CHAPTER 8 NONFICTION CHAPTER OBJECTIVES Survey the History

CHAPTER 8 NONFICTION

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES § Survey the History and Varied Philosophies of nonfiction filmmaking; § Examine popular nonfiction Approaches, Styles and Formats; § Introduce documentary Research, Writing, Financing and Production; § Explore the process of planning and recording effective On-Camera Interviews.

APPROACHES TO NONFICTION PROGRAMS § First PROJECTED FILM: The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat (1895) § First DOCUMENTARY: Nanook of the North (1922)

APPROACHES TO NONFICTION PROGRAMS § The British School: John Grierson § Cinema Verite: Jean Rouch § Direct Cinema: Robert Drew

NONFICTION FORMATS § Documentary § Industrials “Corporate films” § Instructional § News § Reality TV

RESEARCH AND WRITING The Proposal § Statement of purpose § Background § Program description § Program goals § Production timeline § Financial support § Distribution commitments § Biographies of key creative personnel § Budget

RESEARCH AND WRITING Financing § Grants § Front-end financing § On speculation (on spec)

RESEARCH AND WRITING Research Outlines Scripts § Predominantly, a tool for editing rather than shooting

RESEARCH AND WRITING The News Script § Split-page document § Script in one column and the director’s notes in the other

THE INTERVIEW § § Successful interviews begin with Research Pre-interviews Sit-down and Stand-up interviews Build Events Around Interviews and structure Interviews Within Events § Selecting the Composition § Conduct a Site-visit Beforehand § Rule of Thirds

THE INTERVIEW Miking an Interview § The lavaliere, or clip-on mic § Unidirectional microphone placed outside of the frame Releases § Implied consent § Performance release § On-camera release § Editorial requests

THE INTERVIEW § Asking Questions § Reverse Angles: Interviewer as Subject § Self-Contained Responses § Listen and Be Flexible § Turn Off Your Tally Light § Make Sure You Have it Covered

LIGHTING THE INTERVIEW § Three- or fourpoint lighting § Lighting on location § Available light § “Motivation” for your light

LIGHTING THE INTERVIEW Hit and Run Lighting

LIGHTING THE INTERVIEW Hit and Run Lighting § Put a light on the opposite side of key-light § § § side Adjust it so the direct light passes in front of the subject’s face The soft spill light serves as the “fill” light Use a white card to bounce the direct light back to key side The second instrument is set up as a traditional back light Camera Light Exteriors

SAMPLE EXERCISES 1. Conduct an Informal Pre-interview with someone you think would make an Interesting Subject of a Documentary. Create a Program Outline and Oncamera Question List based on this pre-interview. 2. Study the local news section of your community newspaper. Choose a story you think would make a Compelling News Package and outline how you would tell this story on Television. 3. Construct an Interview Set-up. Choose an interesting Location and Background. Use the tools of lighting and sound and Record Your Test on camera. Copyright 2008 Taylor and Francis