VA451 Documentary Film Production
VA451 Documentary Film Production
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Visual Arts and Visual Communications Design
Muhammed Yasir Goz
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Documentary film production course emphasizes nonfiction field production.This course offers students an in-depth exploration of the theory, techniques, and practical skills necessary for producing compelling and effective documentary films. Through lectures, screenings, discussions, and hands-on projects, students will examine the history, aesthetics, ethics, and social impact of documentary filmmaking while developing their creative and technical abilities.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
İntroduction to Documentary Film, Bills.N. Crafting Truth, Documentary Form and Meaning, Spence L. Navarro V Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Digital Videos , Rosenteal A. Echardt N. Film Directing Fundamentals: From Script to Screen, Proferes N. The Filmmaker's Handbook,Ascher S,Pincus E.
Additional Literature
Film Studies:The Basics (Film Studies) Villarejo A, Documentary Storytelling, Bernard, S.Teaching Methods
Activity in debates
Sketches - Assignments
Midterm project
Final exam project
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction.Introduction to Documentary Film. Non-Fiction Films. Assigning Projects | İntroduction to Documentary Film |
| 2 | Storytelling in Documentary. Writing Proposal. Creating Plot. | The Filmmaker's Handbook |
| 3 | Research and Preproduction. Editing techniques based on Screening Film. -Geçmişin Çizgisi- | Film Directing Fundamentals |
| 4 | Cinematography for Documentaries. Project 1 - Submission | Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films |
| 5 | İnterview Techniques. Types of Lighting. | Documentary Form and Meaning |
| 6 | Sound Design and Recording.Types of color grading at Documentary Film. | Documentary Form and Meaning |
| 7 | Field Production, On location shooting exercise. | Film Directing Fundamentals |
| 8 | MID-TERM | Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films |
| 9 | Narration. Narrate Draa-matc Construction. Personilization | |
| 10 | Visual Storytelling Through Cinematography. Project 3 - Submission | İntroduction to Documentary Film |
| 11 | Working with archieval footage.Integration footages to the Documentary Film. | The Filmmaker's Handbook |
| 12 | Choosing appropriate Music. Controlling Emotions | |
| 13 | Documentary Ethics and Representation Filmmakers responsibilities - SICKO | Documentary Form and Meaning |
| 14 | Combining interviews with music and film - Project 4 Submission | |
| 15 | Closing Remarks |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA451.1 | Course | Monday 12:00 - 14:50 | A B.1 - VACD Multimedia Studio | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 11:00 | B F3.15 | |
| Friday | 10:00 - 11:00 | B F3.15 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Project - 1 ,Proposal
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Project - 2, MID-TERM- Interview
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
Project - 3, Six Week Progress
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Project - 4, Storyboard for Final
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Presentation
24 hours ⏳ (6 week × 4 h)
Project
45 hours ⏳ (9 week × 5 h)
Final Exam Study
24 hours ⏳ (2 week × 12 h)
Midterm Project
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [VA451] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| VA451 | Documentary Film Production | 1 | 2 | 6 | Monday 12:00 - 14:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Muhammed Yasir Goz | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 10:00-11:00 Friday: 10:00-11:00 |
|||||||
| myasirgoz@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | Documentary film production course emphasizes nonfiction field production.This course offers students an in-depth exploration of the theory, techniques, and practical skills necessary for producing compelling and effective documentary films. Through lectures, screenings, discussions, and hands-on projects, students will examine the history, aesthetics, ethics, and social impact of documentary filmmaking while developing their creative and technical abilities. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | İntroduction to Documentary Film, Bills.N. Crafting Truth, Documentary Form and Meaning, Spence L. Navarro V Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Digital Videos , Rosenteal A. Echardt N. Film Directing Fundamentals: From Script to Screen, Proferes N. The Filmmaker's Handbook,Ascher S,Pincus E. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Activity in debates, Sketches - Assignments, midterm project, final exam project | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction.Introduction to Documentary Film. Non-Fiction Films. Assigning Projects | İntroduction to Documentary Film | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Storytelling in Documentary. Writing Proposal. Creating Plot. | The Filmmaker's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Research and Preproduction. Editing techniques based on Screening Film. -Geçmişin Çizgisi- | Film Directing Fundamentals | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Cinematography for Documentaries. Project 1 - Submission | Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films | ||||||||
| Week 5 | İnterview Techniques. Types of Lighting. | Documentary Form and Meaning | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Sound Design and Recording.Types of color grading at Documentary Film. | Documentary Form and Meaning | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Field Production, On location shooting exercise. | Film Directing Fundamentals | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MID-TERM | Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Narration. Narrate Draa-matc Construction. Personilization | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Visual Storytelling Through Cinematography. Project 3 - Submission | İntroduction to Documentary Film | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Working with archieval footage.Integration footages to the Documentary Film. | The Filmmaker's Handbook | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Choosing appropriate Music. Controlling Emotions | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Documentary Ethics and Representation Filmmakers responsibilities - SICKO | Documentary Form and Meaning | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Combining interviews with music and film - Project 4 Submission | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Closing Remarks | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Project - 1 ,Proposal | 1 | 15 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Project - 2, MID-TERM- Interview | 1 | 25 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Project - 3, Six Week Progress | 1 | 10 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Project - 4, Storyboard for Final | 1 | 20 | 2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Presentation | 4 | 6 | 24 | |||
| Project | 5 | 9 | 45 | Final Exam Study | 12 | 2 | 24 | |||
| Midterm Project | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/10/2025 | |||||||||