27928 - Laboratory (1) (LM) (G.A)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the laboratory, the student acquires the fundamentals of some specific aspects of audiovisual and multimedia languages through a program of guided exercises.

Course contents

The laboratory intends to investigate the theories and techniques of contemporary documentary. There are many ways to tell reality, to build relationships between the narrator-film-maker and the living matter that surrounds him. By viewing and analyzing some contemporary documentaries the students will be able to define with more awareness the film grammar of this form of expanded cinema, a cinema that meets the reality, which makes it a living matter of reflection and analysis . A meeting between the spectator and the vision which also passes through an emotional involvement that in some documentaries become the dominant style figure. Thanks to the vision and analysis of the various documentary's genres (documentary of inquiry, analysis, reading, cinema of the real, historical and poetic reflection) the course will provide analysis tools to the students in order to penetrate with new awareness the grammar of this type of cinema.
The second part of the workshop, the most elaborate, will focus on the creative and productive techniques in order to realise short documentaries about 3 minutes each.
From the idea to the subject, researching and fine-tuning the story, audio and video shooting techniques, photography and framing, audio and direct-dialing, editing and finalizing.
In this second part students will be asked to write a subject for a short documentary. The subject's central theme will be The portrait. Biographical documentary cinema is a pillar of contemporary cinema and is based on a long path of cinema in investigating people's lives. Students will be asked to tell a story about a person or a group of people. The story should highlight the originality of the story and choose subjects that are accessible in Bologna.
Short subjects will be propedeutic to the realization of three short documentaries. Students will follow all the phases of their commissioning: writing; preproduction and organization of the shootings; shooting; editing assembly and finalization of documentaries. The last lesson will be devoted to the analysis of documentaries that will be screened and discussed collectively.

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended readings:
- Marco Bertozzi, History of the Italian Documentary, Marsilio, 2008
- Ansano Giannarelli, Silvia Savorelli, The documentary film. Forms, Techniques and Production Process, Rome, Dino Audino, 2007

It is strongly recommended to view the following documentaries:

- The Fog of War by Errol Morris (95 ')
- Welfare by Frederick Wiseman's (167 ')
- Last train home by Lixin Fan (85 ')
- Our daily bread by Nikolaus Geyrhalter (92 ')
- The great silence by Philip Groning (162 ')

Teaching methods

All the students must attend at least 75% of the lessons
You must sign up by 15 January 2025 by writing an e-mail to my attention

THE LESSON PROGRAMME IS AVAILABLE IN THE USEFUL CONTENTS SECTION

Front lessons with documentary film viewing and discussion and analysis of the same.

From the idea to writing a subject, researching and fine-tuning the story, audio and video shooting techniques, photography and framing, audio and direct-dialing, editing and finalizing. Division into workgroups in which students will be called upon to produce short documentaries drawn from the subjects themselves written. Each group will consist of one executive producer, one director, one screenwriter, one director of photography / cameram, one sound engineer, one editor. In addition, there may be second roles, including: camera assistant, production, assistant director, etc ...

Final vision and group analysis of short documentary films made

Assessment methods

Verification of student learning will be evaluated throughout the entire lifetime of the workshop. Participation, involvement, ability to work in groups, demonstration of learning the fundamentals of the documentary film grammar.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Documentary film projections.
Shooting material: HD video recording equipment, Camera Black Magic Pocket, Handycam camcorders, tripods; Microphones for straightforward recording; Cinematic lights.
Editing material: digital mounting positions with "Premiere" program supplied.

The lessons will be held in the multi-purpose cinema room of Via Azzo Gardino. The course will start at the beginning of February 2025

The calendar of laboratory lessons is available online within the "Useful Content" section.

To subscribe you must write an e-mail to my e-mail address within 15th of January 2025: michele.mellara@unibo.it [mailto: michele.mellara@unibo.it]
Reception hours: see Michele Mellara's website

Office hours

See the website of Michele Mellara