Documentary Training
Orientation at Brown Ledge
Our program begins on the picturesque shores of Malletts Bay. For four weeks we will live at Brown Ledge Camp, getting the technological skills necessary to create documentaries. This time will be spent living in a community setting; learning, eating and relaxing with each other.
Technology Training and Equipment
The program will begin with training in the techniques of digital video, audio and photography. Instruction will cover both technology and aesthetics, examining shot composition, sound recording and mixing, sound and picture editing and digital printing. The teachers will be professionals in the field, who, through small classes and one-on-one teaching, can respond to the particular needs of the individual. They can introduce the novice to the media or hone the skills of the experienced. The equipment available both at the training and in the cities will be professional quality, with cameras such as the Sony DSR-PD170, an array of lenses, shotgun and lavalier mics, tripods, SLR cameras and lenses, digital printers, etc.
Documentary Training
Beyond developing technical skills, we will also study the stylistic aspects of documentary production. We will look at various kinds of documentaries, from New Deal-era photos of the dustbowl to Grizzly Man to radio essays on “This American Life.” How do the creators transform interviews or photographs into a narrative? What choices do they make in how they present their material? How do specific camera angles, music choices, captions, etc., affect the work in terms of aesthetics and meaning? We will also look at the ethical questions of documentaries, such as how can one make documentaries without transforming people into objects? Finally, we will address questions of basic documentary practice—What makes a good documentary? How do you define and bound a topic? How do you identify and approach interview subjects? How do you do a productive interview? During this training period, people will have time to create their own works on whatever topic and in whatever style they choose, and we will have a weekly showing of people’s work. People can also take advantage of the proximity of Burlington, doing small documentary projects there.
City Preparation
In addition to our documentary training, we will begin to acquaint ourselves with El Paso and New Orleans. We will get a grounding in their histories and their crucial issues. With this in mind, we can start to think about possible documentary subjects. We will also line up internships and community-service projects. During this time, we will also begin to think about living together as a group. As part of this preparation, for example, we will take turns preparing food for each other under the eye of a trained chef, learning useful kitchen skills in the process.
Recreation
It will not be all work. Participants will have plenty of time to socialize and to take advantage of the camp’s facilities. The camp is set up for swimming, sailing, waterskiing and tennis, among other activities. We will also have day trips to Vermont attractions as well as evenings in Burlington for movies, concerts, and shopping, and for an urban contrast to the natural beauty of the camp setting.