While documentaries are about real people, places and events, they are far from easy to make. Sometimes the work and planning required for a documentary to be successful is even greater than that required to make a drama or comedy. Therefore, the writing phase is crucial for the making of a good documentary; not only do you have to choose an intelligent and malleable topic to cover in your documentary, but you will also have to plan - and sometimes script - the shoot ensuring that the documentary achieves its overall purpose.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Choose the Theme
Step 1. Tackle a topical social issue
Some documentaries try to persuade their audience to take a certain point of view towards a current social issue by showing true information that proves the author's point of view. This classic approach to writing a documentary is, virtually, very effective and relevant, as it revolves around issues on which - most likely - people already have strong opinions. Furthermore, the controversy generated by this kind of documentary guarantees an excellent level of publicity.
An example of this is one of Michael Moore's early documentaries, "Roger & Me". In this documentary, Moore paints a tragic portrait of multinational greed and the devastating effects their actions have on small communities by investigating the closure of a General Motors plant in Flint, Michigan which resulted in the loss of approximately 30,000 jobs. work. Beyond the personal opinion you may have of the now controversial film maker, it is impossible to deny that the film critically studies the state of American capitalism
Step 2. Highlight a little known subculture
Some documentaries aim to highlight small and genuinely unknown groups of people, whose communities appear peculiar, bizarre, compelling or otherwise fascinating. The subject subcultures of such documentaries can be composed of people who share a hobby, similar life circumstances, a common background, or some other connection. There is no limit to the types of stories you can tell with this type of documentary: funny, sad, emotional or a mix of the three.
As an example of this genre, see "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters". The film dives into the world of professional video game players, following the story of a beginner who hopes to unseat the reigning champion. This documentary is capable of creating a compelling story starting from the actions of a small group of people who matter little in the world
Step 3. Show the intimate side of a famous person
Some documentaries show the lives of famous people who have had a strong influence on the world. These documentaries often try to expose the "behind the scenes" of the trials and tribulations of celebrities that are now part of the collective consciousness and the best documentaries of this type use sources found thanks to extensive and exhaustive research and interviews with experts or people close to the protagonist of the documentary to show the public the hidden sides of this person.
An excellent example of this genre of biographical documentary is the film "Tupac Resurrection". This documentary shows the human side of the almost legendary figure of the rapper, thanks to home videos and interviews that show the sensitive, intelligent and confrontational side of the artist
Step 4. Document an important event live
Some documentaries show the public an important event from the inside, thanks to audacious field shots and interviews with the participants of the event. Sometimes, for these documentaries, the filmmakers "integrate" with the participants of the event. For example, for a war documentary, filmmakers can travel with a platoon of soldiers to film their life on the day-to-day front and to document confrontations with the enemy live.
Note, however, that this type of documentary does not necessarily have to deal with serious or tragic events. For example, concert documentaries like "Stop making Sense" simply film a band playing live (in this case the Talking Heads). When done well, these documents are very captivating
Step 5. Display the skeletons in the closet of those in power
Some documentaries aim to challenge the status quo by showcasing the corruption, hypocrisy and evil deeds of powerful people or organizations. These tabloid documentaries generate outrage, showing how the stated goals of those in power are usually diametrically opposed to their actual behaviors. Stories of people who are negatively affected firsthand by the incorrect actions of a rather powerful individual or organization are often used. It is very difficult to make documentaries of this kind, because obviously those in power will naturally be inclined to exploit every available resource to avoid being portrayed as a greedy, stupid or evil person. However, with determination, a lot of research and daring reportage, it is possible to create a documentary that lights the right fuse in the public.
"Hot Coffee" is a representative example of this kind of documentary. This documentary investigates the famous story of the woman who sued McDonald's after pouring hot coffee on herself and many other similar stories to show how the media, the interests of wealthy and influential companies, and the money of the politicians they collaborate with work together to "erode "the legal power of ordinary people in the civil system
Step 6. Dig deep and discover new information on historical events
Some documentaries talk about people, places and historical events, rather than recent or present. As the subjects of these documentaries are often already dead, this type of film relies much more on research and interviews with experts (such as professors, authors, and so on) than other types of documentaries. It is however possible to create a captivating story about the past that is relevant to the present by showing the links between the two eras to the public.
A recent documentary, exemplary of this genre, is the 2012 film "The Act of Killing", which speaks openly of the human capacity to commit evil by showing the filmmaker's attempts to have the perpetrators of the Indonesian genocide reconstruct the mass killings in which they had participated
Step 7. Show something the world has never seen before
Some documentaries try to capture something exceptionally unique. This can be an event unknown to most people, a person not famous, but with a fascinating story, or an interesting part of the story that has been lost over time. The best of these documentaries use their own unique themes to illustrate broader views on how the world works or what people really are.
A great example of this kind of documentary is Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man". Telling the story of Timothy Treadwell, who voluntarily went to live in the wilds of Alaska with the Grizzly bears and then killed by the same animals, Herzog portrays a man's unique relationship with nature, creating a story that resonates emotionally even with an audience. who would never think of living or having such an experience
Method 2 of 3: Plan and Script
Step 1. Do some research to build the foundation for your documentary
The first step in writing the documentary is to accumulate as much information as possible on the subject of the film. Use books, online articles and, if you can, direct sources (which have the advantage of providing information taken directly from people involved in the events covered by your documentary) to become an expert on people, places and facts useful for your film. Knowing as much as possible about the subject of the documentary will make it much easier to find an interesting point of view to give to the documentary. In addition, having a good knowledge of the reference material will allow you to know what information you want to include in the documentary (and the sources to which to attribute it).
If you're not sure how or where to start, try going to your local university and contacting a professor who is well versed in the subject of your documentary. While it may not know everything you need, it will likely be able to tell you where to find the missing information
Step 2. State your position with a logical and concise sequence of information
Documentaries tell, in their own way, stories with characters, settings and plots just like in narrative films. The documentary must have a beginning, a center and an end that work together to communicate a logical message or "point" of some sort to the audience. In short, you should tell your "story" to the audience in the most direct and efficient way possible. This requires that you decide in what order to present the information in the documentary to the public.
For example, if you are making a documentary on drug trafficking between the United States and Mexico, you will want to start by establishing a background for your documentary; for example, you could discuss the birth of the "War on Drugs" policy in the US, or show the path of a cocaine package from South America, to Central America, to the United States. You probably don't want to start with an interview with a boring professor; just like a normal film, a documentary must aim to keep the viewer glued to the screen
Step 3. Storyboard the movie
Even if documentaries aren't scripted - generally - they need to be well planned. Having a basic storyboard for the story you want to tell can help you plan and organize the shoot and can give a sense of purpose and direction to the film. A storyboard can also help you visualize the type of shots you want to use in your documentary. Like an ordinary film, a documentary can use visual storytelling techniques to prove a point to the audience.
While a storyboard can be a great tool for a documentary filmmaker, it's worth noting that, for some documentaries, some of your footage may stem from events that spontaneously occur in front of you. Open yourself to the possibility of making improvised shots; Surprise moments captured with the camera can "create" a documentary by themselves
Step 4. Write an organized roadmap
Like regular films, most documentaries need a schedule to make sure that filming goes according to plan and that all set goals are met. Your roadmap should also incorporate the trips you need to take to complete filming and also a lineup of all the important events you will need to attend.
Your roadmap must also include an agenda with all the interviews you hope to do. You will need to contact the people you want to interview as soon as possible to have the opportunity to catch them on time, so plan your interviews well in advance of when you want to start shooting
Step 5. Insert whatever type of narrative is present in the film into the script
A "scripted" part of a documentary is any narrated part of the film. The narrative needs a script that clearly and efficiently explains the information that the documentary cannot communicate visually. Text narration, without dubbing, must also be scripted in advance so that the editor or animator knows what to include in the text.
Step 6. Insert each reconstruction of facts into the script
Some documentaries, especially those about historical figures or events, include reconstructions of facts as recited by actors. If these reconstructions include dialogue, the actors will need the script in advance in order to study the parts. If there is no dialogue in your reconstructions, your actors will still need written stage direction.
Step 7. Be a merciless publisher
Don't be afraid to cut out parts and scenes that don't help prove a point effectively. If your audience is bored with the movie, they will be less receptive to the message you want to communicate and may end up "disconnecting". Keep the documentary short and direct as far as possible. Any cut parts will be included in the movie's "cut scenes" when it comes out on DVD, so be fussy about what to keep and what not!
Note that documentaries don't have to be feature films. Thanks to the internet, documentaries that are too short for cinema can be published as streaming videos or for download, ensuring the possibility for the film to reach the public
Method 3 of 3: Make Sense of the Documentary
Step 1. Tell a story with your documentary
As noted above, the best documentaries tell stories that are as captivating as what you can find in a regular movie. This approach to storytelling can be used to great effect beyond the subject matter covered in your documentary. The way you write, shoot and edit your film will have a central effect on how your audience will see the "characters" and react to the "story". Use narration to prove your point to the audience. Try asking yourself the following questions as you write and plan the documentary to make sure the film tells the story you want to tell:
- "How do I want the audience to feel about the people and events I'm portraying?"
- "What kind of message am I trying to communicate with each scene?"
- "What's the best way to put the scenes in order to communicate what I want?"
- "How can I use the sounds and images from the film to prove my point?"
Step 2. Aim to persuade the audience
Ideally, your documentary should inspire your audience to act or feel differently than they did before seeing the movie. Even the most light-hearted documentaries can benefit from this persuasive approach, so never lose sight of the reaction you want to create in the audience.
For some documentaries - such as those dealing with controversial social issues - the kind of persuasion you have to try to use is pretty obvious - usually. For others, the discussion may be more subtle. For example, if you are writing a documentary about a bizarre subculture of people who like to meet and pretend to be unicorns, you need to make it your goal to convince the audience that even though the habits of this group of people are rather strange, it still gives them a strong sense of community they may not find elsewhere
Step 3. Play an emotional coda
When you get the chance, aim straight for the audience's heart! Proving your point with the sheer force of logic is certainly desirable, but not all audience members will be receptive to a cold, emotionless logical demonstration. Audience members who agree with your film's logic will also get involved more if they have a strong emotional reaction to the film. Look for opportunities to show the tragedy or humor behind the events you are portraying. A great documentary will involve both the heart and the mind equally.
For example, if you are writing the earlier documentary on drug trafficking between Mexico and the US, you will want to include the heartbreaking story of someone who lost family members in an incident of drug-related violence along the border. This will give a human point of view to the point you are trying to prove, showing how much the life of a real person can be affected by the matter of your documentary
Step 4. Sell your content to the public
Remember: your topic is of paramount importance, even if, from a broader point of view, it is not! You're making a movie about something that thrilled, intrigued or captivated you, so the purpose of your film should be to make the subject matter of the documentary have the same impact on the audience as well.
