UC Documentary Skills

Tools and Aesthetics

Instructors: David Novack, Graça Castanheira, João Pedro Plácido, Nuno Trigo, Pedro Filipe Marques, Tony Costa, Victor Candeias.

The curricular unit is divided in to course modules and workshops with the complementary training required for the production of documentary films: namely Camera and Lighting Cinematography, Sound Production on Location, Editing and Post, Sound Editing and Mixing.

The workshops, which include individual short exercises, are strictly aimed to demonstrate workflow processes, functioning tools and operative methods relating to the technical equipment and software that students have access to use in the semester.

The other lessons in the mandatory modules of the Documentary Skills course have a complementary purpose, which is focused mostly on theory, aesthetics and advanced techniques in terms of how to use tools creatively.

These learning steps aim to strengthen the individual skills that are required in the assigned film exercises throughout the semester. In a broader context it aims to familiarise students with the procedures to be carried out by a very small crew in documentary production.