Documentary Examples
These are the clips shown in class. As we watch we will brainstorm types of materials used to tell the story visually. This will get us to start thinking about the way the medium of film can be used to convey research. More trailers and full documentaries are available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/videos/
The Importance of a Storyboard
- Storyboard TemplateCreating a storyboard is a good way to plan your film because it helps you pair text from your script with media (images, video clips, historic newspapers, infographics etc.) in a logical order.
How two tourists recreated Homer Simpson's culinary tour of 54 New Orleans restaurants in 7 days
"There was just one problem: Von Niederhäusern would only be in the city for a week. Pulling this off, they realized, would require meticulous planning, ensuring the endeavor was as efficient as possible. They printed out a storyboard of each shot in the Simpsons scene as well as a giant map of the city — marking the locations of all the restaurants, their addresses and opening hours."
Find Content
- World Digital LibrarySearch 19,147 items about 193 countries between 8000 BCE and 2000. Also able to browse by Country.
- Europeana CollectionsOver 48 million "artworks, artefacts, books, videos and sounds from across Europe." Most with Creative Commons licenses.
- Search the Library of Congress CollectionsIncludes: Audio Recordings, Films, Videos, Legislation, Maps, Newspapers, Personal Narratives, Photos, Prints, Drawings.
- Browse LOC "Free to Use and Reuse Sets"Access collections highlighting specific themes.
Primary Sources (primarily newspapers)
- Gale Primary SourcesHistorical publications: 19th Century U.S. Newspapers, the Times (of London) newspaper 1785-2011, and the Archives of Sexuality & Gender: LGBTQ History and Culture Since 1940 Part 1. (Also available individually.) Slavery and Anti-Slavery is not yet part of this service and must be searched separately.
Research Guide: Finding and Using Media
This research guide (accessed by clicking the link "Finding and Using Media" above) has a lot of information about locating images, audio and video. It lists resources available to you through the library and free online media outside the library that is in the public domain or published using a creative commons license.
Related Library Databases
- Naxos Music LibrarySearch for, browse among and listen to classical, jazz and other musical recordings. Date range does not apply. All recordings available in full.
Graphic Design and Infographics
- Canva.ComA free graphic design program. It can also be used to create infographics.
Interviewing and Filming
- Radio Diaries DIY HandbookThe link to "Interviewing Tips" in part 2 of this online handbook provides some advice if you would like to conduct an interview as part of your film.
- Library Equipment PageHere is a full list of equipment you can check out from the library front desk and from media services (also on the first floor of the library). Equipment that may be useful for this project includes: camera, microphone, portable audio recorder.
