1. DOCUMENTARIES EVERYTHING YOU NEEDED TO KNOW…

2. LEARNING GOALS Develop analytical vocabulary Apply vocabulary to different mediums

3. WHAT IS A DOCUMENTARY? A category of non-fiction movies with some aspect of reality. The purpose is often to inform or educate, or to maintain a historical record. The main idea is that “original” actors and scenes are better guides than fictional accounts.

4. Documentaries have become increasingly popular, and do quite well in theatres. There is some overlap between documentaries and reality television, but the “reality” in reality TV is often staged. MODERN DOCUMENTARIES

5. GLOSSARY OF FILM TERMS ForegroundBackgroundSymmetry The part of the The scenery be-When a picture picture that ishind the object is arranged with closest to thethat is the focusnear perfect viewer.of the picture.balance.

6. Assymmetry- lack of balance Tone- The intensity of light and dark Shape- Basic geometric shapes appearing in the composition. GLOSSARY OF FILM TERMS

7. COMPARE AND CONTRAST Using the terms we’ve just looked at, discuss the composition of these two pictures. Which picture do you think is more effective? Explain your answer. Sebastião Salgado A community above Chimborazo, Ecuador, 1982 Sebastião Salgado Refugees in the Korem Camp, Ethiopia, 1984

8. Aerial Shot A shot from high above, giving a bird’s eye view of a scene or place. GLOSSARY OF FILM TERMS CONTINUED— SHOT TYPES

9. SHOT TYPES E xtreme Wide Shot T he view is so far from the subject that he isn’t visible. Wide Shot The subject takes up the full frame, or at least as much as comfortably possible. AKA long/full shot.

10. SHOT TYPES Mid Shot Shows some part of the subject in more detail while still giving an impression of the whole subject. Close Up A certain feature or part of the subject takes up the whole frame. Extreme Close Up Shows extreme details.

11. GROUP TASK With the people in your group, brainstorm what each shot type would be used for. Aerial Shot Extreme Wide Shot Wide Shot Mid Shot Close Up Extreme Close Up

12. DIFFERENT SHOT TYPES Dolly Shot- The camera is mounted on a dolly and moves smoothly. Hand-Held Shot:- The camera operator carries the camera while filming the action. Subjective Shot- The camera is positioned at an angle, or has something about its content (distortion through misfocus or strange color, etc.) to suggest that the shot is seen from the viewpoint of the subject (e.g., through drunkenness, or fear, or heightened sensitivity). In Groups: When would you use each type of shot? Can you think of an example from films of each type of shot?

13. MORE THINGS TO CONSIDER Lighting- Illumination of the set. Lighting includes where the light is coming from, what the light highlights, or what the darkness conceals. Music- Any music that is played during a film. Often music will play in the foreground at the beginning and end of films, but be played in the background during the action.