How to Start a Documentary

Documentaries are a great way to spread knowledge, tell a story or make a film about your opinions. It can be a fun and rewarding experience, although it might be a bit daunting to start off for the first time.

Things You'll Need

• Camera
• Video editing program
• Organizer for your contacts
• Calendar to organize your shooting schedule

Instructions

1. Find a subject you’re interested in that you think would be a good documentary. It can be about anything you like, except remember that if you’re not passionate about what you’re filming, no one else is likely to find your documentary engaging. If this is your first documentary, it’s also probably best to think of something you know well and is close to home. It will be less expensive and easier to organize.

2. Figure out where the money is coming from. Even if you do most of the work yourself, it will cost something for cameras, tapes, editing software and even gas to get to where you need to go. If you’re paying for it on your own dime, then you’ll have a decent idea of how much you have to spend. However, you could also have your documentary funded by someone else. For example, if you want to a do a historical documentary on something interesting in your home town, it could bring business or tourism to your area. So you could speak with the Chamber of Commerce to see if they were interested in funding the project. There are any number of options for funding, you just need to do the research and make the calls for your area. As a first time documentary filmmaker, however, don’t be surprised if people are a little reluctant to give you money, but it never hurts to try. The worst that could happen is that they say no.

3. Budget out what the exact costs will be now that you know how much money you have to play with, and know where it is coming from. It might be helpful to put everything in a spreadsheet so it’s easy to keep track of.

4. Buy a camera and a video editing system if you don’t already have one, once you have your money budgeted out. If you don’t know how to do film or edit or don’t want to, make sure you find an editor/videographer that understands your vision and works well with you.

5. Make calls for any interviews or favors you might need for your film. Who and what you need, of course, depends on what your documentary is about. But interviews or filming at relevant locations can really up the quality of your film, so it’s worth using them if you can.

6. Plan out your filming schedule after making calls and figuring out exactly what shots you need. Make sure you make note of any specific events you need to be at to film that you can’t recreate, like a festival or a court date, for example.

7. Make sure that before you start filming, you get waivers/permissions that are legally signed. This will prevent your project from being derailed or you from suffering legal consequences later on. You’ll need them if you ever intend to release your documentary or make any money off of it. A lawyer, a website or a law message board can help you figure out what exactly these legal issues could be and what precautions you need to take.

8. Follow your schedule, and start working.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have a plan, and stick to it! It's very easy for movies, even documentaries, to go over budget.

• Tripods are a cheap way to really improve the quality of your shots. Make sure one is in your budget if you don't have one.

• Always research your topic, and double check your facts. You don't want to make a documentary based on facts that are wrong.

Resources

• MovieMaker
• Guide to Film Financing
• Documentary Educational Resources