Survey of Documentary Film
Modality: MDC Live
Lectures: Tuesdays
1:00 PM - 4:20 PM
CANVAS Zoom
Professor Agustin Gonzalez
Office: North Campus Room 2235
Best way to reach me: Agonza29@mdc.edu
*If you reach me with a question answered in the syllabus, I will reply with a link to the syllabus.
Office Hours
Wednesday 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (North Campus In Person or Remote)
Thursday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Remote Only)
Thursday 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (Kendall Campus In Person or Remote)
Friday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Remote Only)
Office hours help students seek clarification and support on assignments, discussions, lectures, and projects. Office hours are not, however, a substitute for missed classes. Though these are my official office hours, the remote environment affords me much additional flexibility throughout the week; if these hours do not work, please contact me, and I would be happy to accommodate you at a different time.
You can schedule an appointment using the following Calendly link: Schedule an appointment
I am here to help you and support you. Please talk to me should you have problems keeping up with the class.
Course Description and Competencies
In this introductory course, students will explore the style, techniques, and history of nonfiction films, with an emphasis on American and European filmmakers.
Competency 1: The student will identify and discuss major nonfiction films in the history of the medium.
Competency 2: The student will identify key attributes of American and European nonfiction film movements.
Competency 3: The student will understand nonfiction films within their historical and cultural contexts.
Through the academic disciplines and co-curricular activities, MDC provides multiple, varied, and intentional learning experiences to facilitate the acquisition of fundamental knowledge and skills. MDC's Ten Learning Outcomes foster effective citizenship and life-long learning.
In addition to the competencies listed above, this class will require that you:
Learning Outcome 1: Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Learning Outcome 5: Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.
Learning Outcome 9: Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.
Textbook
Introduction to Documentary Fourth Edition by Bill Nichols
You can purchase the book through the bookstore or another retailer if you prefer to have a physical copy of the book.
Technology
For this class you are required to have a computer with an internet connection in order to access Canvas.
In addition, we will be meeting synchronously every week of the term. Though a camera is not needed, it is appreciated if I could see you every once in a while. A microphone, however, is mandatory.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory.
Generally, absences in 3 or more classes result in a course failure.
Course Withdrawal
It is your responsibility to withdraw from the course. However, I reserve the right to withdraw students from the course if:
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They are absent more than three times before the last day to withdraw from courses with a “W” grade per the Academic Calendar
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They have not completed the majority of the required work before before the last day to withdraw from courses with a “W” grade per the Academic Calendar
Students who meet the above criteria will receive an email stating that they will be withdrawn from the course.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. If students are suspected of classroom cheating, plagiarism, or otherwise misrepresenting their work, they will be subject to procedural due process as laid out in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• cheating on an examination;
• receiving help from others in work to be submitted, if contrary to the stated rules of the course;
• plagiarizing; that is, the taking and claiming as one's own the ideas, writings, or work of another, without citing the sources;
• submitting work from another course unless permitted by the instructor;
• stealing examinations or course materials;
• falsifying records;
• assisting anyone to do any of the above.
Disability Statement
Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact Access Services in confidence as soon as possible. The office will aid in appropriate accommodations for the student. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please inform me during the first week of classes if you need special accommodations due to a disability that might otherwise affect your performance in our class.
Success In This Class
Attendance: Attendance is 2% of your grade, but being in class is essential to be able to pass the course.
Quizzes: Do not underestimate them. Reading and being prepared is essential, even when they are at home and open book. Do not leave them for the last minute.
Proposal: This is your responsibility. Do not leave it for the last minute.
Watching screenings: Be curious! In this class, you will be challenged to watch films you probably haven't. Watch, and learn. It is the easiest thing that will be asked of you and the thing that will add the most value.
Be on time for the lecture: Taking notes is essential. My lectures are outlines of the material you will need to know. I start lecture at class start time, and I do tend to go off-book.
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Assignment #1: Quizzes
You will have 5 quizzes on the readings and the in-class screenings. The quizzes are meant to test your understanding of the material. All of our reading is highly academic in nature, it is important that you do the readings before class and that you ask questions about what is not clear to you.
Each quiz will have questions about the reading and the screenings.
Assignment # 2: In Class Canvas Activities
You will be watching documentaries throughout this term. The films will be provided through Blackboard and can be accessed in one of the following ways:
1) Kanopy or Swank Library Database: You will need your library login information.
2) Movie file located in Blackboard.
3) Free online resource - Youtube
This semester we will be screening:
Tower by Keith Maitland
How to Survive a Plague by David France
The Stories We Tell by Sarah Polley
Capturing the Friedmans by Andrew Jarecki
Harvest of Shame by Fred Friendly
Hoop Dreams by Steve James
Waltz With Bashir by Ari Folman
Koyaanisqatsi by Godfrey Reggio
The Bridge by Eric Steel
We will be watching films in this class that contain material of a sensitive nature and topics that are deemed controversial or difficult to confront.
Topics include but are not limited to:
AIDS
Death
Depression
Holocaust
Homosexuality
Homophobia
Inequality
Mass Shootings
Pedophilia
Politics
Racism
Rape
Sexual Abuse
Suicide
Torture
War
War Crimes
We will be engaging with these topics head on and a lot of the work we will encounter might be considered triggering and graphic.
Confronting the things we are not comfortable with is why we are here.
Talking about them is how we learn.
We will not be watching the films together. You will be responsible for screening the films on your own time and be prepared to discuss in our next class meeting. Should any subject be particularly upsetting to you, feel free to step away from the film. If you feel like you want to talk about the film before you continue, please know that you can reach out. However, you are expected to complete all screenings, all screening questions, and be prepared for your quizzes. If you are falling behind the course work because of emotional difficulty engaging in the content, you should seek help from the school counseling services provided through Single Stop.
My classroom is one where your opinions will likely be challenged by me and by your classmates. An open mind, empathy and respect are expected from each of you. I will offer you the same.
Participation in class discussions is an essential component of this course, and we'll be utilizing the CANVAS platfor to facilitate these conversations.
The Documentary Proposal
You will be writing a proposal for a documentary film of any length.
We will be working on the proposal throughout the term as a class. It will be your job to put the work together into a cohesive proposal.
The proposal should include:
Cover Page with a strong visual that represents your film's intention and tone.
Technical Details Page: Digital, 35MM, Color Black and White, Projected length.
Filmmaker Bio
Logline
Short Synopsis
Treatment. Treatment describes theme, story outline, structure, documentary mode(s), point of view, potential interviewees, role interviewees play in the story, importance of subject matter, etc (2 to 5 pages) You want to include notes on structure, style, additional material you will be using. Also notes on style and conventions.
Audience: Describe who this film is targeting. Who is speaking to?
Background and Research: Why are you interested in the subject and in the approach? What other films exist about this same subject, and how is your approach different?
Proposal Worksheets
You will be completing documentary worksheets that will ask you questions about the film you are working on for your proposal. These worksheets are just meant to start a conversation. You will receive full credit for turning it in, but I will review them and provide feedback live in class.
60 Second Doc Challenge
For extra credit (5% of your final class grade each) you may accept any or all of the 60-second doc challenges. (One type of challenge may be repeated for a total of 4).
On any given week you can turn in a 60-second documentary on any subject, that is created and produced by you.
Challenge #1: Voice Over and B-Roll
Direct and produce a 60 second documentary on a subject of your choice. The story should ONLY use voice over and b-roll as narrative tools. (B-roll that you must film yourself)
Challenge #2: Interview and B-roll
Direct and produce a 60 second documentary on a subject of your choice. The story should on use one on-camera interview and b-roll as narrative tools. (B-roll that you must film yourself.)
Challenge #3: Stock footage
Direct and produce a 60 second documentary on a subject of your choice. The story should only use Stock Footage as a visual source. (You may have voice over, interview, or other narrative conventions)
You will not be receiving equipment access from the school for this. You must use the tools that are your disposal. Smartphones accepted!
You can turn in your video files on blackboard, though it is preferable if you use upload to a cloud service and share a link that I can download. You may also upload to YouTube or other similar service and share from there. Files can be turned in at any point before December 5.
IMPORTANT: Though these documentaries are not for a grade, credit will only be given if the following criteria are met:
- Elements of the challenge are used.
- Student demonstrates understanding of story.
- Student put in respectable effort.
On my various syllabi you will find pictures and trailers for the films that defined my love of cinema. There are movies that aspire to do something so difficult that it must challenge every convention that history provides. Waltz With Bashir (2008) by Ari Folman is one such film. It screams against the rules of documentary filmmaking as it seeks to make objective and entirely subjective process, that of remembering. It records the subconsious as only the cinema can, and succeeds at telling us something beutiful about human memory and something horrible about human history.
Term Calendar
September 23 - Introduction to the Course
Read Nichols Chapter 1 & 2 (Chapter 1 on Third Edition)
Watch for next class: Tower by Keith Maitland
Quiz 1 Opens
October 30 - Proposal Discussion # 1
Watch for next class: How to Survive a Plague by David France
Read for next class The Use of Archival Footage in Documentary Rhetoric & Nichols Chapter 7
October 7 - Stock Footage Documentary
Due by class start: Quiz 1
Due by class start: Worksheet 1
Quiz 2 Opens
Watch for next class: The Stories We Tell by Sarah Polley
October 14 - Proposal Discussion # 2
Read for Next Class: Nichols Chapters 4 & 5 (Chapters 3 & 4 in Third Edition)
Watch for next class: Capturing the Friedmans by Andrew Jarecki
Quiz 2 Due
October 21 - Documentary Voice
Quiz 3 Opens
Due by class start: Worksheet 2
Watch for next class: Harvest of Shame by Fred Friendly
October 28 - Proposal Discussion # 3
Read for next class: Nichols Chapters 9 (Chapter 6 and 7 in Third Eidtion)
Watch for next class: Hoop Dreams by Steve James
Quiz 3 Due
November 4 - Observational and Participatory Mode
Quiz 4 Opens
Watch for next class: Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman
Read for next class: Nichols Chapter 8 (Chapter 6 and 7 in Third Edition)
November 11 - Expository & Performative Mode
Quiz 4 Due
November 18 - Proposal Discussion #4
November 25 - No Class. Proposal due by 11:59 PM
Watch for next class: Koyaanisqatsi by Godfrey Reggio
Read for next class: Nichols Chapter 10
Watch for next class: The Bridge by Eric Steel
Read for next class: Nichols Chapter 3 (Chapter 2 in Third Edition)
December 2- Last Day to Turn in 60 Second Documentaries
December 2 - Poetic and Reflexive Mode and The Ethics of Documentary Film
60 Second Documentary Screenings
Quiz 5 Opens
December 9 - No Class Finals Week
Quiz 5 Due
Grading
Proposal: 50%
Proposal Worksheets: 8%
Quizzes: 25%
In Class Assignments: 15%
Attendance: 2%
Doc Challenges: 20% potential extra credit there for you to grab.
Resources
Library: Nine libraries and a number of statewide resources comprise the Learning Resources at Miami Dade College, providing a stimulating learning environment that enhances the classroom experience through a variety of services such as in-person tutoring, information literacy instruction and informative workshops. Link to Library Website
Virtual Tutoring: Learning Resources offers students and faculty a wide array of supplemental assistance to ensure academic success Link to Virtual Tutoring.
Single Stop: Single Stop offers students a wide array of services, including public benefits screening, financial coaching, individual counseling, tax preparation, access to a food pantry, and various other services. All of our services are free to Miami Dade College students and their immediate family members. Link to Single Stop Website.
Mental Health Counseling: Counselors are available on campus during the day and after-hours throughout the week including Saturdays. Students may receive up to 10 free hour-long sessions where they can speak confidentially with a licensed counselor. Sessions during the day may be held either in person (on campus), by phone, or virtually. When filling out the form, please select either daytime or after-hours counseling. Link to Mental Health Counseling Website.
SEDT Academic Advisors: Even as I am available to advise you on classes, SEDT offers in depth academic planning through our two counselors.
James Van Voris: jvanvori@mdc.edu and Raphael Claude: rclaude@mdc.edu
Both can also be reached at 305-237-1696