Workshop Docu maken - Kandinsky College

• New lesson editor
• Culturele en kunstzinnige vorming
• Burgerschap
• +1
• Middelbare school
• vmbo, mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1,2,4,5,6

WORKSHOP DOCUMENTARY

KANDINSKY COLLEGE
14-10-2026

Introduce yourself

PROGRAM

* Introduction: definition
* Tips & tricks
* Film your documentary
* Edit
* Screening

What are going to do today?
total time is 2,5 hours

DOCUMENTARY

Who watches documentaries?

Examples of documentaries?

Can someone explain (in their own words) what a documentary is?

DEFINITION

 "Documentaries bring viewers into new worlds and experiences through the presentation of 

factual information about real people, places, and events […].” – (Curran Bernard, S., 2010) 

 “But factuality alone does not define documentary films; it's what the filmmaker does with those factual elements, weaving them into an overall narrative that strives to be as compelling as it is truthful […].” – (Curran Bernard, S., 2010)

- Factual info, real people/events
- But it’s the perspective of the filmmaker
- Not the only truth. It’s a vision of the filmmaker (the shots, the music, the mood, the way of telling the story etc.)

Definition
Techniques

Edit

Styles

DOCUMENTARY

show different techniques to tell a story

MEDIUM SHOT

Meer dan babi pangang, 2025

WIDE/LONG SHOT

Inside the manosphere, 2026

No Other Land, 2024

CLOSE UP

- Close, med, wide shots.
- close- emotions, details
- Med - conversation
- Wide - location

BIRDS EYE VIEW

WORM'S EYE VIEW

Birds eye vs. worms eye view

- Birds eye: show how little/less powerfull
- Worms eye: more powerful subject

GOLDEN RATIO

- Golden ratio (not only in the middle of the frame)

GOLDEN RATIO

- Golden ratio (not only in the middle of the frame)

LIGHT

Light

- be aware of shadows and where the light is coming from

INTERVIEW

tip:

Repeat the question in the answer.

Definition
Techniques

Edit

Styles

DOCUMENTARY

EDIT

• Cuts, order.
  

• Rhythm, structure.
  

• Music and mood.
  

• Ethics

The power to tell the story

1. Edit is ordering the shots, cutting, actually like building the story
2. structure: begin-middle-end
3. Mood: use music/sound effects to set a mood to your story

EDIT - STRUCTURE

EDIT - MOOD

EDIT - ETHICS

Be aware of the power you have with the final edit. Don't abuse this power by:

- cutting words/answers in a way the narrative completely changes

Definition
Techniques

Edit

Styles

DOCUMENTARY

3 different styles

* How is the story told?

* Which techniques did you see?

DOCUMENTARY

3 different styles
Answer the questions and keep the techniques in mind.

STYLE 1

Personal

STYLE 1: PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

• How is the story told?

Archival footage, news reports,
eyewitnesses, experts, and talking heads.

• Techniques?  

Various types of shots, such as
close-ups and functional music

STYLE 2

fly on the wall

STYLE 2: FLY ON THE WALL

• How is the story told?

Observational camera footage and a voice-over.

 

• Techniques?  

Close-ups, wide shots, low-angle shots, bird’s-eye views and one talking head with voice over

STYLE 3

Participatory

STYLE 3: PARTICIPATORY

• How is the story told?

The presenter takes part in the action (interviews), social media footage. We follow the documentary maker.

 

• Techniques?

Close-ups, medium shots, and handheld camera work (while moving).

Assignment:

Choose a style and make
a mini-documentary (max. 2 minutes).

Choose one of the topics (next slide)

LET'S GET STARTED

- mini docu. (max 2 minutes).
- Choose 1 topic
- make groups of 3/4 persons

Choose 1 topic :

1. Online life (social media AI, ChatGPT screentime, fake news)

2. Climate change (fast fashion, traveling, sustainability)

3. Mental health among youth (pressure, stress, expectations)

TOPICS

No other topics are allowed.

• Shoot extra footage (B-roll)
  

• Use a clear structure (beginning-middle-end)  
  

• Use different shots (wide-medium-close)  
  

• Think about the mood (music)
  

• Show, don't tell! (so no visual podcasts)

TIPS AND TRICKS

DOCUMENTARY

Good luck!

Choose 1 topic :

1. Online life (social media AI, ChatGPT screentime, fake news)

2. Climate change (fast fashion, traveling, sustainability)

3. Mental health among youth (pressure, stress, expectations)

TOPICS

STYLE 1: PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Archival footage, news reports,
eyewitnesses, experts, and talking heads.

Various types of shots, such as
close-ups and functional music

STYLE 2: FLY ON THE WALL

STYLE 3: PARTICIPATORY

Observational camera footage and a voice-over.


Wide shots, low angles, birds-eye view

The presenter takes part in the action (interviews).

Medium shots, handheld shots