Research #1: What's it like?
October 05, 2015
What is it like to make a documentary?
In order to figure out what I'm doing or how I want to make a documentary, I need to know what a documentary can do. How do the great documentary makers do it? Are there certain ethics or philosophies that I need to keep in mind to make sure I don't cross a line I can't come back from?
Documentary Round Table (Jan 2015)
The first thing to do, is to watch documentaries. And in this case, interviews with documentary makers. Every documentary is different in process, as every documentary has a different subject.
So what can you do? Well, there's archive footage, interviews, live footage, etc. The only style I've never used before is archive footage, so I'm very interested in using that for my first short.
There is of course always the animated 'documentary'
Eyes on the Stars (Jan 2013)
I love this style and have always wanted to make a short animation so I might use this in my second or third short. I'm already setting myself up with a lot of work by just thinking of doing this. But I look forward to it.
As a short documentary, you of course also have the 'A day in the Life' style. This is something I've been doing for a while, mostly to train in setting up interesting shots of everyday things. I think one of the people who does this very well (just not consistent) is Michael Aranda.
Bike Lock (Oct 2015)
Although he does not document his whole life, he does try and make his videos interesting by shots of his travels and by talking to us, the audience. He is a Film School trained sound technician, as well as very adapt at creating beautiful shots with timeless or his drone.
So the great documentary makers just start filming, even when the plan hasn't fully formed yet. They shoot methodically, but also make very real decisions on when it is not suitable to shoot. A way to not get caught in the timing issues is to animate a recorded interview or conversation. Or you can just use yourself and your environment as the main subject, and talk to your audience, while including them in your life through video.
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