Making Video and Film in the Social Sciences

The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science welcomes postgraduate research students to the following advanced training event:

Making Video and Film in the Social Sciences

11-12 May, 24 June and 9 September 2016

Making Video and Film in the Social Sciences is a four-day workshop for PhD students in the social sciences interested in using video and film in their, or as part of, their research. Held over four sessions, the workshop will engage with different approaches to making video, encouraging participants to shoot their own material and produce a short video on their research.

The sessions will be held on the following dates:
Wednesday, 11 May; Thursday 12 May
Friday, 24 June
Friday, 9 September

Prior experience in working with video is not necessary, but participants will be required to bring their own video-enabled camera and laptop to be able to produce their own work over the summer.

The workshop will be held at the 1st floor practice suite, Chrystal Macmillan Building, 15a George Square, Edinburgh University.

Workshop Schedule

Day One - Wednesday, 11 May 2016

10:00 – 10:45 - Introductions and presentation of workshop outline
10:45 - 11:45 - Parallels between documentary film and social research: narrativising and storytelling
The six modes of documentary film
11:45 – 12:00 - Coffee Break
12:00 - 13:00 - Synopses, Story Arcs, Transitions, Characters
13:00 – 13:45 - Lunch
13:45 - 14:45 - Screening of Short documentary followed by discussion
14:45 - 15:45 - Provide a synopsis of your research: how would it look in film format?
15:45 - 16:00 - Coffee Break
16:00 - 17:00 – Discussion: How to narrate a social scientific piece visually

Day Two - Thursday, 12 May 2016

10:00 - 11:15 - Documentary Screening and discussion of visual cues
11:15 - 12:00 - Principles of Photography, Types of Shots
12:00 - 12:15 - Coffee Break
12:15 - 13:15 - Recreating and analyzing scenes
13:15 - 14:00 - Lunch
14:00 - 14:45 – Cameras and Smartphones: technicalities
14:45 - 15:30 - Assignment - Gather the following types of shots:
- Establishing shot
- Close-up
- Extreme close-up
- Wide shot
- Medium Shot
- Portrait shot demonstrating headroom and looking room
15:30 - 15:45 - Coffee Break
15:45 - 16:15 - Recording sound in video: technicalities
16:15 – 17:00 - Develop synopsis of your research in film format

In the time between day two and day three of the workshop, participants are expected to film rushes and gather footage towards their developed synopses to be edited into a short film

Day Three – Friday, 24 June 2016

10:00 – 10:30 - Discussion: How did you find the filming process?
10:30 - 11:15 - Revisit synopses, taking stock of footage, and develop storyboard for editing
11:15 - 11:30 - Coffee Break
11:30 - 12:30 - Editing software basics: importing rushes, synching sound, creating a timeline
12:30 – 13:15 - First editing session
13:15 - 14:00 - Lunch
14:00 - 16:00 - Second editing session
16:00 - 17:00 - Discussion: The linearity of an academic text and an editing timeline

In the time between day three and day four of the workshop, participants will be required to finalise their edits, drawing upon distance support of the workshop convener.

Day Four – Friday, 9 September 2016

10:00 - 11:30 - Discussion: How did you find the editing process? 
 How and why did you approach your film the way you did?
11:30 – 11:45 - Coffee Break
11:45 - 12:30 - First screening and discussion session
12:30 – 13:15 - Disseminating your films: How, where and why
13:15 - 14:00 - Lunch
14:00 - 15:30 - Second screening and discussion session
15:30 - 15:45 - Coffee Break
15:45 - 17:00 - Wrap-up and Reflections

Arrangements

The training course will not be catered. There is a cafe in the building (minimum charge applies if paying by card!) and plenty of food and drink outlets in the vicinity.

Doctoral students in the Social Sciences can claim back travel expenses from the SGSSS; claim forms available at the event. Doctoral students in the Arts and Humanities can claim back travel expenses from the SGSAH. For both categories: please note that travel needs to be by standard class public transport unless otherwise agreed with SGSSS/SGSAH in advance.