Upon completion of this course, the successful student will have reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Define what a ‘documentary’ is and the differences between the various modes of documentary film and their different purposes.


• Expand the student’s own definitions and to begin considering the reasons behind and effects of different modes of presentation and persuasion.


• Critically analyze documentary films using filmmaking terminology and identify and work with the key attributes of documentary storytelling elements.


• Use data management strategies and film element organization in documentary film.


• Apply the process and myriad choices that documentary filmmakers get to make including finding the story, deciding character, place and point-of-view with the aim to communicate some kind of message or truth to an audience without overwhelming the film.


• Articulate the differences in making documentaries for different canvases: TV, cinema, the large screen, and handheld devises, and from linear to cross-platform creative ideas.


• Articulate the basics of technical documentary craftsmanship that gives a documentary film crew an understanding of the newest technical storytelling devices available to them.


• Become familiar with the international and home-based venues, that support documentary films and help finance them.