First Period :

4 weeks of theoretical studies with the tutors from the Paul-Valéry University and with professionals from the Ateliers Varan :

History of documentary films

Direct Cinema

Writing and location scouting

Production : design of plan for financing …

English for specific objectives : film production and negotiating vocabulary

Second Period : Practical Exercises, film analysis, location scouting

Brief introduction to the technology together with screening and analysis of landmark documentary films.

Two exercises to initiate students in film editing. One day seminar on styles and documentary film storytelling.

During this period, the students will each choose, define, prepare and location scout the subject of the documentary film they want to make.

Third Period : each student films his/her documentary

The students organise their shoots in one or two half-day fractions.

The rushes are screened in at least three weekly sessions, in the presence of all the other students.

The analysis and criticism of the progress of the filming process enables the students to make corrections and to go more deeply into the filming of their subject matter.

Fourth Period: Editing and completion of the workshop film

Each student edits his/her film with a professional film editor. This collaboration allows him/her to design the final structure and cut of the film. This key stage in the filmmaking process is where any vagueness in the ideas during the shoot will become evident.

Evaluation of the film and oral presentation of memorandum.

Distribution

The completed workshop films will be screened in public : during the Lasalle-en-Cévennes Festival, at the Paul-Valéry University – Montpellier 3 and at the Ateliers Varan preview theatre in Paris. Students are encouraged to send their films to other festivals.