Week 2 - Lecture Interactive Digital Moving Image Production | CU3003NI | - Pratik Man Singh Pradhan

Process for Making Good Documentaries

Follow the 5W1H Rule  Who  What  When  Where  Why  How Have a Main Character of attention (Can also be objects)

Documentary Film  Making a short documentary takes just as much effort as a longer one; you still need to compile the material, sort through it, and get the right angle on the story.  Here are some pointers for the best technique to adopt when putting together a short documentary.

Documentary Film - Meaning  It is a nonfictional motion picture intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record.  It is based on facts.  Acts as an educational tool for general audience.

Key Steps to Making Documentaries  Tell a story you care about  Research  Make a Plan  Write a Script  Create a Shot List  Start Shooting  Begin Editing  Check Legal and Copyright Issues  Distribute!

Tell a story you care about  Start with a subject that excites you.  If you’re lukewarm about the subject matter, chances are, the final movie will be too.  Make a documentary you’re passionate about and makes sense to YOU.

Research  Learn everything you can about your documentary subject.  Sometimes the story lines are obvious, sometimes not.  Do a lot of digging and follow leads.  This is where you put your reporter hat.  Gather facts and search for leads on interesting characters and story lines.  Watch some documentary films  Enjoy them  Analyse them  Pay attention to details  Listen to Narratives

WRITE A TREATMENT  Summary of Documentary  Goal/Purpose of Film  Outline your script so that you can make sure that it has all of the good short story components.  In your outline describe each section of your film, for a short film the outline does not need to be longer than 300 Words.

Make a Plan  Create an outline.  Think about HOW you’re going to tell your study.  What’s the structure?  The Style?  Is there existing footage or photos that help your study or will everything need to be shot brand new?

DEVELOP CHARACTER MOTIVATIONS  Characters without motivation or a personality are’t really characters.

WORK WITH DETAIL IN MIND  Storyboard Individual Scenes  Show the Finished Product to your Friends, Family, Teachers, etc.

INCLUDE A DRAMATIC EVENT IN THE NARRATIVE  One that involved all of the characters.

Write a Script  Choose a Subject – What you want to make a Documentary about  Make sure that you write attractive to your viewers.  Once all of the footage is shot and you’ve gathered the various production elements, time to start organizing it into a script.  Type out your script  Develop your characters with different personalities  Your movie won’t be interesting if everyone acts and talks the same.

INTERVIEWING  Plan questions. The easiest way of doing this and keeping focus is to write the 5W1H Questions.  Subject must be confortable 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 confortable around you.

Create a Shot List  This is a list of the footage and interviews you’ll need to make your movie.  Think if it as your list of “ingredients”.  Depending on the complexity of your project, you may not need to create a budget.  PRIOROTIZE SCENES  From your outline identity priority scenes

CREATE A SCHEDULE  This will keep you focused on your project. Get a diary.  Identify what days you and your crew is available.  Jot down priority scenes.  Film interviews early on.

Start Shooting  Brainstorm the worst things that could happen.  Have plan B  Are you making documentaries for the web, mobile devices, television, theater?  May be a combination?  Keep in mind HOW your movie will be viewed because that can dictate your shooting and storytelling style.

LOG FOOTAGE  Before you process to writing your film, watch all your footage through, writing notes on every shots stating if it works.  If there are technical problems then note it down  This will save your a lot of time when editing.

Begin Editing  This is actually one of enjoyable parts of the process. It’s like solving a puzzle!  Things Required  Video Editing Computer  Video Editing Software  Video Editing Tips  Video Editing Digital Essentials

Check Legal and Copyright Issues  Even though this is near the end of the list, it should actually be something you keep in mind from the very beginning and throughout the ENTIRE Filmmaking process.

Distribute!  Of course now that you’ve done all the work making your documentary, you want people to see it, right?  Never before have there been so many options for filmmakers to showcase their work.  From theaters to television to DVD to the web, a new world of distribution is being invented right in front of our eyes.  Making documentaries and showcasing your work is easier than ever!

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