Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Master in performing arts, professional focus in cinema and performing arts | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The filmmaking workshop encourages students to reflect on a documentary approach to a universal theme from a personal point of entry. It provides a space for reflection on the images, sounds and editing of the films being developed. A maximum of six films will be supervised as part of the workshop, produced individually or in groups depending on the number of students enrolled. The theme is determined by the invited lecturer, Christophe Hermans.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The filmmaking workshop aims to deepen students' understanding of audiovisual language through the practical exercise of creating a video portrait. This hands-on learning of the various parameters involved in moving from theory to practice provides students with the opportunity to address the aesthetic and ethical questions inherent in filmmaking, and in particular in the making of a portrait.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The knowledge and skills developed in the courses Forms and Languages of Cinema, Audiovisual Techniques: Pre-production, Production and Post-production, and Contemporary Documentary (Cinema, Television, Web) are mobilised as part of this workshop. Students who have not sufficiently mastered this knowledge and these skills are expected to catch up independently.
Previous participation in the Documentary Filmmaking Workshop I, taught by Karima Saïdi, is an asset, as Documentary Filmmaking Workshop II is designed as part of a progressive learning pathway.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
During the first semester (Q1), classroom sessions are devoted to discussions of documentary films made available to students in advance and viewed at home, as well as to presentations and discussions of the progress of their projects.
During this first semester, students are expected to:
- propose an idea for a documentary portrait;
- write a statement of intent;
- meet the protagonist of their film;
- scout filming locations;
- develop and finalise a documentary production dossier.
During the second semester (Q2), the course mainly takes the form of a participatory workshop in which students regularly present the progress of their project. Group discussions allow them to gradually refine their work, while also developing their ability to provide constructive criticism on their peers' work and to receive feedback on their own. These exchanges are an essential part of the audiovisual creative process. Active participation in this process therefore accounts for 20% of the overall course grade.
Outside the workshop sessions, students carry out the filming and all post-production work on their film. The completed film accounts for 50% of the overall course grade.
Alongside the filmmaking workshop, technical modules are provided by LICAM to ensure the optimal technical execution of the projects. These essential modules cover the main technical aspects of documentary filmmaking:
- shot breakdown;
- refresher: camera and image recording;
- technical tests: camera and image recording;
- refresher: sound recording;
- technical tests: sound recording;
- refresher: editing;
- refresher: sound mixing;
- refresher: colour grading;
- subtitling for documentary films.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
Further information:
Students will find on eCampus:
- detailed guidelines for the different stages of the project;
- direct access to the resources provided by the university's audiovisual laboratories.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
To be eligible for the June assessment, each student must have attended at least 60% of the filmmaking workshop sessions and at least four LICAM technical modules: the compulsory shot breakdown module and three other modules of their choice.
The assessment consists of three components:
- a mid-year assessment held during the January examination period, consisting of a presentation of the documentary production dossier to the course coordinator and their assistant. Two copies of the dossier (paper or digital) must be submitted during the presentation: 30% of the overall course grade;
- active participation in workshop sessions (attendance, involvement in discussions, presentation of the project's progress, and constructive feedback on peers' work): 20% of the overall course grade;
- the completed film, to be submitted during the June examination period: 50% of the overall course grade.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
As part of this workshop, students choose the technical tools they consider most appropriate for their artistic project, subject to the approval of the course instructor.
They may, in particular, make use of the resources provided by LICAM.
To access these resources, students must complete the registration procedure to become users of the audiovisual laboratories and comply with their regulations. In the event of non-compliance with these regulations, the laboratory managers reserve the right to suspend or revoke access to the resources provided.
All practical information is available on eCampus.
Contacts
Documentary Filmmaking Workshop II
Academic coordinator: Jeremy Hamers / jhamers@uliege.be
Lecturer: Christophe Hermans / christophehermans@gmail.com
Teaching assistant: Fanny Pluymers / fanny.pluymers@uliege.be
LICAM
Head of LICAM: Fanny Pluymers / fanny.pluymers@uliege.be / 04 366 53 11
Teaching supervisor, sound mixing specialist: Alexandre Boulet / a.boulet@uliege.be
Teaching supervisor, picture editing specialist: Giacomo Boucart / gboucart@uliege.be