Successful documentaries are engaging stories. The quality of the characters or performers, the interviews, the setting, the visual material, and the aural material is all important.
Here are some tips for producing great documentaries...
1. Purpose... have a reason for telling your story - It’s all about the message - your end goal; what you want your audience to experience or learn or do. Eg. to - “drive better, stop using drugs, have greater awareness of an issue, understand and empathise with other cultures, motivate others to learn more about the subject you introduce.
2. Be Prepared… preparation is the key. Research your story well. All successful documentaries are based on good research. Also, investigate and become familiar with the locations, the people, and the equipment you intend to use
3. Catchy Title… have a good title. Good working titles capture the essence of the project and the imagination of the audience!
4. Show Passion… make your purpose clear, make the viewer care about your story. Show you care about and believe in your story also. The ingredients of a successful story include elements of passion, conflict, an engaging plot, and strong characters.
5. Narration...the narration or spoken parts hold the film together and are extremely important. If your documentary has narration the narrator should clarify or add new information or pose questions rather than explain what is on screen.
6. Interviews... interviews should be used to add value or a point of view to the documentary to help clarify or make a point. Try not to be boring!
5. Creative Shots… shoot creatively – a variety of shot angles, perspectives, sizes, points of view, character reactions will help you visually tell yoir story. Mix up your shots and shoot sequences.
8. Creative Thinking... let moving or still images do the talking, perhaps follow a subject or character and their movements, consider different points of view to make your documentary more interesting, or try reenactments to help get your point across.
9. Different Media... use archival footage or photos, diagrams or maps to help complement your story.
10. Use Captions... use written text to add information such as names, titles, dates, location to help clarify the what, who, where and when.
11. Keep it Tight... Don’t overdo the use of use of imagery and dialogue. For example a 2.5 minute story requires about a 250 word script. This equals about 100 spoken words per minute.
All documentaries have a backstory. From research, the backstory should provide a brief background context or summary of the character or situation. It should concisely focus on the main characters and their situation and relationships and should logically lead the viewer into the story. The backstory may or may not be included as a component of the film.
Documentary stories generally have 4 main parts:
1. The beginning... called ‘The Set Up’ - the ‘why the story exists’
This is the opening part of your film. It is essential that you start strongly - eg. - put the issue or issues up front... be provocative if necessary. What event / idea/ moment / situation forms the riddle or question?
This might be stated in the form of... a question, a premise, a problem, an issue, an investigation.
Include elements of the backstory to help with the context if required.
Perhaps try making a bold opening statement or pose a provocative question. Make sure you adequately establish where the story takes place (using narrative and visuals) and introduce and describe the people in the story (narrative and visuals). It is important to establish the protagonist (the main character) or the person who has the most to lose or gain in the story. The protagonist could also be the storyteller eg. you.
Consider your message and make your point! Make your position clear.
Summary... a. Establish the setting /location and describe the setting (visuals and narrative) b. Set up the problem / issue / ask a question c. Introduce the characters d. Set the tone page 49
Created by Kym Nadebaum 2012

2a. The middle (part a)... called ‘the essence of the story’ - ‘what happened and how it happened’
This is the part where you create interest and build suspense, emotion and feeling in the story. This part of the story generally contains the most information. The way you use danger, hazard, conflict, hardship, joy, excitement is important. This is where you capture the main point of the story. It is critical to plan your visuals (shots) that connect to and complement your to your narrative.
Summary... a. Describe the unfolding action b. Put the issues up front – prompt curiosity - the cause c. Build towards the main plot – the climax d. Use shots that are visually interesting and dynamic?
2b. The middle (part b) ... called ‘the essence’ - ‘what are the consequences’
This is the part that follows the main message of the story. This is where you deal with the after effects and consequences of the climax and work your story towards completion in the final resolution or conclusion.
Summary... a. Describe the consequences of what happened, the results or implications and the effect.
3. The end - called ‘the conclusion’ or resolution... ‘what’s the solution’
The conclusion is critical! Finish on a strong point and connect the beginning and end. Provide the solution, the answer, the transformation - what changed- how – why?
Summary... a. Wrap up page 50
Created by Kym Nadebaum 2012