October Sun Films

Filming a documentary can be a great way to learn basic filming techniques without having to go to the trouble of coming up with a script and actors. At the same time, documentary filmmaking has its own set of skills that you’ll need to develop in order to make something with a chance of standing with the films featured on this site.As with any film project, making a documentary starts with choosing a subject. However, the process is a little bit different than for a fictional movie. You’ll need to pick a topic that you feel strongly aboutwhether socially, politically, or artisticallyand also one where you’ll be able to get access to those involved. Deciding to do a documentary on your favorite band is probably not the best subject to start with, unless you already know the members of the group. Instead, consider doing a film on your family history, or on a local sports team.Even if you are familiar with your subject, research will be an important part of making your documentary. Expect to get very comfortable with your local library couches as you investigate the history of your subject. During your research, look for people in the community whom you could possibly interview, as well as chances to film actual events related to the topic.Depending on the scale of your documentary, you may need to seek out funding for your project. You may be eligible to apply for a grant depending on your subject, or there may be investors interested in bankrolling part of your project. What will you use this money for? Filming supplies, transportation costs, compensating assistants (if necessary), etc.Once you have a strong information base, you can begin seeking out your interview subjects. Don’t limit yourselfthe more interviews you have to choose from for the final product, the better. Make sure that you obtain releases from each interview subject. Whether you’ve conducted an interview before or not, you should make sure to prepare before each conversation. Have a list of general and specific questions, and make sure you show the interview subject’s connection to your topic through the interview.The other main part of your filming will be b-rollsupplemental footage that will be cut in with the interviews. This will be where you film those candid events and other related footage that will bring the topic to life. You should always try to have your footage as uncontrolled as possible, but in some cases it may be helpful to film re-enactments.Once you have all of your footage, you’re responsible for editing it all together into an actual documentary. Remember, your film should tell a story, so figure out what the beginning, middle, and end of your documentary will be. While this may sound vague, it will ultimately make the editing process much easier. Make sure to get critiques whenever possible.After your documentary is completed, all that remains is to get it out there. Schedule showings whenever possible, and one day you may find your doc mentioned right here at OctoberSunFilms.com.