Preview
We tell stories to keep the wolf from the door, the wolf being the sheer panic of our inevitable mortality. But stories bestow immortality. And then, what happens? What happens?
– I’m scared of the dark still. I’ve still got a night light.
MAN: There is something in this world that is larger than you are. Race is like the thing in the story and the mythology that you have to do for the kingdom to be well. Can you confront it with honesty? Do you have the energy to sustain an attack on it?
WOMAN: The greatest threat is the inner tension of people of this country. You have to attend to liberty.
KEN BURNS: Filmmakers take the seemingly random chaos of life and superimpose a narrative frame on it. And those truths have to resonate with other people. Maybe you, too, could add something that would last and be beautiful.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
– I knew I was going to be a filmmaker from age 12. From age 12, I’ve been buying books about film and about cinema and about the movies, all three of those things. And they’re different. And the day I started producing and working on a film, in January of 1972, I have never bought another film book.
There is nothing– no guide, no anythinG– that has, in any way, told me what happens in this moment right now– how to conduct an interview, how to be a good cinematographer, how to be a good writer. All of those things happen in the field. So to me, I think it’s about jumping into the deep end.
I think a lot of us are cautious enough– let’s get the whole budget, let’s do this, let’s have it all preplanned- and all of a sudden, you miss the key ingredient, that there is no guide to writing a screenplay that any great screenwriter has ever read– I mean, that something has to happen on page seven. If it doesn’t happen by page seven, you’re in trouble. I can’t even open those books.
And I used to do books about the history of film, and I used to know everything about every director ever. And I still know a lot. My brain is– but actually doing it is the greatest joy I’ve ever had. And I’ve been doing it now since– I mean, I shot stuff in high school, but if you say from that moment in January of ’72, I’ve been doing it for 46 years in some way, shape, or form.
What I’m hoping is that you can get a glimpse into my experiences, and I might be just a little bit farther down the road so that as you find your own road, they’ll be helpful. We are going to be delving deep into super important aspects about how one writes, about first-person voices, about archives, about footage, about music, about sound effects, about sound design, about all the things that will go into it. And then, I hope that without telling you how it should be, that you will understand that all of these things have to be working in interrelationship with each other in order to have a successful film.
The best thing I can say as we go into this journey together is forget everything. We have to liberate ourselves from…
The drama of truth
Since its 2017 debut, Ken Burns’s The Vietnam War has enthralled over 39 million viewers by painting an intimate and revealing portrait of history. In this online film class, learn how Ken captivates audiences with his ability to distill vast research and complex truths into compelling narratives. From first treatment to final edit, Ken teaches his documentary filmmaking techniques that “wake the dead” to bring their stories to life.
LESSON PLAN
01. Introduction
Meet your new instructor: award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns. Ken shares why he’s teaching his MasterClass, what you’ll learn, and encourages you to break free from the rules of conventional filmmaking.
02. What It Takes
Your life experiences, personal goals, and early films are all fodder for your career as filmmaker. Learn the highs and lows of Ken’s first film and his advice for navigating the filmmaking process.
03. Choosing Your Story
Using examples from his own project files, Ken teaches you how to identify powerful, universal themes that will resonate with audiences.
04. Finding Your Story Within The Subject
You’ve selected your topic, but what’s the story you’re telling? Ken teaches you how to use research to seek out different perspectives, discover your story, and anchor it in facts.
05. Telling A True Story
Learn how Ken sculpts stories to honor opposing viewpoints and portray a larger narrative picture.
06. Treatments, Pitching, and Funding
Filmmaking requires passion, vision—and money. Using an example from The Civil War, Ken teaches you the purpose and process of writing a treatment and his tips for navigating the world of fundraising.
07. Structuring a Documentary Narrative
A bold beginning, engaging middle, and compelling end—the laws of storytelling can and should be applied to documentary filmmaking. Learn how to structure your narrative to keep viewers hooked.
08. Sourcing Archival Materials
Archival materials are some of the richest storytelling resources available. But how do you navigate the huge volume of possibilities? Ken teaches you his time-tested methods for unearthing rare audio and visual materials.
09. Shaping Nonfiction Characters
Learn how to identify character arcs, leverage conflict, and set aside judgment to portray memorable nonfiction characters that capture the complexity of real life.
10. Case Study: The Vietnam War Episode Boards
Using the episode board from his docuseries The Vietnam War, Ken teaches you his strategies for visualizing the structure of your film.
11. Writing a Script
For Ken, writing a script is an essential step towards organizing and shaping a film’s story and structure.In this lesson, he explains how to leverage all the narrative tools at your disposal—from interview bites to narration—in order to craft your script.
12. Visual Storytelling: Cinematic Techniques
Ken teaches you how to use the cinematic tools of dramatic filmmaking to infuse emotion and meaning into the stills and live action of your documentary.
13. Visual Storytelling: Unforgivable Blackness Case Study
Using imagery from his film Unforgivable Blackness, Ken demonstrates how to artfully juxtapose photographs and interweave film to craft a compelling storyline.
14. Selecting Interview Subjects
The people you choose to interview help bring your film to life. Ken teaches you how to identify, approach, and vet the right subjects for your documentary.
15. Conducting an Interview
Learn Ken’s interviewing techniques to help you connect with your subjects and draw out their most compelling stories.
Not all interviews run smoothly. Using raw footage from The War, Ken walks you through one of his most difficult interviews, and shares how four simple words transformed it into some of the most powerful moments in the film.
17. Nonfiction Cinematography
You don’t need a huge crew to make a great film. Ken teaches you how to approach interview and field shoots using a lean production team.
18. The Power of Music
Learn how Ken uses music as a powerful storytelling tool in order to add layers of narrative depth and spark emotions in his audiences.
19. Editing: Process
After editing Civil War, Baseball, and Jazz, Ken created a new process to efficiently hone raw footage into the final cut. Learn his method for tackling vast amounts of material during the editing process.
20. Editing: Principles
Ken teaches you the guiding principles he’s developed over the course of four decades in the edit bay.
21. Editing Case Study: The Vietnam War Introduction
Using early, never-before-seen-cuts of The Vietnam War, Ken illustrates how to synthesize the components of a story and sculpt the film in the edit.
22. Recording and Using Voice Over
Using pages from The Vietnam War and The Roosevelts, Ken walks you through the process of tracking a VO session and directing talent.
23. Sound Design
To truly immerse an audience in your film, sound design is key. Ken teaches you how to spot for sound and harness the vast array of aural tools at your disposal.
24. The Artist’s Responsibility
Film has the ability to bridge geographic, linguistic, and political boundaries. Ken breaks down the role of the filmmaker in society and their power and responsibility as an artist.
25. Sharing Your Film
Part of the thrill of making a film is sharing it with others. Learn how to reach your audience and the importance of opening your film up to interpretation and conversation.
26. Jump The Chasm
Ken encourages you to let go of any lingering doubt and take the leap toward making your documentary film.
Sales Page:_https://www.masterclass.com/classes/ken-burns-teaches-documentary-filmmaking
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