How to produce a documentary film

Writing for Film and why documentaries are different

·      Film is visual.

·      Film shows motion.

·      Film reveals what the eye often can’t see.

·      Film transcends time and space.

·      Film is subjective.

·      Films choose audience.

·      Films emphasize and emotionalizes.

·      Documentary deals with fact, not fictional

·      Documentary is flexible

·      Documentary inspires movement and action.

·      Documentary involves less control

·      Documentary subject is paramount.

·      Credibility is key in documentary.

·      Form is more important than formula.

Conceptual consideration, the screenwriter must ask a number of practical questions as well:

·      1. Why is this film being made?

·      2. What does the producer/client/financier want to achieve through the film?

·      3. Who is the target audience and what should their reaction to the film be?

·      4.what will be the film’s technical conditions of use?

·      5. What is the budget of the film?

Short introduction to documentary

Over the years, several documentary styles evolved that came and went from fashion.

These styles ranged from newsreel to realist to romantic to propaganda and many more.

3 emerged as the most popular and encompassed most of the documentary films made well up to the 1990’s

Classical cinema

The most structured and traditional form of documentary. It gives great importance to clarity of narrative and image.

Direct cinema

This style of documentary originated in the late 1950’s and reached new heights of popularity in the 1960’s. Aimed for an extreme naturalism, using non- pro actors.

Documentary drama

This style mixes the techniques of drama and the factual elements of documentary.

Research you can’t say it enough!

Curiosity

Research is done when there is genuine desire on the part of the scriptwriter to learn more about the subject of his documentary.

The scriptwriter must ask himself some important question:

·      1. What have I not yet been told about this subject?

·      2.Is everything I have been told the truth?

·      3.What would I personally like to know about this subject?

·      4.If I were a member of the audience, what would I want to learn about this subject?

·      5.What can I find that is little known on this subject?

·      6.If the shooting has not yet started, what information can I gather that would aid the filming process?

 

Quantity Vs Quality

One of the more important question that scriptwriters have, “ How much research is enough?”

The quality of research is far more important than the quantity.

The scriptwriter must ask:

·      1.Is this information or source of information directly related to the subject of my film?

·      2.Is it necessary for the audience to know this information?

·      3.Will this information add to the overall quality of the film?

·      4.Even if is relevant and will add value, is it more relevant than all the other information I’ve gathered?

Digging Deep

What exactly is digging deep and going beyond the facts?

·      1.the top of the issue includes the facts.

·      2.the heart of the issue.

·      3.the root of the issue.

·      4. The branches of the issue that would add value.

·      5. Finding challenges.

 

The plot of the story

Plot is to move the story forward towards a goal.

There needn’t be dramatic twists and turns or high-pressure suspense or shocking surprise.

Backstory

Backstory is the background story that occurred before the start of the film.

Point of view

Where do they locate themselves in space to view the action?

3 types of POV

·      First- person POV

·      Second- person POV

·      Third person POV

 

Putting a script together

The three sacred “C’s”

·      1. Character- everyone knows films have characters. But why?

·      2.Conflict – is one of the most important aspects of a documentary. Conflict is to documentary what sound is to music.

·      3.Change- something, or many things, must definitely happen to keep the audience in their seats.

Writing visually

1. Show, don’t tell.

2. Show through action and movement

3.visual pertinence

4.Emotional pertinence

5.moods and metaphors

6.special effects.

Writing narration

Options in narration:

1.     First person narration.

2.     The voice of god

Basic steps that are imperative before making your documentary:

1. Determine if you have an original idea.

2.Read. If you've never made a film before, you have a lot to learn. Spend some time acquiring advise from the pros.

3.Watch. Go to the best DVD store in the area and take out every documentary you can.

4.Research. You must determine how to make your subject come to life, first on the page (the treatment) and then on the screen. Make sure that you will be able to gain access to all of the individuals, information sources and locales that you will use in your film.