Documentary

Pre Production Planning

1. Pick a protagonist

Pick a single protagonist (the good guy the audience roots for and invests in) that faces an obstacle and experiences new life because of it.  Think about if their story is interesting visually. 

2. Read "Save The Cat"

10 pages total that describes the 15 "beats" for a film.  Summarize the beats on a spreadsheet.

3. Watch Short Documentaries

Go to http://shawneetv.com/category/films/documentaries/ watch and summarize the beats from other docs. on the spreadsheet.  

4. Practice Recording An Interview with 2 Cameras and Lights- Self Interview

Go through the lighting section  of the wiki and set up a bust shot.  Use the checklist- Sony cameras, the slider, lav mic and JuicedLink from a Canon box.  

5. Write your beats and questions

You will have to guess what you think the story might be and draft questions that tell the story you intend when you interview your protagonist, support character and expert.  3 interviews should be enough.  Write the outline and questions on the beat spreadsheet.

6. Pre-Interview Your Protagonist

Schedule and record a pre-interview with your drafted questions.  The story may change.  Revise the questions accordingly.   Schedule the interview soon after.

7. Bust shot test

Record a bust shot at the location you intend to film your protagonist interview.  This will check for lighting, background, framing, and audio issues.  Once approved film your interview.

Production

8. Film 3 Interviews

Everything matters.  Do a good job with the cameras and mics.  Be a great listener and ask good follow up questions.  "What do you mean by that?"  "Could you explain that a little more?"  

9. Film 70 clips of Relevant Imagery

It takes about 70 or so short and artistic clips that relate to what is said in the dialog track in the film.  Take notes and keep signing out the equipment to capture what you need.  You may want to get extra creative for the opening and closing images.

Post Production

10. Log and transcribe the protagonist interview

Watch and take notes.  Transcribe using tech or by typing.  Youtube gives a transcription for free if you upload, just set it to private.  Logging is done by setting in and out points on your raw footage BEFORE you put it on a master timeline.  FCP is called keywording and Premiere is called subclipping.  Watch tutorials on how to do it on whichever software you are using,

11. Edit the beat structure

Submit each act for approval.  Bring me in the loop to help make story edit decisions.  

12.  Imagery 

Add your imagery.  Think of "say, see".  Color correction can make things look more interesting.  We also have tutorials for 2.5D image editing for pictures and depth.

13. Opening Title, Lower Thirds, Music and Credits

Chip away at these when you have time.  Music adds a major emotional element to the production, make sure you get the rights to use it.  Opening title is an artistic opportunity.  

Distribution

Once a film is completed, the producer can market and network to find an audience.  Research and share your film at film festivals, social media and other interested audiences.