How to Make Documentaries

Documentaries are true-story films. They are movies based on true events shown to educate the public on a particular topic or bring light to a situation or point of view.

Instructions

1. Watch documentaries. The best way to learn about documentaries and how they get made is to watch tons of them. You will learn about various styles, techniques used and even subjects and how they were explored. Become a documentary fan.

2. Learn how to shoot. Play with a video camera (a consumer or "prosumer" camera) and learn tricks and techniques for shooting. Test different lighting conditions and problems you might be faced with when shooting live events and footage you can't do another "take" on. Get comfortable with the camera. Take some film making classes at your local community college to learn even more.

3. Find a subject that is interesting and possible for you to film. There are tons of fascinating topics out there. Find one that you can be passionate about and that you can realistically film. It should be something that you can access, other people would enjoy learning about and you won't mind spending lots of time around.

4. Do lots of research. Find out everything there is to know about the subject. Look online, make phone calls to experts and go to the library and read. If there is even one little topic that may come up that you are uninformed about, get informed. The more you know, the better you can make your film.

5. Write out a rough outline of what you would like your film to look like and how you see it being structured. Write a mock script of sorts, with lots of room for the unknown footage you will collect and those priceless quotes you can in no way expect. Just beat out the structure of what you would like the film to look like and what kinds of footage you need to collect to make that happen.

6. Set up your interviews and find places, times and people to observe for your footage. In your research, you will find experts, events, gatherings and other things that you'll want to film to make a complete film. Set up shoot dates for all of these items to ensure you can get everything you need.

7. Shoot. Go out and film. Prepare all of your equipment, interview questions and light gear. Get tons of footage. Take footage of things you know you probably won't even use but just might because there is always that slight chance. Leave the camera rolling to capture those special moments that make movie magic. If you're lucky, you'll get one of those!

8. Edit. Put the film through postproduction. Go through all of your footage, categorize, import and edit. Use music, special effects and whatever else you need to make the movie magic come to life.

Tips & Warnings

• Provide multiple points of view to create a well-rounded and clearer picture of the truth.

• Keep an emotional and rational distance from your subject. Failure to do so will alter the truth and create a new reality.

• Shoot more footage than you think you need.

• Don't create set-up shots; it takes away from the film.