Universität Wien

240523 UE Picturing Realities - a practical approach to ethnographic film making (P5) (2018W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Participation at first session is obligatory!
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 02.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 09.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 16.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 23.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 06.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 04.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 11.12. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 22.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 29.01. 09:45 - 13:00 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Students will be shown the basics of operating a digital video camera and digital video editing with the aim of designing and creating their own documentary, starting from the very first idea. Apart from the technical skills needed, the course will also address questions of feasibility and management as well as give an introduction to the basics of composition and aesthetics. The discussion of the characteristics and distinctive features of an ethnographical film, the potential application of a video camera in the field as well as its importance in the innerdisciplinary discourse, build the theoretical framework.
Students will work in groups of 3-4 people to create short films (5-7 minutes), the editing is to take place in the editing suite of the institute. They are to work on individual aspects of a predetermined topic and, through practical experience, gain insight into the possible applications of a video camera in the ethnographical context. Plenary sessions offer room for feedback during the design process and, along with the discussion of the finished products, are an integral part of the learning process. Further, professional input can be gained from international filmmakers attending the ethnocineca – International Documentary Film Festival Vienna.
The course will provide introductions to:
* basic technical aspects of video cameras and additional equipment as well as editing programs
camera and camera functions, lens, tripod, microphone, filters, light sources and setting (the correct use of light and lighting), sound recording, ways of dubbing, editing and post-editing (digitalisation, use of effects and corrections, subtitles, mastering, storage and distribution)
* picture composition
* potential and problems of interviews in documentaries

• conception and design of a short film
idea, research, exposé, the acquisition of material, it's examination and analysis

• creation of a short film
use of ambient sound and music, interviews and commentary, as well as subtitles

The course will be held in English

Assessment and permitted materials

The grading will be based on the finished short film as well as the participation in the group and class.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grading will be based on the finished short film as well as the participation in the group and class.

Examination topics

Reading list

Nichols Bill, What Types of Documentary Are There. In: Bill Nichols, 2001, Introduction to Documentary, Indiana University Press, Bloomington/Indianapolis, S.99-138
Ruby Jay, Speaking for, Speaking about, Speaking with, or Speaking Alongside. In: Jay Ruby, 2000, Picturing Culture. Explorations of Film & Anthropology. University of Chicago Press, London, S.195-289:
Rouch Jean, The Camera and Man. In: Paul Hockings (Hg.), 2003, Principles of Visual Anthropology, Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin/New York, 3. Auflage, S.79-98
Baker Maxine, 2005, Documentary in the digital age, Focal Press, London.
Barbash Ilisa, 1997, Cross-cultural filmmaking, a handbook for making documentary and ethnographic films and videos, University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London.
Deveraux Leslie, Roger Hillman (Hg.), 1995, Fields of Vision. Essays in Film Studies, Visual Anthropology and Photography, University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London.
Hampe Barry, 1997, Making Documentary Films and Reality Videos: A practical guide to planning, filming and editing documentaries of real events, Owl Books, New York.
Katz Steven D., 1991, Film directing shot by shot – visualizing from concept to screen, Michael Wiese Productions, kein Ort.
Rabiger Michael, 2004, Directing the ducumentary, Focal Press, Boston, 4. Auflage. Stöckle Ulrich, 2006, Und Action! – Digitale Filmproduktion von A–Z, mitp, Heidelberg.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:40