Want to Make that Documentary? Know this!
Image: Film Connnection student Brandon Russell (Nashville, TN) on the set of his documentary film on organization Community Achieve.
Making documentary films is hard stuff. Heck, making any type of film is difficult. There are loads of moving pieces, tons of things that can go wrong, and ultimately no one (aside from your trusty crew members) is going to care about your project nearly as much as you do. That’s just something you have to get over. But that’s A-OK. If you still want to brave it out and make that documentary film, here’s a few things you need to know!
1) You Should Hire the Best Within Reach
Rather than shooting for the stars and spending all your budget on an award-winning DP, aim for pros whose CV is slighly better than your own. You want to learn from your experiences and need to partner with a DP who understands your vision, who communicates well with you, and who won’t break that budget or make you feel like less of a leader. Be honest about who you can work with and who you can’t.
2) It’s Going To Be Difficult, Really Difficult
It’s gonna be hard, probably really hard. Expect that you’ll have nights where you get little to no sleep. Expect popped tires, faulty gear, and bad weather too. Something will nearly always go wrong and that’s to be expected when you’re making a film. So… embrace the insanity that is making a movie and get ready to think fast! Have contingency plans in place, get that spare tire, that backup battery pack, that First Aid Kit cause things are about to get weird!
3) And Yes You ARE Going to Make Mistakes
Making mistakes and learning from them is the most important part of filmmaking. It’s how you grow as a filmmaker and artist. If you’re not slightly out of your depth and making mistakes you’re probably not pushing yourself. You should always be evolving and taking risks. That said, be proactive and set yourself up for success throughout. Get ample B-roll, have your locations scouted, have contingency plans and do everything in your power to get all of your essential shots and then some. Even with all your ducks in a row and a pristine shooting schedule, you’ll make mistakes but if they’re not totally dire, you’ll persist and will have enough solid footage to work with once you get into editing that beast.
4) Discussion is Good but it’s Your Vision
Having a committed, excited crew is fantastic but it’s essential that your cohorts both understand and support your vision. Preproduction meetings, hiring set designers and costume designers whose aesthetic sensibilities align with your own can speed things along. Steering clear of power-seekers or wannabe directors is another way to ensure your vision isn’t compromised. When/if issues arise, take the person aside and deal with the issue directly.
5) You Shouldn’t Wait For The Money, Just Do It Yourself
If you’re a young, apiring director without at least one commercially successful project under your belt, know this–no one is going to give you money for that documentary. Unless you have a rich uncle or mom or dad, basically forget about getting funding from anyone. It’s much better to just go out and shoot that documentary yourself. Sure, the budget will be shoestring and it’s going to be a doozy but heck, at the end of it all you’ll have a film under your belt. So… learn how to do a lot for a little, find those crew mates and get to work! Do something inspiring, rad, and different. The finished product probably won’t be perfect but originality and powerful storytelling can get you noticed so work on conveying that story in as powerful a way as possible.
6) You Should Find Mentors to Guide You
When you need insight and advice there’s nothing better than having the ear of someone who’s been there and done it all themselves. Having a mentor who can guide you through your journey is downright invaluable. Be on the lookout for potential mentors now. Be transparent with them and tell them where you’re at. Ask questions. If they can’t help you themselves, chances are they know someone who can. Established diretors and producers know how hard it can be and many of them are happy to help someone find their way in film.
7) You Should Start Now
The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll finish. So, if you need to find that savvy producer, talented DP or director who can help you get your film off the ground, connect with them asap. Get the wheels spinning. It takes momentum and a lot of energy to see a film through so start putting the pieces together now.
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