We talk a lot about visual storytelling and narrative tools in fictional films. Leading lines, creating depth, playing with aspect ratio, specific types of editing… Some of them apply to documentaries as well. Yet, of course, when we capture the events unfolding before our eyes, it’s not always possible to think about framing, let alone stylistic choices. Still, there are plenty of creative techniques that can help to enhance your documentary and add something special to the story you want to tell. Let’s take a look at several examples below! Over the last decades, documentaries have become much more than plain reportages that document reality with interviews and B-roll footage on top. This one word includes so many parts of the motion picture: educational, observational, portraits and personal stories, wildlife cinema, historical documents – the list can go on and on. There are no strict conventions on how to make a documentary, except for being truthful to your vision of the world. So, filmmakers choose their own form and style, adding creative elements that help to underline the story or visualize the message. As with every art form, you will find endless possibilities on how to make a documentary narrative stylized. We won’t be able to cover all the creative techniques in one article, but I want to show you some recent examples that I found inspiring. Maybe they will inspire you as well. And if you have other tools to share, please do so in the comments below! Unusual...
Published By: CineD - Thursday, 4 January, 2024