What skills do you need to make a documentary?

Documentary film-makers need passion Documentary film-making is more than artistic expression – it’s people’s stories. It takes a lot of patience, commitment and passion to pursue that story. Good communication skills and appreciation of the visual arts are helpful.

How do you make a good documentary?

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.

How do I make a personal documentary?

5 Tips for Making the Personal Documentary

1. Have a way to film yourself. This is kind of an obvious and a very practical tip.
2. Decide how personal you’re willing to be.
3. Choose topic you’re passionate about.
4. Can you be comfortable in front of the camera?
5. Don’t over-explain.

What equipment do you need to film a documentary?

Camera: You can use DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, camcorders, action cameras, and even smartphones to record footage. For the best versatility, pick a camera that lets you change lenses and settings. Microphone(s): At a minimum, you’ll want a shotgun mic, but many documentary filmmakers rely on lavalier mics as well.

How do you write a good documentary script?

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.

Which app is best for making documentary?

iMovie – this program comes free with Mac computers or is bundled into iLife. iMovie is a basic video editor but it packs quite a punch. iMovie provides plenty of royalty-free music for most applications as well as sound effects. Olive – Free, Open Source Video Editing Software that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.