How To Start A Documentary? A Step-By-Step Guide
Starting a documentary can feel like standing at the edge of a vast, unexplored wilderness. It's thrilling, yes, but where do you begin?
Whether you dream of crafting historical dramas, participatory documentaries, or reflexive narratives that question the very nature of filmmaking, the process remains a daunting adventure.
This guide, crafted with both seasoned and aspiring documentary filmmakers in mind, aims to illuminate the path from concept to screen, making your journey into documentary filmmaking as fulfilling as the stories you're eager to tell.
How to make a documentary:
1. Finding Your Story
Identify a Compelling Story: The heart of any successful documentary film lies in its story.
Start with an idea that fascinates you, something that you're passionate about, and believe others will be too.
Perform initial research online to gauge interest and viability. Remember, the best documentaries often spotlight unusual shots of reality, presenting the world in ways we've never seen.
2. The Research and Planning Phase
Dive Deep into Documentary Research: Understand your subject inside and out.
This stage might involve interviewing key people involved, accessing archival footage, or immersing yourself in the relevant academic perspective.
Your blueprint is a well-thought-out treatment, a written document that outlines how you plan to tell your story.
Create Your Documentary Schedule: Organizing your time and resources from the start will help you stay on track. This includes everything from when you'll start filming to how you'll go about the editing stage.
3. Choosing Your Tools
Selecting Camera Equipment: Your camera is your brush, and the world is your canvas. Choose equipment that fits your budget and needs.
Sometimes, a friend's mirrorless camera is all you need to begin capturing scenes. Your own visual style will develop with time, influenced by the visual techniques and camera angles you choose.
Picking Editing Software: Editing is where your documentary truly comes to life. Whether you prefer desktop documentaries or grand narratives, select editing software that meets your project's demands and your own skill level.
4. Production: Bringing Your Vision to Life
Start Shooting: With your research, plan, and equipment ready, it's time to start filming. This is where your preparation meets reality.
Capture interesting characters, employ a variety of narration styles (voiceover, presenter-led, or participatory), and remain open to the unexpected. Documentary filmmaking is as much about discovery as it is about storytelling.
Exploring Different Documentary Styles: Whether it's interview-led documentaries focusing on compelling characters or performative documentaries blending personal narratives with broader themes, experimenting with different styles can enrich your filmmaking process.
5. Post-Production: Crafting Your Story
Begin Editing: The editing stage is where your documentary finds its rhythm. This might involve integrating archival and existing footage, creating a flowing narrative, and adding voiceover narration or music.
A Few Different Options for Sharing Your Work: Consider your distribution options once your documentary is polished and ready. Film festivals offer a traditional path to recognition and audience engagement while streaming services and online platforms provide avenues to reach viewers worldwide.
6. Reflection and Growth
Embarking on your first documentary is a journey filled with challenges and rewards. You'll learn about your subject and yourself as a filmmaker.
Each project shapes your unique voice and style, from the initial research phase to the post-production process.
Final Thoughts
Documentary filmmaking is an extraordinary endeavor that allows us to explore, question, and reflect on the world around us. By capturing reality through your lens, you invite viewers to see the world from a new perspective.
Remember, the journey of making documentaries is as important as the stories you tell. Embrace the challenges, celebrate the discoveries, and always keep exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions about Documentary Filmmaking (FAQs)
What are the stages of the documentary filmmaking process?
Pre-production: This stage involves planning, researching, and organizing your documentary schedule.
Production: Start shooting your film. This is where you capture your footage, conduct interviews, and follow your story as it develops.
Post-production: Begin editing your footage, adding voiceover narration or music, and refining the film until it's complete.
What makes a successful documentary film?
Unique perspective: Successful documentary films often offer a fresh or insightful look into their subjects.
Engaging storytelling: Using the classic storytelling model to present your information engagingly is key.
Technical quality: Good visual and audio quality, alongside a clear narrative structure, can elevate your documentary.
Can I make a documentary by myself?
Absolutely! Many filmmakers start their filmmaking journey solo. Desktop documentaries and other categories focusing purely on personal or smaller-scale stories are great examples.
Initial research, filming with accessible equipment like a friend’s camera, and editing on your preferred software can all be done independently.
What are different types of documentaries?
Narrator-led documentaries: Guided by a voiceover, these documentaries often provide a broad topic overview.
Interview-led documentary: Centered around interviews with key people involved, providing various perspectives on the subject.
Participatory documentaries: The filmmaker is part of the story, interacting with subjects and the environment.
Performative documentaries: These blend personal stories with larger political or social issues, often featuring the filmmaker's subjective involvement.
Reflexive documentaries: These focus on the filmmaking process itself, questioning the nature of documentary-making.
How do I choose the right editing software?
Consider your skill level and the complexity of your project. There are a few different options, from beginner-friendly software to professional-grade tools.
Many filmmakers begin putting their stories together using accessible editing software that allows them to blend archival footage, existing footage, and new interviews.
What are common filming techniques in documentary filmmaking?
Over-the-shoulder shot: Great for interviews or showing someone in action.
Unusual shot angles: These can add interest and a unique visual style to your film.
Capturing scenes unfolding naturally: Allows you to capture reality without interference authentically.
How do I get my documentary seen by others?
Film festivals: A classic route for documentary filmmakers looking to showcase their work and gain recognition.
Streaming services: With the rise of video content consumption, platforms like Netflix and Hulu are great places to reach a wider audience.
Online platforms: Don’t underestimate the power of YouTube and other online platforms for reaching an engaged audience.
How important is the voice or narration style in a documentary?
The narration style can significantly impact how your documentary is received. It can provide context, guide the viewer through the story, and add depth to the visual content.
Experiment with the four main narration styles—voiceover, presenter-led, participatory, and reflexive—to find what best suits your project.
Any tips for first-time documentary filmmakers?
Start small: Your first documentary doesn't have to be a groundbreaking historical drama. Focus on a subject you're passionate about and that you can manage.
Learn continuously: Making documentaries is one of the most challenging endeavors, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Soak up advice from film critics, academic perspectives, and other documentary filmmakers.
Be adaptable: Your story might evolve as you delve deeper into your subject or as you begin shooting. Be open to where your documentary journey might take you.
