The document outlines the requirements for a documentary assignment, including conducting primary and secondary research. Students must create a research diary documenting their research process, sources used, and evaluations of the sources and how they informed the project. The treatment is a summary of the research and how it will shape creative elements. It must identify the target audience based on research and compare the proposed documentary to similar films, explaining how it differs. The synopsis should provide details on content, visual style, and how it will educate the intended audience based on research findings. Multiple drafts of the treatment are required with spelling and grammar improvements highlighted.
2. Part 1: Research diary
Research the content and subject matter for your
documentary. This research must include primary
and secondary research (3-P2, 2-P1). Be careful
not to rely heavily on internet searches.
Primary and Secondary
interviews, focus groups, analysis of existing
documentaries (for their research, mise en
scene, cinematography and examples of how
they speak to the target audience)
Books, journals, websites, newspapers,(All of these)
Don’t be simply using google, or the first hit that
comes up on the search this won’t get you a
distinction
3. What to research
Facts about your topic (secondary, primary if you
want to know peoples opinions about your topic)
Your target audience (primary asking them
questions about the types of documentary they
do in a questionnaire/interview?/ Secondary,
researching existing profiles?)
Participatory or observational mode research
(secondary)
The aims of a documentary (secondary)
Analysis of a similar existing documentary (primary
and secondary)
The contributors and materials you will need to
make it (kit, interviews, locations, clearances)
(Primary and secondary)
4. Research diary: (must have direct quotes, summaries of
information in your own words) a bibliography in the
harvard style, or every single
book, website, journal, with the name of the person
that wrote it and the title
• This diary must contain evaluations of each stage
of your research and include the effectiveness of
your chosen method and an interpretation of the
outcome (3-M2, 2-M1). Try to demonstrate personal
initiative on this task and move beyond the obvious
sources of information. To achieve 3-D2 and 2-D1
you will approaching this task with confidence and
independence. Your sources will be wide and
varied for example showing evidence of contact
and communication with relevant institutions and/or
individuals. The analysis of your research will be
comprehensive and clearly state how the research is
influences and guiding your vision for the
documentary.
5. Evaluation at the end of the
diary or under each piece of
research
How
useful were each of your sources of
primary and secondary?
Why were they useful, or not? (biased, too
informal, too technical jargoned, too
opinionated, very detailed, very relevant
to your subject matter)
6. Part 2: The treatment
The treatment you produce will be a
summary of your research and how it
has informed your creative ideas.
Tell use who the audience profile is –
state the preferred demographic and
socio-economic profile of your
documentary and explain how you
know it is this audience through
linking to some research you got.
•
7. The Treatment
Comparison
Compare your ideas with documentaries already on the
market. Include the results of this competitor analysis in your
treatment and explain how yours will be different ot it, and why
yours will be better giving specific examples of the things you
hope to find out by linking to information from your research
diary
Synopsis
Include a synopsis of the content and visual style of your
documentary – the plot/story. In this outline, you should link to the
things your documentary will teach the audience, and how you
will target your audience through linking to pieces of research you
have done. This should be a really detailed, by the end of the
synopsis we should know exactly what it is your documentary is
going to be about, how you are planning on educating your
audience
• Your treatment must be typed using correct spelling and
grammar. Please include first draft without a spell
check, second, third etc drafts with highlighted differences where
you have changed your grammar and spelling
