MATHEMATICS (TURKISH, PHD)
PhD TR-NQF-HE: Level 8 QF-EHEA: Third Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 8

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
FTV5011 Documentary Film & Video Fall 3 0 3 7
The course opens with the approval of the Department at the beginning of each semester

Basic information

Language of instruction: En
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level:
Mode of Delivery:
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi ELENI VARMAZI
Course Objectives: This course focuses on the principles of documentary film production. Students will be introduced to the theoretical analysis and practical methods of documentary filmmaking. We will watch several documentary films, analyze them and explore the pre-production, production and post-production processes and techniques for documentary film production. The final films will be screened at a prestigious venue in Istanbul. Selected films might compete in national and international documentary film festivals.
(For 3 consecutive years student documentaries that were produced in this class were screened at the Italian Cultural Centre of Istanbul, which was called the “STUDENT SHOW”. Documentaries that were produced in this class were screened and won several awards at well-known National and International Film Festivals including Adana Golden Ball Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival)
Duration and Category: 15-20 min.
Short & Medium Length Category Documentary Films

Learning Outputs

The students who have succeeded in this course;
I. Learning the theoretical principles of non-fiction film making
II. Learning the technical skills of non-fiction film making
III. Learning interview techniques, non-fiction storytelling methods
IV. Ability to analyze and interpret various non-fiction films through modes of documentary film making
V. Ability to do field research and field work, i.e., filming interviews, collecting general footage, etc.
VI. Ability and the technical skills to tackle contemporary social, cultural, political issues of the society they live in
VII. Ability to produce a short to medium length, complete audio-visual, aesthetic, non-fiction story
VIII. Ability and confidence to present the finished product publicly


Course Content

In this course, basic and intermediate techniques of documentary film making will be evaluated.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to documentary film. (Watching internationally acclaimed documentaries and class analysis) Arranging student documentary groups (up to 3 people)
2) Learning the theoretical principles of non-fiction film making & documentary modes
3) Writing a proposal for a short/medium length documentary film Watching and analyzing internationally acclaimed documentaries
4) Discussing and re-shaping the submitted proposals, learning how to approach subjects, access & permissions Watching & analyzing internationally acclaimed documentaries
5) Demonstrating the technical approach, i.e., interview techniques. Students filming on the field Watching & analyzing student documentaries in class
6) Screening in-class raw (unedited) footage and interviews, commenting & analyzing students' raw footage
7) Screening in-class raw (unedited) footage and interviews, commenting & analyzing students' raw footage
8) Collecting general footage, archival material (if necessary) for student documentaries Watching & analyzing internationally acclaimed documentaries
9) Storytelling methods, learning how to construct a dramatic narrative arc and submitting midterm documentary film analysis papers Watching and analyzing internationally acclaimed documentaries
10) Screening tough cuts of the documentary films. Technical and theoretical commentary on the rough cuts
11) Screening tough cuts of the documentary films. Technical and theoretical commentary on the rough cuts
12) Working on the narrative arc of the students' documentaries Watching and analyzing internationally acclaimed documentaries
13) Editing and fine tuning student documentaries (collecting more general footage and interviews if necessary)
14) Screening students' final documentary films

Sources

Course Notes: Writing a proposal for a short/medium length documentary film Demonstrating the technical approach, i.e., interview techniques Watching & analyzing internationally acclaimed documentaries Watching & analyzing student documentaries Kısa/orta metraj belgesel film önermesi yazma Teknik çekim kabiliyeti edinme Uluslararası ödüllü belgeselleri izleme ve yorumlama Öğrenci belgeselleri izleme ve yorumlama TEXTBOOKS Documentary Filmmaking Course Pack. A. Taskent Directing the Documentary (Fourth Edition), Michael Rabiger, Focal Press, 2004 A Short Guide to Writing About Film (Fifth Edition), Timothy Corrigan, Pearson Longman, 2004 Introduction to Documentary, Bill Nichols, Indiana University Press, 2001 New Challenges For Documentary (Second Edition), Edited by Alan Rosenthal & John Corner, Manchester University Press, 2005
References: Screening + Film List Nanook of the North, Robert Flaherty, 1922 Man with the Movie Camera, Dziga Vertov, 1929 Triumph of the will, Leni Riefenstahl, 1935 Nuit et Brouillard (Night and Fog), Alain Resnais, 1955 Gimme Shelter, Albert and David Maysles, 1970 Grey Gardens, Maysles Brothers, 1976 Pumping Iron, George Butler Robert Fiore, 1977 Thin Blue Line, Errol Morris, 1988 Roger & Me, Michael Moore, 1989 Buena Vista Social Club, Wim Wenders, 1999 Southern Comfort, Kate Davis, 2001 Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore, 2002 Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore, 2004 Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock, 2004 Machuca, Andres Wood, 2004 Oyun, Pelin Esmer, 2005 Grizzly Man, Werner Herzog, 2005 Born into Brothels, Ross Kaufmann Zana Briski, 2006 Waltz with Bashir, Ari Folman, 2007 Sicko, Michael Moore, 2007 Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi Vincent Paronnaud, 2007 Bizsiz Onlar, Aylin Eren Çağdaş Kaya, 2007 Man On Wire, James Marsh, 2008 Selamsız Kısmeti, Burçin Ünal, Çiğdem Kurtöz, 2009 Dört Duvar Bir Pencere, Hazal Bayar, 2010 Kadın Futbol mu Oynar? Deniz Güven, Kübra Ertuğ, Tan Şahin, 2011 Olympics of a Teahouse, Ji Hun Ahn, Onur Işık Cantürk, 2011

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 10
Laboratory % 0
Application 1 % 5
Field Work 2 % 10
Special Course Internship (Work Placement) % 0
Quizzes 1 % 5
Homework Assignments 1 % 5
Presentation 1 % 5
Project 1 % 5
Seminar % 0
Midterms 1 % 20
Preliminary Jury % 0
Final 1 % 35
Paper Submission % 0
Jury % 0
Bütünleme % 0
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 42
Laboratory 12 31
Application 8 28
Special Course Internship (Work Placement)
Field Work 6 12
Study Hours Out of Class 10 12
Presentations / Seminar
Project
Homework Assignments
Quizzes
Preliminary Jury
Midterms
Paper Submission
Jury
Final
Total Workload 125

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution