How to Write a Documentary Script in 6 Steps
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
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Are you trying to make the perfect documentary film but don't know where to start? In this video, I dive deep into the key principles of scriptwriting for documentary filmmaking. Learn how to avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes that can destroy your production. This is Scriptwriting 101: Writing a great Documentary Script!
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With the doc I filmed (my first, which I'm currently editing) I didn't know anything about the process at all. I just grabbed a Sony camera and figured I'd just rely on my photography experience to get the shots and assemble it together. Unfortunately, I approached things like a photographer: I ran out there and started shooting - slightly embarrassed to say I was basically shooting b-roll at the beginning, not doing research or interviews. After learning the hard way, if I were to do it all over again, I would have started by leaving my camera in my bag (ok, maybe taking it out a bit) and spent the first week of three just meeting people, meeting the characters I would cast. Luckily it's pretty cheap to shoot a doc these days, and I was able to put enough time in to learn from my mistakes and in the end I may have a decent film in the can - we'll see how my editing goes. My major insight from this jumping in head first kind of approach to learning documentary filmmaking is that character is number one. If you spend time watching youtube tutorials about filmmaking you read people repeating again and again that story is the most important, but what the fraudulent hucksters who repeat this cliche across the tutorial world don't seem to have learned themselves is that story is driven by characters. Without characters you have nothing. And there's nothing like learning this the hard way to really drive it home. Going over my interviews, I was chasing after facts about a subject, thinking that a documentary is about providing facts and information about something fascinating. There's room for that in the world, but in my future endeavors I will always be focusing on finding charismatic, fascinating people as a way into exploring a topic.
Great to hear and couldn't agree more. When you pick a character that's either wrong for the story or just weak. You'll spend much more time trying to figure the story out and construct things rather than it telling you what you need to follow.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and lessons.
Pitching a documentary to Netflix requires a strategic approach to ensure that your project stands out and aligns with the platform's content needs and audience preferences.
Oh em gee! I don't know you from a can of paint...but I loooooooove this video. I am going thru this EXACT same process for my documentary I'm putting together on this TH-cam platform. These fools (camera men, editors, and graphic so-called professionals) out here acting like we're working at paramount studios. I'm like-dudes, are tall serious. 🤦🏾♀️🥴 I'm a cosmetologist who knows NOTHING about filming or even doing a documentary and this process you presented on, even about the camera is what I've been trying to tell the PROFESSIONALS. But, they would NEVER listen. 😩
I've got so so footage. But I'm determined to tell a dynamic story about the plight of Afro hair. This video is like a wink from God. Validating, I was on the right path.
God bless you bro. 🙏🏾❤️You have inspired another creator! I feel so much better. The name of my documentary is, The Narrative. Look for it, November 11th. I'll be mentioning you in every interview.
So, if you see a bunch of beauty and Barber pros come in this chat or reach out to you. You'll know, it will probably have come from me, that crazy Cosmetologist on TH-cam who didn't know what she was doing! 😂 ✌🏾️❤️💇🏾♀️
Excellent advice! Thanks!!! I am actually in the infant stages of my doc...My very 1st one...wish me luck
Thanks for that Jonny!
The Shoot -> Review -> ReWRITE and Reconnect to deepen the Story Part is really helpful!
Greetings from Germany ;)
Thanks Alex Kahl! Awesome to hear!
I didn’t really enjoy my screenwriting class and found writing stories difficult. Thanks for this. I will try my hand.
Hi Jonny, what about this sentence: Casey is a unicorn?
What do you mean? He is possessed by magic right? 😄
@@Jonnyvonwallstrom if you don't know why there is this sentence on the video I don't know and who is Casey by the way?
I am going to begin making documentaries about my country Afghanistan, any suggestions
What makes you more excited about that
I need ideas
Hey I recognize that music! Enjoying your videos man.
Thanks Peter Sandberg! Awesome to hear!
Oh i know u from Udemy Academy
Can you assist me with my documentary
Hello, i have a question, is documentary script different from movie script ??
Great content by the way😊
Yes, it is. Usually its more if an outline than script. Always evolving as well while you film. Even in the edit it’s rewritten. More or less the edit is the rewrite. But first you just have questions you want to explore. Then you might start to see how that could be turned into a story. Then as you film it evolves with research and you try to develop it more and more as you go
Thank you bro! best advice in the right moment (for me)
Thanks Diego Alvarado! Awesome to hear!
✌✌
Thanks…!
I would like to be a script writer. I just write and have fun and someday will learn how to use the special computer screen writing software, also which one is the one I should be using.
I write everything in Ulysses. But proper scriptwriters love Scrivener, I find it unnecessarily complicated. Just need a text document and tabs :D
Great video thank you this is sow great.
Thanks ROYAL VIDEOS! Awesome to hear!
Hi Johnny I wanted to ask you a question that I am having troubles with. I am doing a feature documentary and wanted to know if as Documentary filmmaker do you always need to get Errors and Omissions insurance as it is so expensive and all I am doing is a talking head doc . Thank you JF
You do once you want to sell it. It's rigorous process to go through if you don't clear everything as you make the film. My first two films everything was done after the fact and that sucks :D Easier to just do it straight away. I hate that and because I have people managing the doc (producer, line producer, location manager etc) I have them do it when I can. Cause it can take a way a lot of anxiety on the director. We have some clearing forms for download on learndocumentary.com as well. Once you sign a contract with any broadcaster the contract is based on you being able to get insurance. Now often I haven't had parts of the stuff you need to get the insurance, then you as a company (or if you're stupid, individual), can say that you take any liability if something would happen. We use a corp for that reason when making films. Ideally you would make a new company for each film you make to have all the legal and accounting stuff clear for that project. We haven't got to that point yet though.
@@Jonnyvonwallstrom thanks Johnny, as I am doing it all myself big been getting overwhelming, but thanks for the excellent advice at present I am in the post production process and I have obtained all the release forms but don't have plans to sell it. But just put it through festivals then I will look about selling after, that's if anyone will buy it. Really enjoy your channel and truly appreciated the advice. JF
Thanks for the link, I already purchased the course but have been so busy that have not had the time to sit down and view it. I thinks that has to be the next thing on my list. Have a great day dude. Jf
Thanks mate this was very helpful. I have the problem that my story is in India and my budget is very small. I can pay for the first trip by selling everything I own, but I don't know how I would get the money to finish it. Maybe make a trailer and try to get funding of some kind? It's funny, I woke up this morning thinking maybe I needed to do it in two lots to take some pressure off. But I'm not really sure how to go about it, I would really appreciate some advice if you have any? Thanks I really enjoyed your down to earth channel 📽️
First from the uk😁
Awesome!
wow might just be me but this really opened my mind and gave me new ideas. need to make things more cinematic.
great advice mate !
who disliked
Let's find this guy.
Sanskar exactly! What’s to dislike about this? Always a great discussion here on this channel. Not much to dislike 😎
Hi sorry to comment bought i love his videos there sow profeshional you learn sow much from him and hes great.
Haha haters gonna hate
Miss this guy... thanks for the gems
This is a lovely video - in both form and content. I truly appreciated the production value of this video and creativity employed.
Just do not understand how some one can dislike his videos. Thanks for all that you doing Jonny
Thanks antonshulga! Awesome to hear!
They must be bitter about something.. Probably Peter McKinnon followers.
Or perhaps the dislikes are from the kids who got a new Sony a7 for Christmas and they have no intent to ever write a script for their mixtape video. Just shoot slow-mo every single shot with no field recordings because all you need to do is overlay the newest most popping rap song.
Okay I'm done ranting for today..
Hey mate, im currently planning a documentary and the plan is to have multiple characters. The story is about me and three friends going on an insane journey on the other side of the world this year. Do you know of any documentaries with multiple main characters that you would recommend watching? I'm not sure about how to approach the introduction of all the characters. Thanks man.
Awesome to hear! Think Bombay Beach is fantastic! Not a road movie but several characters
@@Jonnyvonwallstrom Thanks bro I will check it out!
This is really useful
Love your content man, keep it up!
Thanks Khun Roman! Awesome to hear!
bro this was a cinematic tutorial
Great visuals as always and content is on point, thanks for the great video!
Thanks DavidsTitan Productions! Awesome to hear!
I really appreciated this input. I have filmed about 30 interviews but am now struggling with putting it together and what my narration should be, if I use narration at all. I especially liked the comment about looking at the cinematic quality you are looking for. It helps me to look at this when looking at extra footage. Thanks for doing this. I have been stalled for a couple of years and am looking for ways to get myself going again and get this doc done.
By the way what was this shot on?
This was panny 12-35 2.8 and the BMPCC4k all the way
Creative North cool what are your thoughts on the Panasonic g85?
@@danyalvisuals That was my first camera and I love it. Still use it as my B/C cam behind my GH5 and G9. Great bang for buck!!
I'm gonna take your advice and just start making. I've been binge watching your videos to learn as much as I can about documentary filmmaking.
Thanks Nita! Awesome to hear!
Love you bro
Great video. I really need to start creating more documentary-style videos with narrative!
Thanks Tanner Johnson! Awesome to hear! Do it!
Better channel that Peter McKinnon.
Thanks somewhereoutthere! Awesome to hear!
I’ve been following you for a long time. I love a lot of your techy videos and your streams. But, the best thing you do is talk about the process. Your breakdown of doc scriptwriting and it being a constant document was great. Also, your explanation of manual vs auto wasn’t snobby at all which was nice.
Thanks mate! Yeah I always think that's the most valuable stuff but at the same time it becomes very niched and I feel less people watch it so I try to balance it out somehow :D
Creative North yea I know if you don’t talk about the bmpcc4k for 5 minutes people will cry
Haha so true
tks, man!
No worries buddy
As a young writer coming up and facing a discouraging career area with immense competition this helps a lot. Thank you for your help.
From America by the way
Thanks Jeremiah Jones! Awesome to hear!
Very helpful! Thank you! I'm currently in the research phase of what I hope to be a John C. Fremont documentary and this is a helpful guide to the writing step.
Good job :)
right on
Thanks wunderlich catt!