Social Documentation M.F.A. Program

Program Overview

The Social Documentation M.F.A. program at UC Santa Cruz empowers aspiring documentarians to create impactful films that advocate for marginalized communities and social change. Through hands-on production experience and training from industry professionals, students develop critical analysis, storytelling, and technical skills in documentary filmmaking, preparing them for careers in independent media, human rights work, and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Social Documentation M.F.A. program at UC Santa Cruz is a one-of-a-kind program designed for aspiring documentarians committed to social change. The program aims to provide students with the skills and confidence to enter the sophisticated world of documentary production while advocating for marginalized communities, cultures, and issues. The program goes beyond traditional storytelling, focusing on the intimacy of people's lives, the underlying causes of social injustice, and pressing issues.

Objectives:

The program aims to equip students with the following:

Critical Analysis:

Analyze social issues through the lens of social science methodologies and ethically navigate community engagement and professional interaction in documentary fieldwork.

Writing and Proposal Development:

Acquire analytical writing skills, produce advanced project proposals, and develop creative treatments.

Historical Understanding:

Demonstrate an understanding of historical documentary practices and apply those concepts in their own work.

Project Planning:

Demonstrate expertise in planning documentary projects.

Video and Photography:

Shoot documentary video and photography using various cameras and in diverse contexts.

Lighting and Sound:

Implement professional lighting and sound recording techniques in various settings and with diverse equipment.

Editing and Transcription:

Understand and implement video and sound editing, logging, and transcribing.

Post-Production:

Implement post-production video, audio, and photographic output.

Storytelling and Character Development:

Analyze field recordings to develop story structure and character development for their own work.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The program provides training from professionals outstanding in their fields.
• Teaching Approach: The program emphasizes hands-on learning through production experience.
Students create projects individually and collaboratively, gaining practical experience in all aspects of documentary filmmaking, including:
• Lighting
• Cameras
• Locations
• Subject and character choices
• Editing techniques
• Motion graphics and animation
• Trailers and websites
• Ethics and Worldview: The program integrates training in ethics, narrative perspectives, and markers of evidence.

Careers:

The program prepares graduates for careers in:

• Independent media
• Documentary filmmaking
• Human rights work
• Creative contributions across various fields

Other:

• Founding: Founded in 2005, SocDoc has a contemporary view of documentary that sets it apart from traditional approaches.
• Admission Requirements: Students should have a clear idea of a project, a commitment to social justice and human rights, and a desire to study their subject areas in depth.