Overview
In this unit, you will learn the history and theory of documentary, and about current trends in industry practice. Through a series of individual exercises, you will gain skills in project development, sound and vision capture, and documentary editing using industry-standard software. You will apply these skills in the production of your own short documentary. You will be encouraged to find your authentic voice and visual style, and will be introduced to the ethical and legal considerations for documentary practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: MMST11009 Digital Video and Audio
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Self Reflection
The first assessment was quite complex.
Streamline first and second assessments. Focus on preproduction exercises as the main assessment outcome for Assessment 1.
Feedback from Teaching Team feedback
Make more use of the technical demonstrators on campuses
Allow sufficient time in the breakout groups for technical demonstrators to work with students.
- Integrate a theoretical understanding of documentary practice and audiovisual skills in the creation of a completed documentary project.
- Apply documentary editing principles in the creation of a documentary using industry-standard editing software.
- Manage media files and workflow through the stages of development, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution
- Reflect critically on one's own professional documentary practice within an industry-standard ethical framework.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 40% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
There are recommended texts for this unit, however, these are all available online at no cost to students via the unit Moodle website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Video and Audio Recording Device (Camcorder, Digital Camera, Smartphone, etc.)
- Microphone and camera for use with Zoom for Online/Livestream students
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.cattoni@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to documentary filmmaking & unit overview
Chapter
See Week 1 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Documentary analysis: Definitions, elements and genres
Visual coverage
Chapter
See Week 2 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Documentary ethics and legal frameworks
Interviewing documentary participants
Chapter
See Week 3 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Visual and audio relationships
Introduction to documentary editing
Chapter
See Week 4 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pitch documents: Putting your ideas together
Chapter
See Week 5 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No classes this week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Documentary pre-production: Planning your production, permissions, safety and scheduling
Chapter
See Week 6 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Documentary production: Shooting your documentary
Workflow and file management
Chapter
See Week 7 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Documentary post-production: Reviewing your footage and assembling scenes
Chapter
See Week 8 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Rough-cut feedback
Module/Topic
Post-production: Integrating feedback into your rough-cut
Chapter
See Week 9 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Rough-cut feedback
Module/Topic
Post-production: Moving from rough-cut to fine-cut
Chapter
See Week 10 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Post-production: Audio mix, grading and credits
Chapter
See Week 11 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Fine-cut feedback
Module/Topic
Documentary distribution and professional practice
Chapter
See Week 12 Study Guide (found on Moodle)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical Assessment
The Creative Development Workbook is a structured set of weekly exercises designed to support you in developing the skills required for the Short Documentary Project (Assignment 2). Weekly exercises include the following:
- Critical thinking exercises: These exercises are designed to help you develop critical thinking skills to assist you in making informed decisions about the content and style of your documentary. Theoretical concepts that relate to documentary filmmaking are included in the unit content.
- Technical production exercises: These exercises are designed to develop the technical skills required to create a documentary. They include conducting an interview, audio capture, camera and editing skills.
- Project development exercises: These exercises are designed to help develop and test your ideas for your documentary. By the end of the development exercises, you will have completed a pitch document for your documentary.
The exercises are designed to be completed sequentially, starting from Week 1 and continuing through to Week 4. A Creative Workbook template is provided to complete and submit the exercises and can be found in the Assessment Tile on your unit website (Moodle). Details of the weekly exercises can be found in the Creative Development Workbook Template and in the Weekly Study Guides. You are also required to complete a self-evaluation as part of this assignment. Creativity and experimentation are encouraged.
The completed assignment should adhere to the submission requirements provided in the detailed assignment breakdown on the unit website (Moodle).
Week 5 Thursday (6 Apr 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Please submit your completed Creative Development Workbook via Moodle
Week 6 Thursday (20 Apr 2023)
Work will be returned to students two weeks following submission
- Attention to completion of the required task
- Engagement with theory and concepts
- Quality of technical skills in camera, audio and editing
- Quality of project development
- Engagement with self-evaluation
Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for full details on the assessment criteria.
- Integrate a theoretical understanding of documentary practice and audiovisual skills in the creation of a completed documentary project.
- Manage media files and workflow through the stages of development, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution
2 Practical Assessment
The Short Documentary Project requires you to complete a standalone short documentary of 3-5 minutes to a standard suitable for entry into a nominated film festival. The subject of your documentary can be of your own choosing and must include an interview with your participant, accompanying b-roll footage, and a verite scene of a social, physical, or cultural ritual. In addition to your documentary, you are required to submit specified documentation and a reflective statement on your documentary practice.
This assignment requires you to submit:
- Completed short documentary
- Pre-production, production, post-production and workflow documentation
- Reflective statement and self-evaluation
Students are required to attend a rough-cut screening in Weeks 8 or 9 to receive and give feedback as per standard industry practice.
Industry-standard documentation and a submission template are provided and can be found in the Assessment Tile on your unit website (Moodle).
The completed assignment should adhere to the submission requirements provided in the detailed assignment breakdown on the unit website (Moodle).
Week 12 Thursday (1 June 2023) 11:59 am AEST
Please submit your completed assignment via Moodle
Exam Week Thursday (15 June 2023)
Work will be returned to students two weeks following submission
- Attention to completion of the required task
- Synthesis of visual, audio and editing elements in the completed documentary
- Quality of technical skills
- Quality of documentation
- Engagement with peer and self-evaluation, and reflective practice
Please refer to the unit website (Moodle) for full details on the assessment criteria.
- Apply documentary editing principles in the creation of a documentary using industry-standard editing software.
- Manage media files and workflow through the stages of development, pre-production, production, post-production and distribution
- Reflect critically on one's own professional documentary practice within an industry-standard ethical framework.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
