How to Write Documentary Scripts

Documentaries are a great part of the film world. They open eyes to new worlds and teach viewers about all aspects and walks of life. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, documentaries are important. Everyone makes their documentaries differently but each must have a script of some sort. Writing a documentary script is completely different from writing a regular feature script. It has all its own rules and structuring.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Screenwriting software
• Television and VCR
• Rough cut copy of documentary

1. Research your subject. Get to know the topic so well that you can practically tell someone anything they want to know on the topic. Read and watch everything you can get your hands on. If the documentary is about a person or group of people talk to them. Get to know them, it will help you bring out their personality(ies) in the narrative.

2. Talk to the director about the process. Some filmmakers will have a rough script written before they begin shooting while others will wait until all the footage is shot and then have a writer come in to piece together a story from the footage. Still others want a writer to come in after the documentary is almost entirely edited and simply write the narration. Figure out what your plan will be. For the purposes of this we will continue with the most common method, collecting the footage first from a rough outline and then piecing it together.

3. Go through the footage and take notes. Look at the rough outline the filmmaker created for shooting. Write out a revised outline. Watch all the footage several times, making notes of clips and segments that can fit in with the outline or would make good transitional moments. Create yet another revised outline with your new inclusions.

4. Open your screenwriting software on your computer. Use a two column format where all the audio is on one side and all the visuals on the other. Write out all the elements you have at this point. You should be able to fill in the narration and audio side. If you don't have specific scenes in mind for all the fill time simply write "insert ____ footage."

5. Hand your script over to the filmmaker. He or she will edit the film as written or have an editor edit the film. Watch the documentary and take notes. Write down moments that could be better or where the voice-over should be changed.