WORKSHOP IN VIETNAM 4-18 MAY 2016
Producer & Coordinator:
Nguyen Lan Huong – International Cooperation Department VTV
Interpreter: Nguyen Minh Ha – International Cooperation Department VTV
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CREATING DOCUMENTARY FILM
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ART OF EDITING
WORKSHOP in Ho Chi Minh City 4-10 May
It is important to know the difference between making a documentary and creating a documentary film.
The usual – so-called – real documentary film is a short version of reality. The reality is that we face it in our daily life. We observe, discuss, and argue about it. This kind of documentary is like a mirror of our world. There are just the evidence and long version of some newsreels or reports.
BUT
But the creative documentary is an art and represents reality. The film is the identity of the maker. It is like his/her fingerprint, signature, inner feeling, and existence. The maker uses music, sound effects, visual effects, graphics, animations, and many other creative kinds of stuff.
The director/producer engages the audience and captures their attention with the strategic ABCD rule – Astonishment, Believable, Captivating, Delightful (This is ABRONTAN’S RULE).
THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT: CU CHI TUNNEL
Cu Chi Tunnel is a unique structure, a system of deep underground tunnels having several floors and alleys and branches like spider webs more than 250 km long; with places for dining, living, meeting, and fighting. This tunnel system embodies the strong will, intelligence, and pride of the Cu Chi people, a symbol of the revolutionary heroism of the Vietnamese people.
The director of this film used Juxtaposition Editing.
The Juxtaposition is placing two shots side by side and letting the audiences compare them – two stories. This comparison and contrast of the two subjects/shots can show irony, humor, sadness, etc.
THE SECOND ASSIGNMENT: THE TRAFFIC
The participants could choose any subject through the streets and traffic to create a short documentary film.
ART OF EDITING
In the editing session, the two groups used the same video materials, but they edited in two different styles. They experienced the art of editing to create a new reality for their audiences.