Rate My Documentary Idea

[Phil Maker]

I'm considering doing a documentary on a married couple who are training for the 2008 Olympics. The man is a pro volley ball player who is trying to make the team and his wife is a previous gold metal winner in womans 2 on 2 beach volley ball.

(my concern is would there be an audience for this type of story? Is it worth putting 2-3 years into this type of project? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!)

 

[Bus No. 8]

What would your story be? I'm not all that excited by the volleyball aspect of it, but if there is another element - some kind of conflict, great obstacles to overcome, competition between the husband and wife - then I might be interested.

My documentary teacher pounded this mantra into our heads, and I try to live by it as much as possible, "why should I care?"

Ask yourself that; imagine the people you're pitching the story to asking you that; imagine the subjects of the documentary itself asking that. What would your answer be?

If you find yourself answering the question with a rush of passionate ideas and connections that people might not have anticipated, then I say go for it. If all you come up with is, "well, I think it would be pretty cool and I bet there's a story in there somewhere", then I say skip it for now and keep looking for something that ignites your passion.

 

[bilgami]

Where would it be shot?

 

[alveraz]

What would your story be? .

Uh, it's about a married couple trying to make it into the olympics. You should read his post, there's plenty of conflict here. Try making it onto an Olympic team, let me know if you find any conflict or hurdles.

I think it's a brilliant concept and yes, I would watch this. However my only concern is their ability to make the team. In my opinion at least one of them needs a great shot at making the cut. This way, you can follow them to success and have a solid pay-off for the film. If neither of them make it, well, nothing really seperates them from any other couple that tried.

The benefits here are awesome. You get to watch them grow together and share dialogue together. The ups and downs of a strenuous and competitive sport mixed with two people that love eachother makes for great drama. If only one of them makes it, how will the other handle that excitement mixed with dissapointment? Awesome potential here in any scenario.

Go for it!

 

[Bus No. 8]

Okay, Alvarez - no need to get snarky. Actually, your description of what the project could be definitely piqued my interest, and that's what I was wanting from the person pitching the story.

 

[Stone122]

I think Bus No. 8 has it right. Volleyball should be the undercurrent for this to really work I think; if it takes the lead then you will only reach a very select audience. Look at "Murderball" who would have REALLY cared about wheelchair rugby?...other wheelchair rugby players, but because it had such a great story and involved the audience in the players lives its now one of the best documentaries in recent years.

I do think that to really capture what you would need to for this to work, then you would have to commit to it full time. If thats what you're going for then you should do fine.

 

[Erik Olson]

Coming at it from my perspective, you have to ask what makes these people remarkable? They're married and they're both competitive at the professional level.

Aside from trying to make the games, what is their motivation? Will they have to get a job at Dick's Sporting Goods if they don't make the team? Is their career over if they miss 2008? Is their relationship solid or is it on the rocks? How will they weather the road ahead?

What challenges do they face that no other potential competitor faces? Why should the audience get behind them? Why should we care? Does one or both of them have a program that helps high-risk inner-city or developmentally-challenged kids get into the sport? What do they give back?

You have to take a hard look at these particular people and find out if there is something compelling about them that differentiates them from the rest of the field.

Once you're there, you can develop story points and find out if the talent will release themselves, regardless of outcome, for a two-year study. Opening their lives to you - with guaranteed and nearly unlimited physical and emotional access - represents a real commitment and risk to both you and them. Your collective exposure is significant.

If they're compelling and you find those story points, you might well have something good. Or maybe not.

e

 

[Vern]

like any story, it's about characters and how they deal with each other and there surroundings. i'm having the same problems with the documentary that my editor and i are doing about ourselves -- we get along real well, which sucks.
also, i think every person has a story good enough to fill a documentary; it's our job as filmmakers (or whatever) to really show it.
good luck.