOCUMENTARY:DOCUMENTARY: Nanook of the NorthNanook of the North (1922)(1922)

APPROACHES TO APPROACHES TO NONFICTION PROGRAMSNONFICTION PROGRAMS

The British School:The British School: John Grierson John Grierson

Cinema Verite:Cinema Verite: Jean Rouch Jean Rouch

Direct Cinema:Direct Cinema: Robert Drew Robert Drew

NONFICTION FORMATSNONFICTION FORMATS

DocumentaryDocumentary

Industrials Industrials “Corporate films” “Corporate films”

InstructionalInstructional

News News

Reality TVReality TV

RESEARCH AND WRITINGRESEARCH AND WRITINGThe ProposalThe Proposal Statement of purposeStatement of purpose BackgroundBackground Program descriptionProgram description Program goalsProgram goals Production timelineProduction timeline Financial supportFinancial support Distribution commitmentsDistribution commitments Biographies of key creative personnelBiographies of key creative personnel BudgetBudget

RESEARCH AND WRITINGRESEARCH AND WRITING

FinancingFinancing

GrantsGrants

Front-end financingFront-end financing

On speculation (on spec)On speculation (on spec)

RESEARCH AND WRITINGRESEARCH AND WRITING

ResearchResearch

OutlinesOutlines

ScriptsScripts Predominantly, a tool for editing Predominantly, a tool for editing

rather than shootingrather than shooting

RESEARCH AND WRITINGRESEARCH AND WRITING

The News The News ScriptScript

Split-page Split-page documentdocument

Script in one Script in one column and the column and the director’s notes in director’s notes in the otherthe other

THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW

Successful interviews begin with Successful interviews begin with ResearchResearch

Pre-interviewsPre-interviews Sit-down Sit-down and and Stand-up Stand-up interviews interviews Build Build Events Around InterviewsEvents Around Interviews and and

structure structure Interviews Within EventsInterviews Within Events Selecting the Selecting the Composition Composition Conduct a Conduct a Site-visit BeforehandSite-visit Beforehand Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds

THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW

Miking an InterviewMiking an Interview The lavaliere, or clip-on micThe lavaliere, or clip-on mic Unidirectional microphone placed Unidirectional microphone placed

outside of the frameoutside of the frame

ReleasesReleases Implied consentImplied consent Performance release Performance release On-camera release On-camera release Editorial requestsEditorial requests

THE INTERVIEWTHE INTERVIEW Asking QuestionsAsking Questions

Reverse Angles:Reverse Angles: Interviewer as Subject Interviewer as Subject

Self-Contained ResponsesSelf-Contained Responses

Listen Listen and and Be FlexibleBe Flexible

Turn Off Your Tally LightTurn Off Your Tally Light

Make Sure You Have it Make Sure You Have it CoveredCovered

LIGHTING THE INTERVIEWLIGHTING THE INTERVIEW

Three- or four-Three- or four-point lightingpoint lighting

Lighting on Lighting on locationlocation

Available light Available light

““Motivation” for Motivation” for your lightyour light

LIGHTING THE INTERVIEWLIGHTING THE INTERVIEWHit and Run LightingHit and Run Lighting

LIGHTING THE INTERVIEWLIGHTING THE INTERVIEW

Put a light on the Put a light on the opposite opposite side of key-side of key-light sidelight side

Adjust it so the direct light passes Adjust it so the direct light passes in front in front of the subject’s faceof the subject’s face

The soft spill light serves as the The soft spill light serves as the “fill”“fill” light light Use a Use a white cardwhite card to bounce the direct to bounce the direct

light back to key sidelight back to key side The The second instrumentsecond instrument is set up as a is set up as a

traditional back lighttraditional back light Camera LightCamera Light ExteriorsExteriors

Hit and Run Lighting

SAMPLE EXERCISESSAMPLE EXERCISES1. Conduct an 1. Conduct an Informal Pre-interviewInformal Pre-interview with with

someone you think would make an someone you think would make an Interesting Interesting Subject of a DocumentarySubject of a Documentary. Create a . Create a Program Program Outline and On-camera Question ListOutline and On-camera Question List based based on this pre-interview.on this pre-interview.

2. Study the local news section of your community 2. Study the local news section of your community newspaper. Choose a story you think would make newspaper. Choose a story you think would make aa Compelling News Package Compelling News Package and outline how and outline how you would tell this story on you would tell this story on TelevisionTelevision..

3. Construct an 3. Construct an Interview Set-upInterview Set-up. Choose an . Choose an interesting interesting Location and BackgroundLocation and Background. Use the . Use the tools of lighting and sound and tools of lighting and sound and Record Your Record Your TestTest on camera. on camera.

Copyright 2008 Taylor and FrancisCopyright 2008 Taylor and Francis