Investigations and Appropriations in the Ethnographic and Documentary Film
Led by critic, curator (Experimenta in LFF) and lecturer Helen De Witt, this short course investigate strategies of exploration and representation of the physical world, the imaginary realm and the transient experience of human life through experimental, ethnographic and documentary film. Combining introductory lectures, screenings and group discussions, the course covers everything from Lumiere brothers to Jean Rouch, Mary Field, Agnes Varda and Yance Ford, under sessions such as ‘Early Ethnographic Experiments’, ‘African Heritages’ and ‘Migrating Bodies, Changing Identities’ – and should offer useful insights to interested anthropologists.
Shooting Documentary: An Introduction
Led by filmmaker Isis Thompson and editor Helen Lawson, this three-weekend course teaches the camera skills essential to shooting in the documentary style. The course covers camera use, both for handheld shooting and with tripod, filming techniques for sequences and uncontrolled action, sound recording and filming for the edit. Suited to beginners, this course is ideal for anthropologists looking to start using moving image in their work or improve their existing abilities.
Led by acclaimed BBC reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou, this course aims to provide the basic skills required to record and compile an audio documentary, covering theory, idea development, pitching, recording, interviewing and editing. Likewise, this course works for both filmmakers looking to work with audio, budding radio producers and anthropologists looking to use audio effectively for their research or projects.
For more information about any of these courses, please contact James Collie (james@opencitylondon.com).
