What Is A Documentary?

"Documentaries bring viewers into new worlds and experiences through the presentation of factual information about real people, places, and events.”Sheila Curran Bernard, Documentary Storytelling

A Documentary Has

• Factual Information• Real People• Real Places

A Documentary Has:

• Factual Information– Not distorted– Not one-sided• Daniel Patrick Moynihan – “Everyone is entitled to his

own opinion, but not to his own facts.”

A Documentary Has:

• Factual Information– Not distorted– Not one-sided

• Real People– Actors - sometimes such as in Civil War films– Recreations – sometimes in crime reports

A Documentary Has:

• Factual Information– Not distorted– Not one-sided

• Real People– Actors - sometimes such as in Civil War films– Recreations – sometimes in crime reports

• Real Places– Maps– Graphics

Essential Elements

• The Open– Grabs Your Attention– Sets up the subject matter– Draws in the viewer

How To Do That

• Emotion• Shock• Interesting Video• Interesting Information

Emotion

Shock

Interesting Video

Interesting Information

The Documentary

• Set Up• Body• Conclusion

The Documentary

• The Set Up– Tell them what you are going to tell them– Brief outline of the subject– Make the audience want to watch

The Documentary

• The Body– Tell them what you are telling them• Voice Over narration• Video that shows the subject matter – B-roll

– Sometimes voice over– Sometimes full sound

• Interviews that add information, impact or emotion• Graphics that enhance the viewer’s understanding

The Documentary

• The Conclusion– Tell them what you just told them• Summary of important elements

– Use different graphics– Additional information

– Opinion of the producer• The viewer has the information to understand the

subject• Now the producer can present a point of view

The Close

• Title– Music Full Sound

• Credits• Fade to black

How To Get There From Here!

• Find a subject– Something you are:• Want to know more about• Angry about• Confused about

– Something related to a constitutional issue• Free speech, Freedom of Religion, Free Press• Interstate commerce• Taxation, Gun control, Criminal prosecution

How To Get There From Here!

• Do some research– Get the basic information– Find potential interviews– Locate places for B-roll video

How To Get There From Here!

• Write a treatment– A basic outline– Explains the subject– Tells why we should care– Shows how you will get it done

How To Get There From Here!

• Line up and shoot interviews– First prepare questions– Listen to responses and follow-up– Take notes

How To Get There From Here!

• Shoot B-roll video– Match video to elements of interviews– Use video to show subject matter– Video is essential to cover voiceover narration

How To Get There From Here!

• Produce a Rundown– An outline of the documentary– Lets everyone know the order and flow– Organizes elements for everyone working on the

video

How To Get There From Here!

• Create Graphics– Help explain subject– Reinforce visually the narration

How To Get There From Here!

• Write the voiceovers– Provides the basic information– Short declarative sentences– Keep them tight and to the point– Remember to coordinate with the video

How To Get There From Here!

• Edit the elements– B-roll edited to match the narration or vice-versa– Interviews edited for proper effect• For emotional impact• For credibility

– Cut for proper length

How To Get There From Here!

• Assemble the documentary– Pull all the elements together in a cohesive piece– Trim videos or re-cut when necessary– Rewrite and record voiceovers where necessary