To all the aspiring documentary filmmakers with cameras in your hand, passion in your heart, and a brain screaming, “God! Where do I start!” Take a deep breath, because it only gets better from here.Working with real-life topics, shooting with real people, and considering the lack of control during the shoot… documentary filmmaking is definitely not easy. You are probably overwhelmed with different advice on how to get started on that first documentary you’ve been planning for such a long time now. So without further ado, let’s begin with exploring the formative aspects of documentary filmmaking in this post (because one single article isn’t going to cover it). What Is Documentary Filmmaking?Documentary filmmaking is making a film based on real people, events, or places. You could follow a story in real-time, in the past, or even in the anticipated future. However, you are expected to present your individual take on the nonfiction story that you are following. Documentaries can also present a filmmaker’s views about the world or even voice issues of society.What Are the Different Types of Documentary Films?Documentaries can be classified under the following categories:Poetic DocumentariesPoetic documentaries prioritize visual aesthetics and emotional resonance over traditional narrative structure. They often utilize imagery, metaphors, and symbolic representations to evoke feelings and provoke thought rather than convey straightforward facts. One example is Sans Soleil (1983). Expository DocumentariesThese films focus on informing and educating the viewers with facts and arguments. Expository documentaries often employ voiceovers, archival footage, testimonials, statistics, and interviews to...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today