Looking for a documentary outline and guide

[SISUMAN]

I have been looking for a documentary outline and guide on this website and others for quite some time now and have only found bits and pieces here and there of an actual 'HOW TO MAKE A DOCUMENTARY'. After all of this searching I came to the conclusion that I would have to put together a 'guide' in simple terms yet comprehensive enough to be useful. I have put it together. Most of my material is from a DVD lesson series by 'The Standard Deviants' covering the topic of 'Public Speaking'. It was a real epiphany, (an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking), to see how completely aligned the principles were on a fundamental level between a public speech and making a documentary for the world to see. So, here, I have transcribed my notes from this program to share with you. I hope that everyone with a thirst to do Docs will benefit from this simple guide and produce better programming with less confusion about the actual structure of an outline.

 

[mburgh]

I'd strongly suggest you read Michael Rabinger's "Directing the Documentary," which is extremely useful, and has many examples from real documentaries you can find & watch.

 

[SISUMAN]

I'm sure you meant "Michael Rabiger"... I get a case of fat fingers all the time...

 

[IjabaFilms]

This was all I needed to read and I just shot two documentaries at one time:
Documentary Storytelling, Second Edition: Making Stronger and More Dramatic Nonfiction Films

I also use Celtx which has some samples with it. Its a free movie production program.

 

[dotcom]

Thanks for the help. Will you want a credit now?

 

[SISUMAN]

just a 'thanks' in the rear title credits roll. but really if you use it that validates it for me and that is enough.
David Bruno

 

[bmowell]

Barry Hampe has written an excellent book on documentary filmmaking called "Making Documentary Films and Reality Videos".

 

[seunosewa]

I bought that book but I can see how studying public speaking can help a documentary.

 

[bmowell]

I studded public speaking! I STUDIED public spanking!...speaking!!!!! GRRRRR....

...It's this typing thing that holds me back.

 

[brystew_512]

Just wanted to bump this because its great when you don't have you directing the documentary lying around close by or if you don't have it at all. Damn hurricane!