The project that I plan to conquer as part of spring quarter is to

make a documentary film exploring humans and their interaction with

nature. More Specifically how we utilize the outdoors as an alternative

to our normal domestic spaces. Everyday millions of people venture

out into nature to eat, sleep, and socialize just like they would at

home. This “call to the wild” is sometimes primitive and other times

high tech.

The aim of this project is to learn about the history of the

“Outdoor Lifestyle”. Also the Psychological reasoning behind why humans

are drawn to nature. The film will also have elements of the creation of

an outdoor living space through the use of things like tents and

cooking supplies. Another learning aim of the project would be

learning the ins and outs of documentary story telling.

There are a few books that will assist in the making of this

project. One is: Pathfinder: Blazing a New Wilderness Trail in Modern

America by Ron Strickland (May 15, 2011). This is a book about the

process of creating a new set of trails and campsites for people to

utilize as well as the process that goes along with it. Another book is:

Documentary Storytelling: Creative Nonfiction on Screen by Sheila

Curran Bernard (August 31, 2010). This book lays out the process that

is needed to tell a great documentary story on film. The final book is:

Last Season by Eric Blehm (January 30, 2007). This is a biography all

about a man who spent years alone in the wilderness.

The form I have chosen to make this project in is documentary

filmmaking. I have decided on this because it is more than just making

a film. The initial process and pre-production requires a lot of research

on the subject of “Outdoor Living”. Then there is the production. There

will be artistic shots of the outdoors as well as planned out and

detailed interviews. Then there is the post production that will involve

editing the film together as well as collaborating with other artists for

things like music and photography.

Time Log/Calendar: See PDF

The Outcome of this spring will be a feature length (90 min)

documentary about the alternative outdoor living space that is the

outdoors. The viewer will learn about the history and psychology as

well as seeing features of great people who live their lives outside.

The film will showcase many local people who have the outside

as a dominant domestic space in their lives. These people range from

photographers to fisherman to people who make there living off of

hiking websites. There will be professional psycologists who will be

featured in the film to explain the significance of mans carnal nature

and need to live outside.

There will also be historians who will tell of the history of how

man has gone from living outside to living indoors and then venturing

back outside to be one with nature again. The film will also talk of the

creation of our nations national parks and the economic impact that

has on our country.

Anthony Schuman
Proposal

This will be a polished film or will be continued in summer

quarter to create an ultimate final project that will be submitted to

many local and regional film festivals. The look and editing of it will

be clean and will be of the quality you would expect to see at a film

festival.

The WordPress will not contain actual footage from the film but

will be a collection of behind the scenes featurettes about the making

of the film. These will showcase the work and the progress without

divulging the film to the world. The film in progress will be shared

during the critique time for feedback.

A successful project will be at least 45 minutes of finished edited

film. That is half of the feature length goal just incase it needs to be

carried over into summer quarter as an independent learning contract.

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