How to Make a Documentary
Find a captivating, accessible subject.. Do as much outside research as you can.. Decide on an "angle" for your documentary.
Steps
Find a captivating, accessible subject.
Find a captivating, accessible subject.
Do as much outside research as you can.
Do as much outside research as you can.
Decide on an "angle" for your documentary.
Decide on an "angle" for your documentary.
Get a camera, several microphones, and a few lights.
Get a camera, several microphones, and a few lights.
Write out a shooting script for your documentary.
Write out a shooting script for your documentary.
Draft a budget and shooting schedule.
Draft a budget and shooting schedule.
Put together your crew.
Put together your crew.
Make sure any people in the documentary sign release forms if they appear on cam
Make sure any people in the documentary sign release forms if they appear on camera.
Prepare your interview set before the person arrives.
Prepare your interview set before the person arrives.
Write out a list of questions in advance.
Write out a list of questions in advance.
Sit and talk with the interviewee before turning the cameras on.
Sit and talk with the interviewee before turning the cameras on.
Let the film speak for itself, instead of trying to speak for it.
Let the film speak for itself, instead of trying to speak for it.
Find the points of view you disagree with.
Find the points of view you disagree with.
Shoot B-Roll at every location you visit.
Shoot B-Roll at every location you visit.
Keep any recreations simple and faithful to the source material.
Keep any recreations simple and faithful to the source material.
Make a backup of your footage shortly after shooting.
Make a backup of your footage shortly after shooting.
Use a non-linear editing system to splice together your footage.
Use a non-linear editing system to splice together your footage.
Use credits, titles, and text to give your audience the basic information of eac
Use credits, titles, and text to give your audience the basic information of each scene and interview.
Focus on the subject, not the "grand significance" of it all, when editing.
Focus on the subject, not the "grand significance" of it all, when editing.
Consider adding a narrator.
Consider adding a narrator.
Watch the movie as you edit it with trusted friends.
Watch the movie as you edit it with trusted friends.
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