Documentary |
a video that reports on a person, topic, or event using interviews and supplementary footage
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"We are not documentarians, we are filmmakers." - Michael Moore
A documentary film is a nonfictional motion picture intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record. Such films were originally shot on film stock—the only medium available—but now includes video and digital productions that can be either direct-to-video, made into a TV show or released for screening in cinemas. "Documentary" has been described as a "filmmaking practice, a cinematic tradition, and mode of audience reception" that is continually evolving and is without clear boundaries.
History of Documentaries
Types of Documentaries
Films From Presentations
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Films From Presentations
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Choose a Topic
You should choose a topic that interests you. This will make it easier to stay full engaged in your project. Your topic should also carry interest in the audience that you plan to reach/inform.
TIme to Research
When you are making a documentary, you are not expected to be an expert...However you should at least be knowledgeable about your topic. "What is knowledgeable" you ask? The term means that you are not totally in the new or in the dark about your topic. You should do enough research so that you do not ask ignorant questions during your interviews.
Schedule Interviews
Seek out interviews with people that will help build your story. If there are experts on your subject matter, you should attempt to secure them for interviewing. Depending on your topic it may be beneficial to have interviews with people on both sides of the issue that way you can play them against one another like in political debates.
Develop your questions
You should formulate a good list of questions before you conduct your interview. If possible, you should send your preliminary list of questions. This will allow your interviewee time to think about their responses prior to the interview.
Conduct your Interview
Set up the interview space before your interviewee arrives. People do not like their time to be wasted while you set up things that could have been done ahead of time. Time is Precious. Time is Money. Time is Non-Refundable. Don't Waste Time.
Make sure your interviewee is properly mic'd to ensure high quality audio. This is the point where you need to take your time to do things right and double check. Horrible audio will render your interview utterly useless.
While interviewing, use your questions as a guideline, but also listen intently to the answers your interviewee gives this willl allow you to ask intelligent follow-up questions.
Make sure your interviewee is properly mic'd to ensure high quality audio. This is the point where you need to take your time to do things right and double check. Horrible audio will render your interview utterly useless.
While interviewing, use your questions as a guideline, but also listen intently to the answers your interviewee gives this willl allow you to ask intelligent follow-up questions.
Record B-Roll
Film Great B-Roll to accompany your interviews. All B-Roll should be related to the topic at hand. Random B-Roll will drastically take away from the strength of your documentary. Remember watching someone respond to questions can get boring fairly quickly if we do not have other clips for cutaways.
Edit Your Documentary
Now its time to combine your interviews, B-Roll, Voiceovers, Graphics & Music. Organize your documentary in a manner that builds a story that is easy to follow and easy to comprehend. Now is not the time to creatively confuse your audience. Documentaries should be informative, but also entertaining. The perfect mix of the two will create a very successful final piece of work.
Create Graphics:
DO NOT include any graphics with your questions written out.
Create Graphics:
- Title page:create a clever name and explanation.(Ex:Snuggly Snakes:A Different Kind of Pet)
- Lower Thirds:This is where you give the name of your interview and their title, why are an expert on your subject).(Ex:Maurice Dovack,Pet Owner).This needs to appear in the lower third of the screen.
- Credits:give credit to all the people who helped you on this project.
DO NOT include any graphics with your questions written out.
How to Write & Produce a Documentary - Indy Mogul
Documentary Examples
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Student Examples
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Lesson
(Groups of 3)
Pre-Production - 3 Days
- First, you must select your topic/subject. (ALL TOPICS MUST BE APPROVE BY MR.SMITH BEFORE ANY PLANNING BEGINS)
- The content of your video must be school acceptable. No inappropriate materials allowed. (i.e. Profanity, Alcohol, Drugs, Weapons, Sexually Illicit Content, & Nudity/Semi-Nudity, No Swimsuits or Suggestive Sleepwear)
- You must determine the story you want to tell and plan how you are going to share the information
- Research your topic so you at least have a basic understanding.
- Your plan must schedule your interviews prior to the day you plan to shoot them. Rember it is good to share your questions with your interviewee before you conduct the interviews. IF you do this you will probably get more accurate and educated responses.
- Write your preliminary questions well before your interview.
- Think about what B-Roll can support your documentary
- Determine all gear you need for the interview (i.e. Microphones & Lighting)
Daily Grade #1 - Preliminary Questions & Interview Scheduling
production - 5-6 Days
- Stage your set for the interview prior to your interviewees arrival
- Test your gear prior to the interviewees arrival
- Film you interview & B-Roll
- Make sure you have the correct spelling of names and appropriate titles of the interviewee
- Listen to the interview and ask good follow-up questions
- Record any necessary voiceovers
- Do not waste time
Daily Grades #2-4 - Be on task and working each and every day. Don't just hangout.
Postproduction - 5 Days
Professionalism Daily Grade - Be on task and working each and every day