Documentary Production VocabularyA-Roll – Main footage, interviews
B-Roll – Secondary footage, video of subject or story
VO – Voice Over, narration
VOT – Video on Tape, another word for both A-Roll and B-Roll
SOT – Sound on Tape, any sound without video
VSOT – Video & Sound on Tape, another name for packages or finished stories
Line Input - Audio from a cable that’s more than 50 feet, higher audio frequency
Mic Input - Audio from a cable less than 50 feet, lower audio frequency
Pre Production – The planning and overall preparation that occurs before filming.
Post Production – Refers to all the activities that follow principle shooting from editing to the final product.
Archival – Movies that are stored and used for study, research, and placement in other movies.
Cinema verite – A term meaning "Cinema Truth" applied to truth-seeking documentaries and methods of recording with minimal interference.
Commentary – Remarks given by a narrator concerning the topic of the movie.
Direct cinema – Documentary traditions seeking to record things as they are with minimal evidence of the presence of filmmakers.
Producer – Handles all pre-production planning and organizing of the overall project.
Director – Directs project from behind the camera, responsible for all aspects of the project when on-site.
Audio Technician – Mixes and records sound on-site during shooting.
Camera Operator (Director of Photography) – Responsible for shooting video and operation of cameras
B-Roll – Secondary footage, video of subject or story
VO – Voice Over, narration
VOT – Video on Tape, another word for both A-Roll and B-Roll
SOT – Sound on Tape, any sound without video
VSOT – Video & Sound on Tape, another name for packages or finished stories
Line Input - Audio from a cable that’s more than 50 feet, higher audio frequency
Mic Input - Audio from a cable less than 50 feet, lower audio frequency
Pre Production – The planning and overall preparation that occurs before filming.
Post Production – Refers to all the activities that follow principle shooting from editing to the final product.
Archival – Movies that are stored and used for study, research, and placement in other movies.
Cinema verite – A term meaning "Cinema Truth" applied to truth-seeking documentaries and methods of recording with minimal interference.
Commentary – Remarks given by a narrator concerning the topic of the movie.
Direct cinema – Documentary traditions seeking to record things as they are with minimal evidence of the presence of filmmakers.
Producer – Handles all pre-production planning and organizing of the overall project.
Director – Directs project from behind the camera, responsible for all aspects of the project when on-site.
Audio Technician – Mixes and records sound on-site during shooting.
Camera Operator (Director of Photography) – Responsible for shooting video and operation of cameras
What is a Documentary?It is a genre of movie making that uses video & film scenes, photographs and/or sound of real people and real events which when edited together creates a particular story, viewpoint, message or experience.
Documentaries can be funny, poignant, disturbing, ironic, absurd, inspirational, amusing, shocking or any combination.
Traditionally, documentaries are 30-minutes to 2 hours in length (to fit within a television schedule or for theatrical release). However, documentaries are often shorter in length, especially in recent years with the advent of the Internet and web video.
Documentaries can be funny, poignant, disturbing, ironic, absurd, inspirational, amusing, shocking or any combination.
Traditionally, documentaries are 30-minutes to 2 hours in length (to fit within a television schedule or for theatrical release). However, documentaries are often shorter in length, especially in recent years with the advent of the Internet and web video.
What is a documentary?
Six "Modes" or "Styles" of Documentaries
READING:
|
![]()
|
Creating a Documentary: How To Film Your Documentary
COM2175: Assignment
Download a copy of the Documentary Assignment. Use the 6 Types of Documentary informational page to help get started on the project. The final documentary will be presented to class and will take approximately 5 weeks to complete.

documentary_project_assignment.doc | |
File Size: | 54 kb |
File Type: | doc |