It's not hard to believe
that with millions of DV
Camcorders out there, people
are now seeking ways to
manage the documentary
footage they generate. Here
are some simple steps
designed to help you focus
both during and after your
documentary shoot.
Focus on your Story
Question from the start of
your project. Since we
can film anything and
everything, Begin by
shooting only what is
related to your story
question or themes.
How do you find your
story question? Many
times you begin with it as
the subject of your
film...for example..A
food documentary with the
question: "How did Johnnie
become the worlds fastest
eater?.. you explore
this question by following
your main character &
interviewing others that
know him.
You may have multiple
themes for this Story,
and explore each of them
using
the Five Elements of
Documentary Be open
to new themes or EVEN a new
STORY QUESTON. Don't get
defeated thinking your
subject is a dud...look
around ..listen....search
for the obvious...or the
truth...it will inspire the
STORY QUESTION. Often
times the real meat of your
documenatry is staring you
in the face.
Creating a 'Sound Bite
Train" to tell your story.
Speaking with more than one
interview subject can help
inspire the viewer to stick
with the story. I call this
the Sound Bite Train,
beacuse all you do is
line up short sound bites
from different people to
tell the same story.
Here are the basic steps to
creating a Sound Bite Train.
- Interview 2-3 people
(or more) that witnessed
an event.
- Ask each person to
talk about each stage of
the event.
- Start from the
begining...middle...end
- This will help later
when you try and create
"Rising & Falling "
Action.
- Log each Interview,
import video into
Computer
- Edit the first part
of the "Sound Bite
Train"
- Find the subject
with the best INTRO to
the START of the STORY
- Cut Just a sentence
from her.." We left the
house and I was
Nervous..."
- Cut to the second
person who continues her
thought, "..and I
glanced at her, she
seemed nervous..but I
kept driving..."
- Cut Back to Woman's
Interview, "..and then
smack...we hit the Alien
Space ship."
end of story. When played
back it seems as if they are
word processed together to
tell the story. Very good
story telling technique,
but you have to think about
it when you are shooting.
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