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Introduction to Documentary Production
Introduction to Documentary Production is designed for students who are approaching documentary production for the first time. The book is written in an accessible style by media staff at the University of Portsmouth, UK, all of whom have backgrounds in media production or journalism. The book covers the making of documentaries from concept through production to post-production and includes close readings of documentary makers' intent and target audiences.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2002
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May 9, 2019
I found this book very helpful and it contains just enough technical explanation to give a good footing. The photos could have been a great deal better. Sorry, but a hand and keyboard, or close-up of the top of a microphone, are not carrying any information so might as well not be present. That said, we don't get many photos anyway. A few graphs are included, relating to wavelengths and light, with sample forms or sheets to show us how to organise shooting scenes.
I like that this book talks to students and assumes they will be borrowing college equipment, but gives tips on what to do after college. A variety of lecturers contribute their specialties.
I would have been pleased to get a lot of the technical detail about sound and light, compression and ethics, from my film lecturer instead of just being let loose to get on with it, with no booklist. Reading the book makes a lot of sense from what I had been seeing and doing. I also found that largely I had been sticking to suggested best documentary practice for shots in the documentary film, but the fiction film had required a whole different approach from me in terms of shots and editing. This book was written in 2002 and the fast broadband has overtaken their chapter on the internet; YouTube and Vimeo are not even mentioned.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Guerilla Film Maker's Pocketbook to any film maker; it contains a great deal more practical info than this one, but is not so technical.
A handy glossary is on P199 - 204 and an index P205 - 210; I counted three names which I could be sure were female.
I borrowed this book from the Dublin Business School Library. This is an unbiased review.
I like that this book talks to students and assumes they will be borrowing college equipment, but gives tips on what to do after college. A variety of lecturers contribute their specialties.
I would have been pleased to get a lot of the technical detail about sound and light, compression and ethics, from my film lecturer instead of just being let loose to get on with it, with no booklist. Reading the book makes a lot of sense from what I had been seeing and doing. I also found that largely I had been sticking to suggested best documentary practice for shots in the documentary film, but the fiction film had required a whole different approach from me in terms of shots and editing. This book was written in 2002 and the fast broadband has overtaken their chapter on the internet; YouTube and Vimeo are not even mentioned.
I wholeheartedly recommend The Guerilla Film Maker's Pocketbook to any film maker; it contains a great deal more practical info than this one, but is not so technical.
A handy glossary is on P199 - 204 and an index P205 - 210; I counted three names which I could be sure were female.
I borrowed this book from the Dublin Business School Library. This is an unbiased review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review