Specifications and Limitations

Specifications

The documentary must address and interest the expected audience.

            Limitations

• ·      Information relatable to adults and understandable to children.
• ·      Script and storyboard comprehension difficulty level is 8^th grade.

The documentary must have a length that engages the listener and gives as much information as possible, approximately 8 to 12 minutes.

            Limitations

• ·      The average human sustained attention span is 20 minutes.
• ·      The average attention span during a presentation is 5 minutes.

The documentary must be visually appealing and must complement the museum design.

            Limitations

• ·      The museum layout is plain and traditional.
• ·      Colorful elements stand out if less color is used elsewhere.
• ·      Using photography, animation, text, and video creates more interest than just one medium.

The documentary must be created on a program export compatible file to a computer.

            Limitations

• ·      MacBook includes iMovie, a software program that creates movies.
• ·      PCs include Windows Live Movie Maker, another program that creates movies.

The documentary must have an attention-grabbing layout.

            Limitations

• ·      Kids enjoy characters, clever narration, and interesting graphics.
• ·      Documentaries begin with a question to answer later to delay the reveal of the message or to quickly capture the audience’s attention.
• ·      Documentaries begin with a selection of photographs to grab the audience’s visual interest and set the mood.
• ·      Documentaries begin with a “cold opening” to dramatically demand the audience’s attention with a video clip or scene.

The documentary must be educational and informative and be interesting and enjoyable.

Limitations

• ·      Must include facts about history and the art pieces.
• ·      Documentaries must stimulate the viewer and hold their interest.

The documentary must have proof to back up statements.

            Limitations

• ·      Research must be factually accurate
• ·      Using a variety of media is persuasive

The documentary must address all information regarding the relationship between science and art in the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

            Limitations

• ·      Unadorned historical information is boring for most young children
• ·      Information must fit properly into the narration and script of the video