Tell impactful stories with moving images and sound. Expand your skills from still photography to produce short documentary films.

Some stories are better told in moving pictures and sound, and video and storytelling skills have become vital for most professional photojournalists today. In this course participants learn how to work with moving images and sound in order to make their own short documentary film.

The course will introduce participants to the technical skills and narrative possibilities of working with moving pictures. During the course, they will go through the process of researching, planning, shooting, storyboarding, and editing their own films. The objective is for each participant to have a finished documentary or pilot for screening by the end of the course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

  • Plan and produce original short documentary films
  • Develop original story concepts
  • Record video and sound of professional quality, including interviews.
  • Create a strong narrative on the basis of sound and video recordings.
  • Post-produce and edit video and sound on the basis of the narrative.
  • Collaborate on a story with a fellow workshop participant

TEACHINGS

  • Workshop I: In class presentations with theory and examples. If time allows; practical training in video recording and editing.
  • Workshop II: Field work w/personal coaching when needed
  • Workshop III: Post production workshop, where each documentary film is storyboarded, edited, completed and evaluated.

PREPARATIONS

Shooting and editing a documentary film is often a long and complex process.

Researching and finding the right characters can be time consuming. It is vital for the outcome of your project that you spend time preparing your subject matter, access and logistics before the workshop starts.

Most short form documentaries are often tied to charismatic characters who have interesting personal stories to tell. It is important that people who agree to be portrayed in your film can give you unhindered access and are willing to invest the time needed for the project. On the first day of the workshop you will be expected to present your story idea and rough production plan in class.

Preferably, your contacts will also be in place so that you are ready to shoot and produce immediately after intro days. Once you are on your own you will be in charge of planning and devoting your personal time to the project. Some stories may require for you to spend full days with your subjects while others can be scheduled and planned in advance. The important thing is to reflect on why you want to tell this story and why your audience should spend their valuable time watching it.

If you can phrase your story in one sentence (“This story is about…”) then you are on track.

If you have any work or work in progress that you would like to show during the first days of the workshop, please bring it with you.

EQUIPMENT

For the workshop and story you must be able to provide your own equipment.
Preferably you will have:

  • *Digital camera w/video recording capabilities (shooting 1080p/Full HD as a minimum)
  • *Laptop with editing software such as FCPX/Premiere Pro
  • *External HD with a least 1TB space (USB3/Thunderbolt)
  • **Variable ND filter(s) for your lenses
  • **Tripod/monopod
  • **Portable audio-recorder
  • **Full enclosing headphones
  • ***​Directional mic
  • ***​Lavaliere mic

* MUST HAVE ** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *** PERFECT

PROGRAM

Workshop I. introduction to visual storytelling
Location: Yala Maya Kendra – Patan Dhoka – Lalitpur
Oct 22nd – 9am – 7pm

  • Introduction to short film documentary
  • Welcome to the workshop.
  • Who are you, who are we, and what’s the objective?
  • Short history of the changing media landscape and new challenges in visual communication
  • Introduction to short film documentaries w/ examples
  • What makes an effective narrative plot?
  • Your stories! – Defining your objectives. Roundtable with input and discussion

Oct 23rd – 9am – 7pm

  • Let’s get technical! Visuals and audio. Separate and together
  • Introduction to DSLR video. How to set-up your cameras for filming
  • Filming techniques in practice
  • Introduction to audio and microphones. How to work with different mics in different situations
  • Audio with video
  • Oct 24th Pre-production and starting work
  • The importance of interviews and taking the right approach
  • Check lists and workflow
  • Roundtable discussion and final tips before heading off to work

Workshop II. Field work
Location: Greater Kathmandu area, Nepal
Oct 24th – wrap up before lunch + shoot day
Oct 25th – shoot day
Oct 26th – shoot day

  • Individual field work
  • Coaching/assistance on demand

Workshop III. Storyboarding and editing
Location: Yala Maya Kendra – Patan Dhoka – Lalitpur
Oct 27th – 9am – Open end / midnight

  • Understanding the basics of storyboarding and editing
  • Quick introduction to Final Cut Pro X/Premiere Pro and post production workflow
  • Storyboarding and editing

Oct 28th – 9am – Open end / midnight

  • Post-production
  • Storyboarding and editing
  • Possible 1st screening in late afternoon w/feedback

Oct 29th – 9am – 6pm

  • Post-production, deadline and screening
  • Storyboarding and editing
  • Deadline and final screening w/feedback

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Photojournalists and freelance photographers who would like to hone their skills in multimedia storytelling and web-documentary.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

Dates and times:
22 – 23 Oct: 9am – 7pm
24 – 26 Oct: shooting days
27 – 28 Oct: 9am – Open end / midnight
29 Oct: 9 am – 6 pm
Workshop venue: Yala Maya Kendra, Patan Dhoka
Language: English
Max. number of participants: 8 – 12

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, please send:

  • the filled-in application form: Multimedia Workshop Application Form
  • a selection of your photographic (10 to 15 low-res images, 800px on the long side) and/or video/multimedia work (please provide a link)

to workshops@photoktm.com. The subject of your email should be the title of the workshop. If attachments exceed 10 MB in size, please send them via WeTransfer.

WORKSHOP FEE

USD 200
NRs 10,000 + 13% VAT for Nepali citizens

APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED

By applying for a workshop, we expect you to agree to the festival’s code of conduct.