How to make , documentary ? and how to write its script ?

[Medy]

I m about to make a short documantary , based on interviews with 4 people , who are going to represent examples , by saying their stories .
but I don't know how to start ?

 

[j1clark@ucsd.edu]

Having wrought a few scripts for 'documentary' type shooting, technically training films, where the speaker could not be counted on to follow the script... I basically would outline the documentary 'action', then after the 4 people have been interviewed, make a full transcript of their statements.

This latter item may take some time depending on one's typing skills, or money if one obtains the services of a transcriptionist.

There is a TV or 'audio visual' type script format, which is two colums, where descriptions of the visuals are in the column on the left, and the dialog is in the column on the right.

But for simplistic scripting, outline then transcript of interviews, may be easier.

 

[nyvideo]

When you say that the four people "are going to represent examples," does that mean that each of them will be presenting a pre-written scripted story? Or, are you going to ask them questions and they'll answer in a give and take fashion?

If it's the former, then you probably should outline your introduction. Why are you making the film? Who is the audience? Are their tales compelling? From these and other questions you should be able to at least plot what the documentary is for.

If you're going to actually interview them, are you expecting that they'll reveal something unexpected? If so, then after you have all the footage you could probably put down the intro and the epilogue. But, again, ask yourself questions about the film. Is it for a specific "vertical" market, like fresh water fishing or some scholarly pursuit? Or is it about poor people? Rich people? People whose interviews will touch the audience?

Think about a one sentence description of your documentary. What's the point? Why should someone want to watch it? What will the audience learn?