From quick job to Documentary

rafikiwilliams

rafikiwilliams

Well-known member
I recently took a two week job, shooting daily videos for an international exchange program. 26 pakistani students here in America to learn technology for two weeks. A quick two week job, but I think today it just took a turn for the... best?

I began brainstorming with the company today about turning the concept into a documentary. And its a go. Now i'm in quite the situation...

I have nothing planned haha. I have never made a documentary. So i have many questions and am requesting as much information as possible on the process.

Firstly can anyone recommend a good documentary? Preferably one based somewhere in the eastern world (middle east).

Now the technical aspects. would it be better for me to just compile as my creative mind sees fit? or should i follow some kind of traditional structure?

the video will be entered into festivals... and it will be shown internationally in mainly America and Pakistan.

I'm thinking I should put together a storyboard along with scripts for voice overs to give it a good flow..

well any insights are much appreciated. thanks and wish me luck!
 
iraq in fragments. made by a dvxuser, nominated for an academy award and currently sitting in a netflix dvd case on my desk. highly recommend it
 
check out born into brothels. takes place in india and its about a group of kids who take a photo class to escape the everyday life of living in the red light district of india. really well done.
 
w3productions said:
I recently took a two week job, shooting daily videos for an international exchange program. 26 pakistani students here in America to learn technology for two weeks. A quick two week job, but I think today it just took a turn for the... best?

I began brainstorming with the company today about turning the concept into a documentary. And its a go. Now i'm in quite the situation...

I have nothing planned haha. I have never made a documentary. So i have many questions and am requesting as much information as possible on the process.

Firstly can anyone recommend a good documentary? Preferably one based somewhere in the eastern world (middle east).

Now the technical aspects. would it be better for me to just compile as my creative mind sees fit? or should i follow some kind of traditional structure?

the video will be entered into festivals... and it will be shown internationally in mainly America and Pakistan.

I'm thinking I should put together a storyboard along with scripts for voice overs to give it a good flow..

well any insights are much appreciated. thanks and wish me luck!
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Hi,

I am with a Chinese station who wants me to produce/host docs concerning the schools in the US to be shown back in China. I'll be starting this in Oct. and planning it all now. When do you have to get yours started? I have alot of great ideas and can't wait to just do it. The only thing I've worked with in the past was how the Chinese continue with their traditions here in the US. This caught the eye of a Chinese Investor and hence, I am doing more with them currently.
 
@w3 - I second Iraq in Fragments and Born into Brothels, great docs on super-low budgets (insofar as I know). Slightly jealous for this cool opportunity you've got, definitely sounds intriguing and should present many opportunities. Whereabouts will you be shooting?

Also consider checking out The Color of Paradise, also available through Netflix. It's a good low-budget fiction piece set in Iran, but features some clever storytelling, camerawork, and offers insight into a similar culture (relative to the U.S.)
 
No, No & No....

Read a quick book about story structure.... Ok, I'll save you time right now, there is a begining, middle & end. Thats about it, the beauty of it is you'll be alot better without everyone telling you what to shoot. 90% of most docs are made in the editing process anyway...

It is important to have really good audio on your subjects. Your audience will forgive you for not having the best picture, they will notice bad audio and not forgive you for that...
 
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