How to make a documentary
There are a large number of documentary genres. There are detailed investigations, historical subjects, nature and wildlife films. Or it can be the story of an individual. Most documentarians start their careers by making films about their own lives or the lives of people close to them, or by making films about a particular hobby.
In order to make a documentary film, you need to take this activity as seriously as possible. And you can turn any amateur film into a professional creation. The most important thing about making your first film is the invaluable experience that will come in handy in the future.
In this article, we will tell you how to make a documentary to make it interesting and to evoke an audience response and sympathy.
How to make a documentary: step-by-step instructions
Start with an idea
When someone prepares to make a documentary, in most cases they already have an idea. It may have been sitting in his head for a long time, but think about it, will anyone else be interested in it? If you want to get big views of the film, then imagine in detail the wide audience that would want to see it. There are all kinds of subjects that are in demand today for documentaries.
Imagine yourself as the hero of the story and discuss it with your loved ones – your friends and relatives can help you see the subject in a new light. It is also highly recommended that you don’t choose a subject that doesn’t interest you. In most cases nothing good will come of it, as without the right passion for the subject you won’t be able to give it your best shot.
Write a quality script
Even if you want to make a film in the live-camera genre (that is, go behind your character and shoot him or her), you must have a script. We advise sketching out a plan first, which will make it easier to control the filming process.
Also write down a list of locations where the film will be shot, a list of the film equipment needed and the approximate cost of transport. But ideally the whole script should be written before you start filming.
Invite participants to the shoot
You can shoot short films alone and still be the producer, director, cinematographer and sound engineer all in one person. One of the main advantages of filming alone is getting closer to the characters in your picture. In doing so, the character in the film will look the most natural. The fact is that people often are afraid of huge film crews and feel uncomfortable in the presence of large numbers of people. Practice shows that in a more personal atmosphere, characters forget their fears and are more inclined to give unique material.
However, for the production of more serious and larger pictures, a full film crew is needed. It can be made up of your family, friends or people invited by adverts. If you have a solid budget, we recommend inviting professionals. With their help, filming will be quicker and much easier.
Buy the right equipment
The simplest documentaries in today’s reality are filmed using ordinary smartphones. However, if you plan a large-scale project and want to develop in this genre, then shoot on specialised video equipment. It all depends on your budget, but keep in mind that even an unsophisticated viewer may notice a difference in the class of equipment.
When working alone, a minimum set of equipment can be purchased:
- Two cameras (one main and one backup)
- Plenty of spare batteries to keep you filmed all day long
- Good stabilizer which will dramatically increase the quality of your recordings when you’re on the move
- Sturdy bracket with interviewing head
- Hinged microphone with remote recording capability
- Portable recorder
Editing and adding graphics
In documentaries, creators often use graphics or animation. It can be used for title sequences and captions as well as for explaining important points. Various photos, tables and infographics can be used. Such techniques dilute the film perfectly and make it look like it was made by professionals.
Editing is also particularly important in documentary filmmaking. Of course, you can make a film at a non-stop pace, reflecting life’s moments without exaggeration. But without editing, it’s almost impossible to create anything serious. So check out video editing software that meets your needs.
Don’t forget the soundtrack
Sound plays a crucial role in films, because the silent era of cinema was a century ago. Documentaries are no exception, and you need great sound to create even more interest in your film. We recommend using a horn microphone because it allows you to film remotely for longer periods of time. Hook the microphone to the actor and you won’t miss a beat.
Use voice-over narration. This way you can improve even a less successful film. Naturally, the voice quality also has a lot to do with it, so only high-quality recording equipment should be used.
These are probably the basic guidelines for making a documentary film. But apart from that, there are a few other issues that are most popular with aspiring documentary filmmakers. We will look at them below.
Conclusion
Finally, I would like to clarify a couple of things. If you want to make good money from your documentary, put it on the popular video hosting site YouTube. This hosting service is closely linked to social media and various online publications. With their help, you can get a pretty wide audience interested. In addition, YouTube itself also offers monetisation and advertising integration, which will allow you to continue filming.
The most important thing is that you get instant feedback from the audience and the public’s opinion of your project. Without this, it is impossible to know whether your experiment is a success or not.
Now you know what a documentary film is. You will need an idea, a script, actors and, of course, a good budget to make one.