Documentary Starter Kit

Welcome Filmmaker!
I'm so glad you're here! You've made a great decision to enroll in this mini-course.

My name is Faith and I'm here to show you around.

Scroll down to begin your first lesson, then when you complete this lesson, click
CONTINUE at the bottom of this page.

Let's get started!

Why Make A Documentary?

Making a documentary is one of the most rewarding and challenging endeavors you
can be involved with.

Documentaries transform lives, societies and the world! And most of all, making a
documentary changes YOU.

Do you have a great documentary idea you're ready to embark on?

What Does It Take To Make A Documentary?

Are you swimming in confusion and overwhelm? I get it.

Filmmaking can seem pretty daunting. But here's the truth. All it takes to make a
documentary is a video camera and a story idea. That's it!

Actually, you don't even need a camera.

If you have access to archival footage and video editing software, you're good to go.
Where it gets complicated is what to DO with that footage and how to tell the story in
a compelling way.
10 Quick Ideas To Get You Started Making Your
Documentary
There are many exciting ways to get started making your documentary.

Perhaps you are starting from scratch with no footage, no interviews, no plan, no
nothing.

On the other hand, you may already have a box full of old film footage that your
grandfather shot during WWII and you’re wondering how to start pulling it together
into a compelling story.

Below are some quick tips to get you started on your documentary-making journey:

Network with other filmmakers - Attend a film festival or

volunteer on a documentary film project. Meet other filmmakers
and ask how they got started. Get inspired, ask for advice. Join
filmmaker and documentary forums online such as the D-
Word.com or documentary groups on LinkedIn. Offer to help
other filmmakers with THEIR projects. There’s nothing more
inspiring than seeing another filmmaker in action to get you
moving on your own project!

Hit the record button - Don’t worry so much about a treatment

or writing anything down. Just go out and start shooting
anything that seems interesting for your story. You can figure
out how it’s going to all come together later. Be open to change
and following the story as it unfolds.

Write an outline – If you’re more of a planner, forget the last

tip. Write down the major points or sections you want to cover
in your documentary. Not sure what the major sections are?
Think about the important questions you want answered in your
documentary. Write those down and then figure out what
information or footage is needed to start covering each of those
major points or questions.
Shoot ONE interview – It’s easy to get overwhelmed with
everything that needs to get done to make a documentary.
Choose the easiest and most accessible person you can think of
and interview them. (Tip! Make sure to get great audio. Take
along a portable audio recorder like the Zoom H1)

Get on Social Media – It’s never too soon to start building an

audience for your film. The whole process of making a
documentary can start with a simple Facebook page or a blog.
Get people talking about the topic of your documentary and start
sharing progress on your film. These early followers become
your extended production team providing support in the form of
ideas, funding and connections.

Make a trailer – This might be THE most important thing you

can do to start the process of making a documentary. Even if
you don’t have any footage shot yet, get creative and put
something together with photos and archival footage. A 1-5
minute trailer is not only a great way to test your idea before
committing to a full length feature film, it's a fantastic
fundraising and promotional tool.

Find a camera – On the more practical side of things, in order

to make a documentary, you’re going to need some equipment.
At the very least, a camera and a video editing computer will
likely be necessary. See the handy video gear starter kit that
came with this course.

Do market research – type in the subject of your documentary

into Google and YouTube. Explore what else is out there on the
topic you'd like to cover. Is there an existing audience hungry
for insight on this topic? What existing Facebook groups or
organizations already exist that are actively engaged in the
topic? How will your documentary offer something different
than anything else currently on the market?
 Conduct a crowd funding campaign – There’s nothing quite
like a fundraising campaign to galvanize you and your team.
There’s lots involved in a crowd funding campaign. It’s best if
you can have a following of at least 500-1000 people first and
you’ll need a video trailer. For inspiration, check out
documentary fundraising campaigns on Kickstarter.com and
IndieGoGo.com.

Sign up for a filmmaking workshop – If you are truly starting

from scratch, a basic course in video production could be just
what you need. Check your local university or community
college for classes, browse for video production workshops in
your area, or jump right in with the popular 7-Day
Documentary Crash Course offered right here on Desktop
Documentaries.

Documentary Pre-Production
Check List
Pre-production is all about the stuff that needs to be done before the shooting or
editing begins.

Do you have your documentary idea? Great. Do you have passion for your project?
Excellent. Do you have the determination to see your project through to the end.
Faaaan-tas-tic!

Then you're ready to get started.

Music - It may seem odd to think about music before you even start
shooting, but getting music rights can sometimes take months, so it's in
your best interest not to wait until the last minute to begin that process.
Also, considering music in advance can help you to start visualizing
your film and thinking about a style of shooting to match the music
you want to use.
"Wow" Shots – Adding some cool and unique elements into your film
can really help you stand out from the crowd. Examples of "wow"
shots include timelapse, stop motion, aerial shots and cartoon
animation.

Production Schedule - Write down key shooting events/dates and

your timeline of when you want everything completed.

Filmmaking Gear - Camcorder, tripod, lighting kit, microphones, etc.

Make sure you've got all the necessary gear for your shoots. Check out
the handy video gear starter kit that came part of this course (next
lesson).

Production Elements - Gather existing footage & other production

elements (photos, documents, old home movies, etc). Sometimes you
can save a lot of money by using free public domain footage from
places like archive.org or buying stock footage from companies like
Pond5.
Interviews/Shot List - Create an interview and shot list. Remember
that in your final documentary, an audience can only get to know 7-8
"characters" in a typical 1-hour documentary. So even if you want to
interview 100 people, just realize a fraction of them will end up in the
film.
Script Outline – You may think to yourself, "How can I write a script
before I've shot anything?" That's a great question. It's true that the
nature of documentaries is that it's unscripted. What you CAN do is
imagine what your documentary might look like and craft a "pretend
script" or outline based on the information you have so far. You'll be
amazed how helpful this process can be to help you think of scenes
and possibilities that you may not have thought of otherwise.

Fundraising Trailer – This is a “must-have” item if you plan to raise

funds for your film. Make this a priority above all else!

Documentary Treatment and Proposal - This is also a key item for

your fundraising packet. A 1-page synopsis should be plenty to get you
started, but a more lengthy proposal will be required when requesting
larger sums of money. Get step-by-step instructions with
our documentary proposal template pack.

Documentary Budget - Along with your documentary proposal,

another key item is your budget. This is a fundamental item for both
you and the funder. It's easy to put it all together with our
handy documentary budget template pack (bundle).
Set up a Website/Blog/Facebook page to start building buzz. Don't
wait until your documentary is finished to start looking for your
audience. As soon as you have your documentary idea, get going on
social media and start building your audience. Keep them updated, get
their input, post out-takes, etc... anything that will engage your
followers and get them interested in the process. Your core supporters
will help you when you need funds and when you're ready to launch
your film.
Fiscal Sponsor - If you want to accept donations for your film, having
a non-profit sponsor or "fiscal sponsor" can save you a lot of
headaches and streamline the donation process. Learn how to find and
work with a fiscal sponsor as part of the Documentary Fundraising
101 Course.
 Distribution Plan – Consider your distribution plan and your
audience. Many filmmakers are so caught up in the making of their
documentary that they forget about this VERY important step. Think
of the END first. Where do you envision your film being shown?
Theaters? Community Centers? PBS? HBO? Or are you just going to
post it on YouTube and share it with the world? Thinking about the
end first can sometimes dramatically impact your decisions as you
make your film.
Marketing Materials – Make sure you get plenty of production stills
of your documentary team in action during filming. These photos will
be invaluable for marketing later. Also consider "The-Making-Of"
video. Think ahead about possibly finding someone who can document
YOU filming which could become an "Extra" on the DVD or VOD
package.. at the very least this provides visuals for your website and
other social media sites.
LLC – Let’s get you legal! Register your documentary project with its
own LLC. You can easily and quickly set up an LLC through
LegalZoom. Creating a separate legal entity for your film protects
your personal assets if someone decides to sue you.
Release Forms – Make sure you have the proper release forms when
you go out shooting. Attorney Gordon Firemark put together a special
packet of forms exclusively for documentary filmmakers. Learn more
about the Documentary Legal Forms & Contracts [Starter
Pack] and Documentary Legal Forms [Post-Production Pack]

COMPLETE & CONTINUE

Documentary Pre-Production
Check List
Pre-production is all about the stuff that needs to be done before the
shooting or editing begins.

Do you have your documentary idea? Great. Do you have passion for
your project? Excellent. Do you have the determination to see your project
through to the end. Faaaan-tas-tic!

Then you're ready to get started.

Music - It may seem odd to think about music before you even start
shooting, but getting music rights can sometimes take months, so it's in
your best interest not to wait until the last minute to begin that process.
Also, considering music in advance can help you to start visualizing
your film and thinking about a style of shooting to match the music
you want to use.
"Wow" Shots – Adding some cool and unique elements into your film
can really help you stand out from the crowd. Examples of "wow"
shots include timelapse, stop motion, aerial shots and cartoon
animation.
Production Schedule - Write down key shooting events/dates and
your timeline of when you want everything completed.

Filmmaking Gear - Camcorder, tripod, lighting kit, microphones, etc.

Make sure you've got all the necessary gear for your shoots. Check out
the handy video gear starter kit that came part of this course (next
lesson).

Production Elements - Gather existing footage & other production

elements (photos, documents, old home movies, etc). Sometimes you
can save a lot of money by using free public domain footage from
places like archive.org or buying stock footage from companies like
Pond5.
Interviews/Shot List - Create an interview and shot list. Remember
that in your final documentary, an audience can only get to know 7-8
"characters" in a typical 1-hour documentary. So even if you want to
interview 100 people, just realize a fraction of them will end up in the
film.
Script Outline – You may think to yourself, "How can I write a script
before I've shot anything?" That's a great question. It's true that the
nature of documentaries is that it's unscripted. What you CAN do is
imagine what your documentary might look like and craft a "pretend
script" or outline based on the information you have so far. You'll be
amazed how helpful this process can be to help you think of scenes
and possibilities that you may not have thought of otherwise.

Fundraising Trailer – This is a “must-have” item if you plan to raise

funds for your film. Make this a priority above all else!

Documentary Treatment and Proposal - This is also a key item for

your fundraising packet. A 1-page synopsis should be plenty to get you
started, but a more lengthy proposal will be required when requesting
larger sums of money. Get step-by-step instructions with
our documentary proposal template pack.
Documentary Budget - Along with your documentary proposal,
another key item is your budget. This is a fundamental item for both
you and the funder. It's easy to put it all together with our
handy documentary budget template pack (bundle).
Set up a Website/Blog/Facebook page to start building buzz. Don't
wait until your documentary is finished to start looking for your
audience. As soon as you have your documentary idea, get going on
social media and start building your audience. Keep them updated, get
their input, post out-takes, etc... anything that will engage your
followers and get them interested in the process. Your core supporters
will help you when you need funds and when you're ready to launch
your film.
Fiscal Sponsor - If you want to accept donations for your film, having
a non-profit sponsor or "fiscal sponsor" can save you a lot of
headaches and streamline the donation process. Learn how to find and
work with a fiscal sponsor as part of the Documentary Fundraising
101 Course.
Distribution Plan – Consider your distribution plan and your
audience. Many filmmakers are so caught up in the making of their
documentary that they forget about this VERY important step. Think
of the END first. Where do you envision your film being shown?
Theaters? Community Centers? PBS? HBO? Or are you just going to
post it on YouTube and share it with the world? Thinking about the
end first can sometimes dramatically impact your decisions as you
make your film.
Marketing Materials – Make sure you get plenty of production stills
of your documentary team in action during filming. These photos will
be invaluable for marketing later. Also consider "The-Making-Of"
video. Think ahead about possibly finding someone who can document
YOU filming which could become an "Extra" on the DVD or VOD
package.. at the very least this provides visuals for your website and
other social media sites.
LLC – Let’s get you legal! Register your documentary project with its
own LLC. You can easily and quickly set up an LLC through
LegalZoom. Creating a separate legal entity for your film protects
your personal assets if someone decides to sue you.
 Release Forms – Make sure you have the proper release forms when
you go out shooting. Attorney Gordon Firemark put together a special
packet of forms exclusively for documentary filmmakers. Learn more
about the Documentary Legal Forms & Contracts [Starter
Pack] and Documentary Legal Forms [Post-Production Pack]

Documentary Gear Starter Kit (s)

This is the fun part! Choosing your gear.

Let's start off here by saying there is no "one size fits all" documentary
video gear package. There are just too many variables.
However, as an attempt to get you up and running as quickly as possible,
below are some common documentary packages that serve as examples
only.

Keep in mind, that the minute this page gets published, there will be a
newer more updated version of all the equipment listed here.

So use this as a guide only!

Gear Package #1: Low-Budget Beginner Starter Kit

Canon T7i ($699)

The Canon T7i is a great starter
camera for any new
documentary filmmaker.
 Rode
Video
Mic ($150)
A great
starter mic
that plugs
directly
into the
camera.

Manfrotto
Triopd ($50
- $200)
Manfrotto is
a good
brand for
tripods.
Browse the
list and
choose one
in your
price range.
***A great alternative to the T7i would be the Panasonic LUMIX GH5(very
popular with doc filmmakers). Even your iPhone/smartphoneworks great
in tandem with an external audio recording device such as the Zoom H1.

Gear Package #2: Medium-Budget Starter Kit

Canon EOS C100 Mark II Cinema EOS

Camera with Dual Pixel CMOS AF
The C100 Mark II is optimized for run-and-gun
style shooting, especially when mounted on a rig
such as the Zacuto Canon Cinema Shoulder
Mount Rig. Up to 3 hours of HD video can be
recorded on a single 32 GB card. The 12 steps of
dynamic range is great for shooting in stealth,
low-light conditions. In addition, get continuous
AF which is compatible with the autofocusing on
the 24-70 II lens (below).

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom

Lens
Lightweight and easy to handle, this lens is a great
choice for the Canon C100 Mark II. A high-speed CPU
with optimized AF algorithms ensures a fast and silent
auto focus, making this well suited for events. The one
downside is lack of image stabilization. If that's
important, go for the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS
USM.
 Sachtler Ace M Fluid Head Tripod
System
This high-end tripod comes with damping
technology for increased levels of control
and smoothness in tilting and panning.

Sennheiser ME66 Super-Cardioid Shotgun

Condenser Microphone
The ME66 microphone is a popular choice among
documentary and ENG/EFP professionals. The mic
maximizes pick-up at the front, which works well
for interviews. Suggested accessories for the
mic:shockmount and right-angle XLR cable.

BP-970G Rechargeable Battery for Canon

For back-up, this is an extra battery designed for the

Canon C100 Mark II, Canon C300, Canon C500 and
numerous other cameras.

Gear Package #3: High-Budget Starter Kit

 Sony PXW-FS7 XDCAM Super 35
Camera System

Recommended for a variety of run and

gun shooting situations including
commercial work, electronic news
gathering (ENG) and documentaries.
The Sony ES7 is a flexible 4K system
that can capture on-board UHD at 60
FPS and HD up to 180 FPS. Included are
two XQD memory card slots for extra
long shooting.

Sony 120GB XQD Memory Card

Two of these will fit nicely into the dual XQD slots of the
Sony FS7. The Sony 120GB G Series XQD Format is
designed specifically for those working in 4K and RAW
images.

Sony FE PZ 28-135mm f/4 G OSS Lens

This lens is specifically designed for HD and 4K

shooting. The Super Sonic Wave Motor ensures fast,
 silent performance and there are independent
control rings for zoom, focus, and aperture.

Sennheiser ME66 Super-Cardioid Shotgun

Condenser Microphone

A popular choice among documentary and

ENG/EFP professionals, the ME66 mic
maximizes pick-up at the front, which works
well for interviews. Suggested accessories
for the mic: shockmount and right-angle
XLR cable.

Sony BP-U60 Battery

Always make sure to take along an extra battery or two

(or three). One battery should last about an hour.

How To Pitch Your

Documentary Ideas To Get
Funding
 Do you need help pitching your documentary ideas to
investors?
Need funding for your documentary?
I have seen it time and time again. Documentary filmmakers can be
passionate about their cause and are talented storytellers, yet pretty
much clueless how to pitch their idea to potential funders.

So often, filmmakers will find the fundraising process too difficult and
draining and will either give up or choose to work for free and beg
everyone around them to work for free to get the film made (I know,
that’s what happened to me on my first documentary project).

It's true that there are hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars
available in grants for film projects/documentary ideas.

But here’s the catch.

The truth about documentary film grants is that:

• It’s a full time job simply finding the grant that fits YOUR project.
It literally takes hours upon hours - weeks or even months - of
research simply to narrow down a few “hot leads”.

• And once you find the perfect fit, enjoy going through all the
hoops they put you through to apply for the grant.

A Filmmaker's Biggest Fantasy

Filmmakers often have the fantasy that ONE big foundation is going to
write one bit fat check to cover the cost of their whole documentary
project. It can happen. But it’s rare. I would say near impossible for
the first time filmmaker.

Each foundation and grant organization has its own list of

requirements and who knows who you’re competing against to get that
funding. In addition, some organizations only give money to fund just
one part of your project such as post-production or distribution. And
they each have their own deadlines that may or may not fit your
production schedule (“Argh, that grant’s not available until NEXT
year!??” "Argh, they only provide finishing funds? I need money NOW
for my upcoming shoot.").

The process is enough to deter even the most ambitious dedicated

filmmakers.

So What’s A Filmmaker To Do?

After being in the filmmaking, communications and video production
industry more than twenty years, here’s my advice if you are new to
documentary filmmaking and need funding.

Go to individuals for your funding.

By all means, apply for grants. Thousands of filmmakers get funding

from grants every year. But even if you apply for grants, approaching
individual donors should be a major part of your fundraising plan.

How To Pitch Your Documentary Ideas

• Gather Your Fundraising Team - Find a small group of people,
perhaps 3-5 individuals, who are passionate about your project
and who have connections in the business world. Getting these
individuals to pitch your documentary idea to their peers is a
powerful and effective way to fundraise.

• Social Media - Immediately start building a presence on

Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Start building
your base of support asap. These individuals will become your
key supporters throughout the process of making your film.

• Look through your contact list and start digging - You are
looking for any and every connection you can to funding sources.
 The idea is to find a "natural connection". Say your brother has a
friend whose mom runs a small family foundation. Bingo. Or the
CEO of a big local company has a personal connection to the
subject matter of your film. (For example, say your film is about
a village in Kenya. You learn the CEO and his wife have an
adopted child from Kenya. Bingo).

• Make a trailer -- there is no better way to pitch your

documentary idea than with a fantastic trailer. If you can get
people to laugh or cry while watching your trailer, it's almost a
100% guarantee you can them to donate to your project
(assuming you have a donate button next to the video or you
make the ask for money right then and there fresh off the heels
of the experience).

• Conduct a Crowdfunding Campaign -- This is an excellent

way to launch your fundraising efforts and test the viability of
your documentary idea.

• Hold a Fundraising Houseparty -- This is a great way to pitch

your documentary idea to numerous individuals at once.

Crafting The Perfect Documentary Proposal

Documentary proposals can be simple or complicated or somewhere in
between. It all depends on who you are approaching. But one way or
another, if you need funding, you'll need a proposal.

So what kind of proposal do you need?

Whereas a foundation will list out exactly what they need from you
when applying for their grant, an individual has no such list of
requirements. So how do you know what you should send when
approaching them for funding?
If you are asking someone for $1,000 or more, you should have a
proposal that includes enough details to fill at least 3-10 pages.

The idea is to give potential funders enough information to understand

the scope of your project, but not too much. The reality is that
potential funders are busy people and there’s a fine line between
providing “enough” information, “too much” information and the “right
kind” of information that will generate results (ie Cash in your pocket
to make your film!).

You want to INSPIRE your potential funder in the possibilities of your

documentary idea and also BUILD CONFIDENCE in your abilities.

A professional proposal can make all the difference in getting your

documentary funded. This is often your one and only chance to grab
someone’s attention. You’ve got to get it right THE FIRST TIME. If your
proposal is unprofessional, that tells the potential funder all they need
to know: “If they can’t even put together a good proposal, what’s the
documentary going to look like?”

A great proposal is a way to build confidence and to show that you’re a

professional worthy of their trust to handle their money properly.

COMPLETE & CONTINUE