How to Produce a Documentary Film
June 2, 2009 | by Jennifer SteinbergAs a festival documentary film curator, I am frequently asked about how one should go about producing a documentary film. Today, with the low cost of digital film equipment, everyone and his brother believes that he/she can make a film. This may be true, but how polished will it be? Who will pay to see it?
Here are some basic steps that are imperative before making your documentary:
1) Determine if you have an original idea. Scour international festival listings (especially Hot Docs, Silver Docs, Full Frame and other documentary festivals), the Internet Movie Database, and Indiewire in order to make sure that no one has already made a film on the same topic as your film. Almost all films produced by unknown filmmakers that eventually attract film distributors as a result of playing the festival circuit. Festival programmers have a small amount of slots that they are able to fill with documentaries. Make sure that your film distinguishes itself from the pack. Films about 9/11, Iraq, AIDS, etc. are not a good idea.
2) Read. If you've never made a film before, you have a lot to learn. Don't make unnecessary mistakes and waste your (or other people's) money. Spend some time acquiring advise from the pros.
3) Watch. Go to the best video store in the area (or, better yet...rent from Netflix) and take out every documentary you can. Cable stations like HBO, The Sundance Channel, IFC, and Showtime are also a great resource. Share some of your favorites with your cinema-loving friends and talk about them. Take notes.
4)Research. You must determine how to make your subject come to life, first on the page (the treatment) and then on the screen. Make sure that you will be able to gain access to all of the individuals, information sources and locales that you will use in your film.
5) If you have mustered up the confidence, write a treatment. Treatments follow a pre-specified format. Make sure that you follow "the rules." If you need help, use one of the books above. Remember, your treatment is your pitch piece. Make it irresistable.
6) Put together a budget. Determine how many set-ups/interviews you need to film. How many days will it take? How many people will you need on the crew (sound, cinematography, director, editor, music, extra help). Do you need to rent equipment?Most documentaries today are made on digital DVD or DigiBeta. Remember music rights and film clips can be extremely expensive. Can you afford them?
7) Add an additional 30% to your budget. This is your contingency fund that will cover unexpected expenses. Revise your budget accordingly.
8) Look for investors. Most first-time filmmakers get friends and family to underwrite a portion of their film. You can write proposals to your state's Humanities Council and various foundations that have a history of funding documentaries. There is often a long turn around time (3-6 months) between when you submit your proposal and when you find out if you got any money. Many filmmakers end up putting a significant amount of their expenses on their credit cards and take out loans. Do not do this.
9) You may wish to try pitching your treatment to HBO, IFC, The Sundance Channel or another appropriate cable network if it can fits in with their programming and is designed to fit into a 1/2 hr, 1-hr or 2-hr time slot. It is unlikely that a cable network will get behind from a filmmaker without a track record. If they do, they will give you a big hunk of change (about half your budget)
10) Make your film.
11) Screen your film to an enthusiatic group of individuals who are the film's target audience. This group cannot contain your friends, family, or employees as these people don't want to hurt your feelings and are incapable of giving you impartial feedback. Have the audience fill out evaluation forms in order to determine what they thought of the film. Did they understand it? What did they think of the tone of the film? The music? Sound quality? Camera work? Subject matter? How do they feel you could make it better? Did they feel that it was too long? Too short? Would they recommend it to a friend?
12) Review the evaluation forms with your crew and make revisions where appropriate. You may have to reshoot scenes, add scenes or information (for clarity), change music (for mood), re-edit parts of the film (for pacing).
13) Submit your film to every film festival you can. If your film is outstanding, apply first to the top tier festivals(Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca and the documentary festivals listed above). Many of these festivals will not show films that have played at other festivals first. Film buyers (from the studios and TV) attend these festivals and will take a look at your film. If your film is so-so, try submitting it to a local film festival in your area. Festivals usually have a desire to showcase local work, even if it's not perfect. You may not get a film deal here, but you might get some great press and good buzz that you can capitalize on when you make your next film
(Taken from www.helium.com/items/329147-how-to-produce-a-documentary-film)
Here are some basic steps that are imperative before making your documentary:
1) Determine if you have an original idea. Scour international festival listings (especially Hot Docs, Silver Docs, Full Frame and other documentary festivals), the Internet Movie Database, and Indiewire in order to make sure that no one has already made a film on the same topic as your film. Almost all films produced by unknown filmmakers that eventually attract film distributors as a result of playing the festival circuit. Festival programmers have a small amount of slots that they are able to fill with documentaries. Make sure that your film distinguishes itself from the pack. Films about 9/11, Iraq, AIDS, etc. are not a good idea.
2) Read. If you've never made a film before, you have a lot to learn. Don't make unnecessary mistakes and waste your (or other people's) money. Spend some time acquiring advise from the pros.
3) Watch. Go to the best video store in the area (or, better yet...rent from Netflix) and take out every documentary you can. Cable stations like HBO, The Sundance Channel, IFC, and Showtime are also a great resource. Share some of your favorites with your cinema-loving friends and talk about them. Take notes.
4)Research. You must determine how to make your subject come to life, first on the page (the treatment) and then on the screen. Make sure that you will be able to gain access to all of the individuals, information sources and locales that you will use in your film.
5) If you have mustered up the confidence, write a treatment. Treatments follow a pre-specified format. Make sure that you follow "the rules." If you need help, use one of the books above. Remember, your treatment is your pitch piece. Make it irresistable.
6) Put together a budget. Determine how many set-ups/interviews you need to film. How many days will it take? How many people will you need on the crew (sound, cinematography, director, editor, music, extra help). Do you need to rent equipment?Most documentaries today are made on digital DVD or DigiBeta. Remember music rights and film clips can be extremely expensive. Can you afford them?
7) Add an additional 30% to your budget. This is your contingency fund that will cover unexpected expenses. Revise your budget accordingly.
8) Look for investors. Most first-time filmmakers get friends and family to underwrite a portion of their film. You can write proposals to your state's Humanities Council and various foundations that have a history of funding documentaries. There is often a long turn around time (3-6 months) between when you submit your proposal and when you find out if you got any money. Many filmmakers end up putting a significant amount of their expenses on their credit cards and take out loans. Do not do this.
9) You may wish to try pitching your treatment to HBO, IFC, The Sundance Channel or another appropriate cable network if it can fits in with their programming and is designed to fit into a 1/2 hr, 1-hr or 2-hr time slot. It is unlikely that a cable network will get behind from a filmmaker without a track record. If they do, they will give you a big hunk of change (about half your budget)
10) Make your film.
11) Screen your film to an enthusiatic group of individuals who are the film's target audience. This group cannot contain your friends, family, or employees as these people don't want to hurt your feelings and are incapable of giving you impartial feedback. Have the audience fill out evaluation forms in order to determine what they thought of the film. Did they understand it? What did they think of the tone of the film? The music? Sound quality? Camera work? Subject matter? How do they feel you could make it better? Did they feel that it was too long? Too short? Would they recommend it to a friend?
12) Review the evaluation forms with your crew and make revisions where appropriate. You may have to reshoot scenes, add scenes or information (for clarity), change music (for mood), re-edit parts of the film (for pacing).
13) Submit your film to every film festival you can. If your film is outstanding, apply first to the top tier festivals(Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca and the documentary festivals listed above). Many of these festivals will not show films that have played at other festivals first. Film buyers (from the studios and TV) attend these festivals and will take a look at your film. If your film is so-so, try submitting it to a local film festival in your area. Festivals usually have a desire to showcase local work, even if it's not perfect. You may not get a film deal here, but you might get some great press and good buzz that you can capitalize on when you make your next film
(Taken from www.helium.com/items/329147-how-to-produce-a-documentary-film)
