The Documentary Category

1
The Documentary Category

• National History Day 2008

2
The Documentary Category

• Presentation Format
• Slides
• Film
• Videos
• Computers
• Student Operated at all times

3
The Big Picture

• Like the Exhibit category, the Documentary
  category is very visual
• Like all categories, historical quality is the
  most important
• Dont get caught up in the glitz and glamour of
  film making!

4
The Big Picture, cont

• When deciding on categories, consider these
  points regarding the documentary category
• Do I have access to equipment to film and edit my
  documentary?
• Do I have time to learn new software?
• Are visuals (pictures, films, interviews) easily
  accessible for my topic?

5
The General Sequence

• If youve decided to create a documentary, please
  consider the following order of events when
  constructing your project

6
The General Sequence

• Create a storyboard of the scenes you will be
  shooting
• Include a variety of panning shots, interviews,
  live action, and still subjects
• Keep track of scene notes in a notebook to make
  editing easier
• Include music where appropriate to enhance the
  narration.

7
The Documentary Category

• Common trappings
• Student-operated equipment only
• Avoid Power points These are not appropriate for
  this category
• Bring in a projector cable for your computer to
  avoid looking at a small laptop screen
• Focus on historical quality!!

8
Rule Requirements

• May not exceed 10 minutes
• You are allowed 5 minutes to set up and 5 minutes
  to remove equipment
• Time begins when first visual image OR first
  sound appears and ends with last visual image
  (including credits).
• Live narration or comments prior to film are
  prohibited.

9
Documentary Rules

• Only students in this project may appear in
  documentary.
• Only participants may operate equipment.
• Your entry must be an original production. You
  may integrate primary sources and film clips but
  must give proper credit within your documentary
  and your annotated bibliography.
• You must include credits at the end of your
  documentary which acknowledge your sources.