A topic on documentary filmmaking

I was originally going to write about 3D integration, but I decided to right about documentary filmmaking.  The thing about documentary filmmaking of any kind is that its all about the inquisitive.  Its often a miss conception that documentary filmmaking is all about following the journey, but it is really about the curiosity following the journey.  I think all great documentaries have this.  News is simular, but news is a systematic investigation using experts and visual references.  The person creating the news piece can be inquisitive about the subject mater, but the end product is all about informing the public about a curent event they should be aware about.  Both documentaries and news can take on an unbiassed approach or a propaganda approach, but the the soul propose of news is to generate a balanced story as documentaries are to involve the viewer in a factual journey of a sort.  In documentary filmmaking, you as the filmmaker must allow the subject mater to guide the story.  Your job is not to investigate, but rather document the experience surrounding people and places.  Remember let your subject do the talking and make opinions later.  Finding many opinions will help expose trends.  So in essence news goes to the source of information where as documentary filmmaking leads the viewer to the source of information.  Thats the journey.



I think one of my biggest problems making a documentary is getting physically to close or too personal with the camera.  When documenting a topic the filmmaker should be part of the journey.  being inquisitive is a very personal and human behavior.  It is natural for humans to be inquisitive and it is healthy too because it allows us to expand our world and opinions about our world.   Good documentary filmmakers are paid for there ability to explore topics and ideas and develop conclusions and, hopefully, unbiased opinions of the surrounding matter.

There are two approaches to documentary filmmaking and both have benefits and draw backs concerning the matter and how information is gathered.

The first method of documentary filmmaking is the learn as you go methed.  Meaning a sort of run and gun method of filmmaking.  In the run and gun method, you follow the subject matter and experience a sort of new world for the first time.  As your experience turns to wisdom, your ability to inquire intelligently is more effective and refined.   The down side to run and gun documentary gorilla filmmaking is the bewildering factor.  It can be a lot of information all at once and nothing is controlled.  Sometimes even the style at wich you use your camera can evolve to fit the journey going from tripod to to steady cam to down right hand held and even as far as a crash cam or a lipstick cam.  I think the run and gun documentary is really a before and aftermath effect from the filmmakers prospective.  Meaning you have to constantly assess and pre determine your next move on a moment by moment bases.  Kinda like Trama ER situations.

The second method of documentary filmmaking is controlled and scripted to an extent.  Doing the research early on will help determine the style and direction the documentary will take.  This method of documentary filmmaking is highly recommended for those who are working with a client.  Scripting a documentary is really all about A, B, and C execution rather then a story script.  There might be questions or host dialogue, but its really the journey will uncover the story.  The story is always told in editing.  It is impossible to take a journey and know the whole story.  If you did then you would be god and or have the ability to foretell the future.  So don't force the story, let the content uncover the story.  Documentary filmmaking is a process that has to be experienced in order to produce a product.

We are all human and documentary filmmaking is all about the prospective of the human experience. no mater if the subject is good or bad or if its shocking or mundane its still part of the human experience.  Approaching any documentary, one must have a child like, inquisitive audited towards the subject matter.  Very simple and slow to understand.  If you document with a dogmatic, know it all, attitude then your work will most likely turn people off.  The last thing we need is a Perez Hilton doing a documentary.   Perez Hilton is very opinionated and pompous to say the least.  He may make a great critic but that is it.  There is already too many critics in the world. As a documentary filmmakers we must filter out any lingering preconceived ideas and make the documentary film based on subject matter rather then our personal opinion about the subject mater.

Let your audience do the judging, if you do a good job then your audience will be effected enough to make informed and educated opinions about the subject and quite possibly be inspired to take action based on your Documentary.  So get out there and enjoy the documentary film journey, remember to be very inquisitive and to not be afraid to get the shot.

By
Robert Sawin