{"id":116929,"date":"2019-07-18T07:00:30","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T12:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=116929"},"modified":"2019-07-10T13:05:29","modified_gmt":"2019-07-10T18:05:29","slug":"5-tips-for-great-short-documentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/5-tips-for-great-short-documentary\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips on How to Create a Great Short Documentary Film"},"content":{"rendered":"

Documentaries are a right of passage for any filmmaker. In this article, we’ll look at five ways you can take your short documentary to the next level.<\/h2>\n

Creating a short documentary is a valuable experience for any filmmaker. With so much short-form documentary content out there today, it can become even harder to make your film stand out from the crowd. So here are five tips to help you rise above.<\/p>\n

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1. Research<\/h3>\n
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Image via Rawpixel.com<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Any well-produced documentary begins with research. Effective research is the foundation of any documentary \u2014 short or long-form. Research allows you to discover plot points, build your narrative, craft your story arch, and shape your film.<\/p>\n

There are many resources available for researching your documentary topic (check out this article<\/a>). Better research makes for a better film.<\/p>\n

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2. Outline<\/h3>\n

While narrative films have a script, documentaries live and die by an outline. While documentary storylines can often be very fluid, an effective outline provides you with essentially a North Star during your production. These guiding principles, detailed through your outline, help ensure your film always stays on course, even when things begin to change up.<\/p>\n

Crafting an outline for your documentary provides a scene breakdown throughout your film. It also details those anticipated story-beats that your film may follow. You know you’ve been effective with your research when you can easily create an outline of your story.<\/p>\n

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3. Find the Deeper Story<\/h3>\n
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Image via Andrzej Sowa<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Many first-time documentary filmmakers create a film based upon something that\u2019s interesting on the surface; however, a great documentary digs deeper than the superficial story.<\/p>\n

For example, let’s say you have an interesting neighbor who creates quirky ice sculptures as a hobby. This intrigue you as a filmmaker for a variety of reasons. Now, after you\u2019ve researched and outlined your film, you\u2019re ready to make it.<\/p>\n

You shoot it, bring it back to the edit, and find that you made a good film. It’s concise, well-shot, and well-edited. However, the storyline may lack depth. That\u2019s where finding the deeper story comes into play.<\/p>\n

If you dig deeper, you may discover that your subject creates these ice sculptures to work through the PTSD he developed after fighting in Vietnam. Discovering this information then unleashes that deeper storyline, pushing your film \u2014 and story \u2014 to the next level.<\/p>\n

In the words of Simon Sinek<\/a>, “People don\u2019t care what you do. They care WHY you do it.”<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t make a documentary about the “what.” Make a documentary about the “why.”<\/p>\n

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4. Invest in Sound<\/h3>\n

Sound is important in any film. However, its importance seems to get overlooked in documentary filmmaking. However, sound in documentary filmmaking can be more than just an interview or a voiceover. Sound can immerse the viewer in your story. Sound design can connect you with characters, which helps with telling a more effective story.<\/p>\n

When creating your film, think about how sound can help you tell a better story.<\/p>\n