Directing Documentaries

Robert G. Nulph, Ph.D. April 2008 - http://www.videomaker.com/article/13541/

“Documentaries are about real people in real places doing real things. Documentaries were the first films ever made.”

In the beginning

“Documentaries can be very personal stories, but you also have to pay attention to some distinct requirements that come with the production of this film form. Always remember that the content will dictate the form the documentary will take. However, it is you as the director who makes the ultimate decisions as to the style and look of the piece. You will determine what the audience sees, hears and understands about your subject. Don't be naìve enough to believe that your documentary will not have a specific point of view. If you are passionate about the subject, your film will have a point of view, and you have to determine what that POV is. Make sure your story's information is accurate and clearly presented. Keep in mind that your story has to be of interest to your audience and involve a compelling character or group of characters. Once you have that story, it is time to consider the technical aspects.”

There are a lot of documentaries which are very personal stories, but in the production of this film form there are distinct requirements that you have to pay attention to. The form of the documentary will be dictated by the content. A documentary will be a specific point of view which will be governed by what style and look the director decides on. This information about documentary’s help me understand more about what to include in the final outcome.

Equipment

“Choose equipment that will let you do what you need to do to tell the story. If you are going to spend days walking through the jungles of Africa or some other exotic location, you probably do not want to carry a large camera and a lot of gear. The script will dictate the type of equipment you use. Make sure you know your equipment well, so that you control it and it does not limit you.

Don't forget lighting requirements. Good video starts with great composition and good lighting. If you must shoot with natural light, make sure you carry a set of reflectors and bounce cards. It is amazing how just a little bit of lighting control can change the look of a shot.”

When shooting the documentary you need equipment that will do what you need it to do. To find out what equipment you need will come from the script and also knowing the different equipment well. Lighting is a big part of shooting a documentary and a little bit of change to the light will make a big difference. I am using this information as a basis to understand what equipment is necessary for creating a documentary.

Shooting

Before shooting any documentary make sure that you have a full understanding of the equipment you are going to use. Always test the different settings on the camera in the same light before you do any filming. A setting to check is the ‘Iris setting’ as manual setting on this is only good in panning and tilting.

“In Figure 1, you can see the effect on colour temperature caused by just turning around. The author took these photographs three seconds apart, literally taking one shot, turning and shooting the other. Since the shots were photographed using film, there was no chance to white balance. As it is, it would be impossible to edit the two shots together without having it look like you shot the footage on two different days.”

When tilting or panning a camera it has to be smooth and at an equal tempo but if possible don’t pan or tilt the camera, keep it simple and clean.

“When possible, use a tripod or other camera support. Nothing says "home movie" more than a shaky camera with no design to the movement. This isn't to say you can't do tracking shots with your talent; you just have to be very careful that, if the camera is not supposed to move, it doesn't.”

To get these smooth tracking shots get close to the subject and zoom out with out distorting there face, then slowly walk beside them or in front of them rolling on the balls of your feet. Keep the camera as still as possible. Image stabilizers built in then your shoot should be smooth and professionals.

Shots of the surroundings are very much part of the story and will help tell the story more. Also make sure there are cutaways to make the editing easier.

Understanding the way to make a effective shot is a major part of filming, this information helps me understand this key point and make an effect documentary.

Sound

“Never take sound for granted. Camera operators cannot split their attention well enough to shoot and listen.”

If at all possible, hire a sound person whose sole responsibility is the audio for your documentary. As a director, you have to monitor what your subjects are saying, but you should be listening for content, not for whether the audio is soft or loud enough or if there are extraneous sounds.

When choosing your audio equipment, decide if you want to mic your talent with a lapel mic or boom mic. Although some disagree, general opinion is that, if you can afford a boom operator, the shotgun microphone mounted on a fishing pole (boom pole) can be less intimidating to the interviewee, and you have more control over the sound. Lavalier microphones are not only visible, they are also harder to control, because they pick up a wider sound pattern. You can hide a lav mic, but you have to monitor more closely for mic disturbances caused by clothing or jewelry. “Non-professionals also have a tendency to play with the cables and the mic and feel uncomfortable wearing the mic”

The boom mic, placed just out of shot, is easier to blend in post for a fuller and rounder sound. If you have only one mic, be sure the sound is as pristinely clean as possible. Unplug the fridge and turn off the air charger or anything else that may make noise, including all house, office or cell phones.

You can blend lav and boom mics with more experienced sound mixers and elaborate equipment. Either way, always record 30 seconds of room tone while on location. After the interview, have your crew sit quietly while you record 30 seconds of natural background. This will help the editor remove background noise and fill in blank spaces.

The Interview

Interviews are an integral part of most documentaries. Unless the script calls for it, don't have the subject speak directly to the camera. Sit or kneel directly to left of the camera at lens level and have interviewee talk to you. Set your camera up for the subject's comfort, not yours. The lens should be level with the subject's neck, the center of a typical medium closeup (ofttimes called a bust shot, because it is from the bust line to a little above the head). Get to know your subjects; don't feel like you have to jump right into the interview. Talk to them as you set up, explaining what you are doing and what your documentary is all about. Always turn off the tally light on your camera. It is a good idea never to tell the interviewee when the camera is on. Videotape is the cheapest component of your project, so shoot away. Often, if the subjects don't know the camera is rolling, they will provide candid and very real performances. Most importantly: listen! Be attentive, ask follow-up questions and explore what the subject has to say. Go into the interview knowing what you are looking for, but be open to finding surprises.

Keep track of everything your subject says. Always think of B-roll shots. When editing, you will want to let the images tell the story, so make sure you shoot well-lit images that support what your subject is saying. The less we see of the interview, the better.

Discovery in the Moment

Finally, don't forget the emotional center of your piece. Every good documentary has a compelling story with strong characters. Don't just talk about the people and places, go there, show them and capture the essence of the moment. Document real people, in real places, doing real things.


All the information gathered in this section of research helps with the final outcome as it gives information about how to shoot the documentary, capture the sound, the equipment, the interview itself and what to include in a documentary. This is relevant is I will be producing a documentary for the final outcome and this information help me achieve that at a high standard.