Undergraduate Course: Directing Documentary (DESI08134)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course comprises a series of lectures, screenings and masterclasses which will focus on international contemporary documentary practice, using examples from creative documentary films to explore radically different approaches to narrative. Delivered by the ECA Film and Television Department the course is based on analysing the creative process of highly influential contemporary authors and researching an idea as the basis for a documentary. Students will be expected to develop and present a short pitch for a film they wish to make and to write a full proposal. Original storytelling approaches are encouraged and each presentation must cite influences and be backed up with a visual treatment. |
| Course description |
This course comprises a series of lectures, screenings and masterclasses which introduce the best in contemporary documentary film through weekly screenings and analysis. Each participant will also develop a story through research and fieldwork and write a documentary proposal.
The developed story idea is also presented in a pitch with reference to a film which illuminates an approach to form.
The documentary form is going through a golden age in contemporary cinema. It has arguably become the place where the most radical work is created which often eludes classification, existing on some border between experimental film, cinema vérité, fiction, reportage and art film.
We will be looking at their approaches to:
- Research
- Filming
- Interviews
- Editing
- Sound
- Narrative voice
- Music
Through examining clips and hearing first hand from invited film makers about how they approached the question of how to film "reality" in an authentic but original way, we explore questions of ethics, responsibility, and how to represent the "other".
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This course is open to ALL STUDENTS and enrolments are managed on a first come first served basis until the course is full. The course will be open to enrolments from Wednesday 11th September at 11.00 am. Please sign up for the course through your own School (they will advise if this is done via your PT, SSO or Teaching Office). We do not currently keep a waiting list.
This Course requires additional costs to be met by the Student. Materials: Students will be expected to fund the purchase of general art and design materials, such as sketchbooks, paper and pens. Students will be expected to fund purchase of some specialist materials required by their course. Course Organisers will support you in meeting intended learning outcomes while keeping material costs to a minimum (£?), but students will be expected to fund optional material costs as necessary for their own project work. |
| Additional Costs | This Course requires additional costs to be met by the Student. Materials: Students will be expected to fund the purchase of general art and design materials, such as sketchbooks, paper and pens. Students will be expected to fund purchase of some specialist materials required by their course. Course Organisers will support you in meeting intended learning outcomes while keeping material costs to a minimum (£?), but students will be expected to fund optional material costs as necessary for their own project work. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
SUMMATIVE Assessment(s)
Portfolio (100%) submitted at the end of the course and evidencing all Learning Outcomes.
Learning Outcomes are weighted as LO1 20% LO2 40% and LO3 40%
All Learning Outcomes must be passed to pass the course.
SUMMATIVE Assessment details
This will include a series of assignments determined by the brief on Learn such as a pitch and a written treatment for a short documentary.
Resit info
The resubmission assessment is the same as the original submission for this course.
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| Feedback |
FORMATIVE
Formative feedback will be offered throughout the course and in a variety of formats, including written and/or orally at formative submission point(s), tutorials, and other activities.
SUMMATIVE
Final course grades and written feedback will be provided at the end of the course. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge of key debates in the realm of contemporary documentary and the ability to discuss on this subject.
- Undertake critical analysis and evaluation of ideas with regard to the narrative structure and visual approach of documentary films.
- Carry out independent enquiry and investigation to develop a complex documentary proposal and visual approach.
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Reading List
Curran Bernard, S. Documentary Storytelling. Creative Non-Fiction on Screen. Focal Press (2011).
Rabiger, M. Directing the Documentary. Focal Press (2014).
MacDonald, K. and Cousins. M. Imagining Reality. The Faber book of Documentary. Faber and Faber. (2006)
Quinn, J. This Much is True. 14 directors on documentary film making A&C Black Academic and Professional (2012)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Conducting Research into complex subjects
Communicating Ideas to a variety of audiences
Analyzing Audio-visual material
Considering different approaches to a subject matter |
| Keywords | Documentary,Narrative structure,Ethics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Tracey Fearnehough
Tel:
Email: tfearnho@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Hollie Gilligan
Tel:
Email: hgilliga@ed.ac.uk |
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