A How to Guide…Film Process & Tips Short Documentaries A How to Guide…Film Process & Tips

What is a short documentary? A documentary is a non-fiction film account of a topic. To make your DSLR documentary of any length and subject matter into something that people will find interesting, consider these tips and process. A short documentary is a lens on a self-contained world. Contrary to what you might think, a short doc takes just as much time as a feature-length doc — but it's also just as much fun to make. If you want to start making your vision a reality, there's no better time than now to make a short documentary.

Pre-Production Choose a subject -- what you want to make a film about. Remember, you'll need to complete the project. Think about who, what, and where you'll shoot. Form a basic idea for a story and if you're having trouble, read short stories for inspiration.

Pre-Production Watch documentaries. Once you have worked out what style of documentary you are going to make, analyze similar documentaries to identify conventions. Make sure you pay attention to the documentaries narrative structure, as this is where most amateur documentary filmmakers go wrong.

Pre-Production Write a treatment. This initial document should include a summary of the documentary, and the goal or purpose of the film. Outline your script, covering each major section but keeping the outline under 300 words.

Pre-Production Script your story idea. You will need to have a script, or you can't have a film. While thinking of an idea, make sure you write something attractive to your viewers.

Pre-Production Draw out a storyboard, illustrating the shots you plan to use. Don't worry about following the storyboard perfectly. It's just a good idea to get your thoughts on paper and a great way to see if you can communicate an idea "visually" rather than needing the actors to verbally communicate the concept. The viewer is watching first and listening second.

Pre-Production Be prepared. Brainstorm the worst things that could happen during making your documentary and how will you deal with these. Remember to look at both technical problems and story problems.

Production Get ready to shoot it. Choose the equipment, something that can record video. There are many choices. Learn a few features, and review how your recording device works (sound, DSLR, lights).

Production Create a schedule. This will keep you focused on your project. Get a production binder or process book. Identify what days you and your crew is available.

Production Shoot your footage. If you are under a tight time pressure, consider using a second camera as this will enable you to be twice as efficient.

Production Interview the subjects. Plan questions. The easiest way of doing this and keeping focus is to write who, what, when, where, why, how, and then brainstorm questions around these. Subject must be comfortable around the camera and open and honest. Talk to them before filming, you could talk for half an hour or more to make the subject comfortable around you.

Post-Production Log footage. Before you proceed to editing your film watch all your footage through, writing notes on every shots stating if it works, are there technical problems. This will save you a lot of time when editing.

Post-Production Edit your film. Learn how to "cut" pieces of your footage together and put music or speech over your video.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary KNOW THE TOPIC YOU PLAN TO FILM Whether you’re making a two-hour feature length film or a two-minute online video, you need to understand the subject; otherwise, you’re not going to fully understand what to include, ask the right questions, or draw the appropriate conclusion.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary Research the topic. Understand the issue for both sides. Understand the subject. Seek out experts. Try to get a handle on the topic from someone familiar with it.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary PLAN YOUR SHOOT WELL Making a documentary is about more than shooting a series of scenes, putting them together with a narration track, and expecting to have a compelling movie. Quite the contrary: A documentary encapsulates classic storytelling with a beginning, middle, and an end, along with detailing the conflict and coming to some sort of resolution.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary In order to do all that, you need to meticulously plan for each shoot and the actual message. Here are a few tips: Make calls ahead of time. See who will talk to you and what access you can have with them. Know your questions ahead of time. Create a shot-by-shot outline. A working script works well as a guide for your movie.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary SHOOT A STRONG NARRATIVE In a perfect world, James Earl Jones would narrate your story. You can still find a strong solitary voice to carry the storyline and set up people, places, issues, and other elements.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary Find the right voice. Write a script. The voiceover script should include a tightly written, witty account of your story with references to movie footage.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary SHOOT MUCH MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER USE Because the story comes together in editing, it’s hard to tell how much you’ll need to shoot.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary USE STILL PHOTOS Zoom: Pull in or out of a photo to show detail or setting. Pan: Move from right to left; left to right; or up and down. Twist: Shift the horizon a little.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary WATCH DOCUMENTARIES TO UNDERSTAND NARRATIVE Although a filmmaker learns how to make films by making films, the same can be said when it comes to watching them too. That applies to documentaries too. Get past the misconception of documentaries as tedious, boring movies. When they’re made correctly, they are as entertaining as a feature film.

Tips to Filming a Great Documentary Bowling for Columbine (2002) Director: Michael Moore The director of Roger and Me (1989), and Fahrenheit 9/11(2004) won an Academy Award for this humorous take on the serious subject of gun control after the tragic school shooting in Columbine, Colorado. By putting himself in the film, he changed the context of the narrative.