1. 3.6 Concept
Developing a concept, treatment (style and conventions) and justification.
2 credits

2. Topics Common ideas which relate to the brief are:
Drinking / parties / age limits / drunk driving / drugs / smoking – any activities which are age-restricted and which teenagers are at the age of wanting to experiment and are vulnerable to peer pressure.
Driving / boy racers
Hard hitting social problems such as violence / gangs / poverty / racism
Technology / social networking / mobile phones and devices / bullying
Beauty / image / fashion
School issues such as CIE vs NCEA / entrance to university /life after high school / rugby vs soccer / Macleans / School ball

3. More topics Disabilities
Sports / Competitions / Events / Organisations
Politics / political parties / general election /local politics
The ‘Supercity’ of Auckland
Second-hand Shopping
Coast guard / patrol / swimming / life-saving
Downs Syndrome / Deafness / Blindness / Depression / Mental illnesses / Short people
SPCA / Auckland City Mission / Salvation Army / Red Cross

4. Concept - Outline
An outline includes a summary of your documentary idea.
Explain what the topic is, how it might be explored, key questions, angles or aspects, experts and material you would like to cover.
Include:
Summary
Purpose
Audience
Brief
Structure

5. Structure
Opening – how to introduce your topic effectively? Make it clear what the topic is and why it is relevant. Raise questions or look at causes of your issue. HOOK the audience in with rhetorical questions or controversy. Intrigue them. Develop ideas in the body of the film – points of view, sides of an argument, range of aspects, or series of key questions. Closing – conclude your topic by answering the ‘so, what?’ question. Make it clear how your issue or topic has been relevant and why it is meaningful? Consider what you want the audience to be thinking or feeling as they walk out of the cinema. Avoid the ‘you decide’ conclusion.

6. Consider an original or interesting angle or approach to your topic.
KWHL and Research
Complete a KWHL chart to examine your topic and what you think people will already know and want to know.
Carry out some initial RESEARCH on your topic – 5W’s and H.
Who, What, Where, When, Why and How
Consider an original or interesting angle or approach to your topic.

7. Concept
Do now: Outline what your concept is – write one paragraph about your documentary idea.
Next: Style – the mood (feeling), pace, structure and mode of your documentary. Compare to other media texts to illustrate your ideas.
Watch other documentaries to identify the styles.
Identify & comment on the style (mood, pace, mode). Discuss in small groups, feedback to whole class.
Then: Write a paragraph explaining the style you want to achieve in your documentary and why (continually justify).
Homework: Complete the Concept and Treatment (style) components of your assignment. Due Wednesday.

8. Link these to your concept and subject matter.
Treatment
STYLE (look and feel)
5 CONVENTIONS
Mode
Mood
Pace
Structure
Interview
Vox Pop
Voiceover:
Screen titles /graphics:
Shot types
Piece to camera
Presenter
Type of editing
Link these to your concept and subject matter.

9. Conventions FEEDBACK Choose 5 conventions for your film.
Explain specifically HOW you will use each convention to convey your message/ideas.
FEEDBACK
In your concept outline– explain what you want viewers to be:
Thinking
Feeling
Knowing
after they have watched your film?

10. Justification Audience
Detailed arguments as to why this film is appropriate to:
Audience
Brief – festival (ESMA) and competitions – ESMA /Wintec / NAME – 5-8 minutes long – social issue relevant to your community.
Purpose
Ideas
Style
Practical details

11. Pitch the Idea Pitch your ‘Concept’ to two others in your group.
Outline your documentary idea – some plot detail is necessary.
Explain what style you want to use –compare to other documentaries or media texts which use a similar style. Remember to cover mode, pace and structure.
Explain the 5 conventions you plan on incorporating in the film and say how you will use them.
Justify everything as you go