Session 3: Thursday September 28, 2023
Historical Documentary
How to Create a Historical Documentary:
What is a Historical Documentary? NHD documentaries present information about an event, person, place or idea from the past through a ten minute presentation that showcases documents, images, photographs, and actual footage of the topic you are researching. Your documentary needs to have both primary and secondary research but also be an original production.
How is a Documentary Different from Other Categories?
Creating a documentary is different from other categories because of the technology necessary.
Before deciding to create a documentary, you should ask yourself the following questions:
Getting Started:
What is a Historical Documentary? NHD documentaries present information about an event, person, place or idea from the past through a ten minute presentation that showcases documents, images, photographs, and actual footage of the topic you are researching. Your documentary needs to have both primary and secondary research but also be an original production.
How is a Documentary Different from Other Categories?
Creating a documentary is different from other categories because of the technology necessary.
Before deciding to create a documentary, you should ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I interested in using computers, cameras, and other technologies?
- Can I conduct and record interviews (for the purpose of including film clips in the documentary)?
- Can I find film clips to use in my documentary?
- Are there enough still photographs related to my topic and that I can use in my documentary?
- Do I have access to equipment that will be needed to make a documentary?
- Is creating a documentary the best way to show off my topic?
Getting Started:
- Create a Documentary Notebook to write down all of your ideas and keep your research organized. Watch historical documentaries and write a list of what you think makes a great historical documentary
- Make sure you have access to:
-a computer (laptop for portability is preferred)
-a video camera (720p or 1080p preferred)
-editing software (windows movie maker or iMovie)
-supplies: batteries, blank DVDs or videotapes, paper, pens, props - Research the topic first. One way to choose your topic is to select a commonly known story and then find a different angle that brings something new to it. Remember that there are many unknown stories that also should be told. Regardless of the topic you select, choose one that truly interests you, and remember to put it into historical context.
- Keep a database. It is important that you have a database where you keep track of all of the information you are gathering. A database is simply any place where you can collect and easily access your sources and production materials.
- Create a Timeline. Before you jump into your project, it is a good idea to create a preliminary timeline of when you want to finish important steps along the way, especially the start and end dates of pre-production, research, production, and post-production.
- Create a budget. On the practical side, you need to have a sense of the costs of doing this project. Remember you don't have to break the bank to make a film. Spending more money does not make a film better in quality.
NHD Guide to Documentaries
guide_documentary.pdf | |
File Size: | 580 kb |
File Type: |
infographic-documentaries.pdf | |
File Size: | 1975 kb |
File Type: |
NHD Documentary Examples
Historical Web Site:
How to Create a Historical Web Site:
What is a Historical Web Site? A historical web site is a collection of web pages, interconnected with hyperlinks, that presents primary and secondary sources, interactive multimedia, and historical analysis. Your web site should be an accumulation of research and argument that incorporates textual and non-textual (photographs, maps, music, etc.) description, interpretation, and multimedia sources to engage and inform viewers about your chosen historical topic.
How is a Web Site Different from Other Categories? Web sites can display materials online, your own historical analysis as well as primary and secondary sources. These can be photographs, maps, documents, or audio and video files. Web sites are interactive experiences where viewers can play music, solve a puzzle, or look at a video or click on different links. Viewers can move through the web site in various undirected ways. Web sites use color, images, fonts, documents, objects, graphics and design, as well as words, to tell your story.
Getting Started
What is a Historical Web Site? A historical web site is a collection of web pages, interconnected with hyperlinks, that presents primary and secondary sources, interactive multimedia, and historical analysis. Your web site should be an accumulation of research and argument that incorporates textual and non-textual (photographs, maps, music, etc.) description, interpretation, and multimedia sources to engage and inform viewers about your chosen historical topic.
How is a Web Site Different from Other Categories? Web sites can display materials online, your own historical analysis as well as primary and secondary sources. These can be photographs, maps, documents, or audio and video files. Web sites are interactive experiences where viewers can play music, solve a puzzle, or look at a video or click on different links. Viewers can move through the web site in various undirected ways. Web sites use color, images, fonts, documents, objects, graphics and design, as well as words, to tell your story.
Getting Started
- Decide whether you want to create your web site as part of a group or on your own.
- Research your topic first. Examine secondary and primary sources. From this research, create your thesis. This will be the point that you want to make with your historical web site.
- Narrow in on the content of your web site. Decide what information you want to incorporate in your web pages, including any photos, primary documents, or media clips you may have found. You should be sure to have plenty of supporting information for your thesis.
- Create your website with the NHD Site Editor. Click here to begin the registration process.
- Organize and Design
-Keep It Simple: don't waste too much time on bells and whistles. Tell your story and tell it straight.
-Borrow Ideas from Other Web Sites: find design elements that work and imitate them on your web site. Just remember to give credit where credit is due.
-Make sure every element of your design points back to your topic, thesis, and/or time period. There should be a conscious reason for every choice you make about color, typeface, or graphics.
NHD Guide to Historical Websites
guide_web.pdf | |
File Size: | 755 kb |
File Type: |
infographic-websites.pdf | |
File Size: | 1135 kb |
File Type: |