What makes a good documentary series?

Elements of a Documentary Film

• Subjects. The subject is what your documentary is about.
• Purpose. The purpose is what the filmmaker is trying to say about the subjects of their film.
• Form. The form is the formative process of the film.
• Production method and technique.
• Audience experience.

What is documentary example?

A documentary is defined as a film or television program that is educational and tells a true story. An example of a documentary is the An Inconvenient Truth, a movie about global warming.

What does a good documentary look like?

A good doc, in my opinion, must have the following: a subject anchored in a local story that is universal; a story arc comprising a seductive opening, a taut rising action, an unexpected but mind altering climax, a hopeful but not maudlin denouement; unforgettable characters who reveal everything and are “real”; a …

How do you write a documentary film?

Ken Burns’s 8 Tips for Writing a Documentary Script

1. Use the narrative elements at your disposal.
2. Use early drafts to determine your film’s narrative arc.
3. Find impactful ways to tell your story.
4. Build structure around facts.
5. Use different narrative points of view.
6. Words are not set in stone.

What is a video documentary?

documentary Add to list Share. A documentary is a film or video examining an event or person based on facts. The word can also refer to anything involving documents. The idea of documentary as meaning “pertaining to documents” came about at the beginning of the 19th century.

How do you film a documentary style?

Key Steps to Making Documentaries:

1. Tell a story you care about. Start with a subject that excites you.
2. Research. Learn everything you can about your documentary subject.
3. Make a Plan. Create an outline.
4. Create a Shot List.
5. Start Shooting.
6. Write a Script.
7. Begin Editing.
8. Check Legal and Copyright Issues.

What are some of the best documentaries about famous people?

The world simply could not function without a solid documentary of Michael Jackson, arguably the most famous person of all time. Misty Copeland is, rightfully, one of the most famous ballerinas ever. This documentary charts her path to greatness as she becomes the first African American principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre.

What are the best documentaries on gender and sexuality?

Grey Gardens is regarded as an all-time greatest documentary for good reason — following the two Edies as they live shuttered lives in a run-down New York mansion. What was once a required viewing for most Intro to Gender and Sexuality courses is now required for … well, everyone.

What is a continental documentary?

The continental, or realist, tradition of documentary film focused on humans within more civilized urban environments, and included the so-called “city symphony” films such as Walter Ruttmann’s Berlin, Symphony of a City. Early film critic Grierson stated that Berlin represented what a documentary should not be.

What is documentary filmmaking?

These investigative films examine crime, celebrity, the justice system, and more—and in some cases have sparked real-world change. Nowadays, it’s trendy to call today’s era in documentary filmmaking—we’re talking about the past few years, when we’ve seen whole damn events like Tiger King and The Last Dance — the boom times for the genre.