Documentary Production (11143.1)

Please note these are the 2022 details for this unit
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Documentary Production
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Arts And Communications Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit Band 2 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Documentary Production integrates theory and practice to provide a critical understanding of the diversity of the documentary form. Students work in small groups to produce a series of films based in actuality and so discover the storytelling power and variety of the documentary film.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify documentary forms and production techniques;
2. Research and write documentary proposals;
3. Produce, direct, film and edit documentary productions; and
4. Identify ethical issues related to documentary production.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology


Prerequisites

11138 Films Tools and a Meta-Narrative Vocabulary OR 11080 Digital Media Fundamentals

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

7883 Documentary Production

Assumed knowledge

Basic camera operation and operational understanding of a non-linear editing application.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Mr Rob Hardcastle
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Mr Rob Hardcastle
Not available

Required texts

There is no set text for this unit. 

A number of recommended texts and current resources will be made available on the Canvas site. 

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

See individual assessment item guidelines. 

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Not attending workshops and lectures will have a negative impact on your grade due to you missing learning opportunities and the opportunity to demonstrate that learning.

Required IT skills

There is an expectation that students have basic film, lighting, editing and sound recording skills to begin this unit. 

In-unit costs

All students should own an external hard drive (or two), to back up all of their footage and assignments. 

Work placement, internships or practicums

None for this unit. 

Additional information

All filming involves logistics and health and safety considerations. As such, a safety report needs to be completed before each film shoot that is taken outside of class time.