How to develop a documentary film

A documentary film is unlike other types of movies that are primarily created for entertainment. Documentaries are non-fiction motion pictures that serve the primary goal of educating, instructing, and inspiring the audience. In many scenarios, documentaries serve as a vital source of historical records in rich media formats.

Are you considering creating a documentary film? This guide outlines six vital steps to creating a documentary film. Keep on reading to learn how to develop a documentary film.

Choose a Theme:

The first step to creating a documentary film is to choose a subject. Most documentary filmmakers select the theme based on a topic they are passionate about. Another pointer to a viable documentary theme a controversial issue within the society. Whichever approach you choose, make sure the theme appeal to a broad audience.

Research

After choosing your theme, the next important step is to start researching. Start your research by snooping around to discover important characters and storylines you need to investigate. In some cases, you need to locate subject matter experts who have the vital information you need. These are the people you will be featuring in your interviews. After the research stage, you’ll have the list of locations you need to visit and the people you’ll have to interview.

Create a Budget

Although creating a documentary might not be as expensive as shooting a movie, you would still need a budget for your project. Create a budget by listing all the costs, such as maintaining a media crew during the shooting, transportations, hotel accommodations, renting equipment, hiring a video editor, publicity, and the likes. Make sure you have a funding source to finance the project before setting out to the field.

Start Shooting

Now that you have a list of the people and places you have to visit, its time to book appointments and mobilize to the field. The way you shoot your documentary goes a long way to determine its quality. Your media team has a vital role to play here. You need decent lighting and multiple cameras to capture various angles while you shoot your videos. Basically, you will be recording interviews and coverage of location or events if necessary. Make sure you shoot quality videos.

Write the Script

After you have finished conducting your interviews and gathered other production elements, the next step is to organize all the facts into a script. Focus on captivating the audience with a compelling introduction. The script of a documentary goes beyond a mere narration of events. It should cover salient facts such as societal sentiments, various opinions, and other crucial information not included in video footage.

Edit the Documentary.

At this stage, you should have lots of video clips from interviews, locations footage, and event coverage. You’ll need a video editor to extract the relevant video clips that go along with the script you have already written. A skillful video editor should be able to use the clips to tell a compelling story that aligns with your narration and also captivates the audience.

Select a Distribution Channel

After you have completed your production, the next step is to publish. However, it is essential to crosscheck the documentary to ensure it is free from legal and copyright issues. After that, select a platform to distribute your documentary based on your monetization strategy. Thanks to advancements in technology, you have multiple publishing options for getting your documentary to your target audience.