How do you plan a documentary production?

How do you plan a documentary production?

Key Steps to Making Documentaries:

1. Tell a story you care about. Start with a subject that excites you.
2. Research. Learn everything you can about your documentary subject.
3. Make a Plan. Create an outline.
4. Create a Shot List.
5. Start Shooting.
6. Write a Script.
7. Begin Editing.
8. Check Legal and Copyright Issues.

What are the three key elements of a documentary?

Elements of a Documentary Film

• Subjects. The subject is what your documentary is about.
• Purpose. The purpose is what the filmmaker is trying to say about the subjects of their film.
• Form. The form is the formative process of the film.
• Production method and technique.
• Audience experience.

What are the key elements of a documentary?

Those essential elements (story, conflict, structure and character) are the elements that will provide the framework for your film.

What makes a good documentary producer?

Documentary film-makers need passion Documentary film-making is more than artistic expression – it’s people’s stories. It takes a lot of patience, commitment and passion to pursue that story. Good communication skills and appreciation of the visual arts are helpful.

What is documentary production?

What Is A Documentary Production And Why Invest In Them? A documentary production is a longer format film or video that examines specific subject matter in greater detail. From a duration standpoint, they can often range from as little as 2 to 25 minutes (Mini-Docs) to several hours (Feature Docs).

What are the stages of documentary production?

Documentary Video Production

• Pre-Production. Preparing for your shoot. Researching your Topic. Finding Audio/Video/Images.
• Production. Shooting Video. Recording Audio. Lighting Interviews.
• Post-Production. Editing Video. Editing Audio.
• Copyright.
• Attribution.
• Assessment.
• Examples & Resources.

What makes a documentary credible?

Documentary film speaks about situations and events involving real people (social actors) who present themselves to us as themselves in stories that convey a plausible proposal about, or perspective on, the lives, situations, and events portrayed.

What makes a documentary powerful?

A good doc, in my opinion, must have the following: a subject anchored in a local story that is universal; a story arc comprising a seductive opening, a taut rising action, an unexpected but mind altering climax, a hopeful but not maudlin denouement; unforgettable characters who reveal everything and are “real”; a …

What makes a documentary engaging?

The three most important things to a documentary viewer are; Factual information (as most people watch documentaries to learn something), The topic of the documentary (it is likely that people will be more engaged with a film that deals with a topic they can relate to), and entertainment (no one wants to watch a three …

What is the role of a documentary producer?

Documentary Producer That can mean I do the fundraising, write the script, videotape the interviews, hire the crews, do the editing, promote the film, work with the composer, oversee the budget, negotiate with DVD distributors, etc. My role may be some or all of the above.

What does it mean to produce a documentary?

A film producer is a person who oversees film production. The producer is tasked with making sure the film is delivered on time and within budget. Finally, the producer will oversee the marketing and distribution. For various reasons, producers cannot always supervise all of the production.

What are the steps in the documentary production process?

Pre-Production 2. Production 3. Post-Production 4. Copyright 5. Attribution 6. Assessment 7. Examples & Resources A two-column script is an easy way to structure and plan for your documentary project.

Is it easy to make a documentary?

Some novice filmmakers mistakenly believe that documentaries are easy to make, so long as you have an idea, some real life camera footage, and a small audience to view the final product. However, there is a lot more that goes into filming a powerful documentary and a solid education in filmmaking can make or break your documentary film career.

How do I make a documentary script?

There’s no single way to make a documentary script. But generally you want to break down your narration, sound and visuals into a two or three column A/V script. Use this to plan your edit with the sights and sounds of your footage.

What lessons can I learn from my first feature documentary project?

Here are some top lessons I learned with my first feature documentary project. 1) Make a trailer: If you have any need or desire to raise funds for your project, a trailer – a fantastic trailer — is essential. A trailer is also a wonderful tool for building an audience and creating buzz.