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How To Write A Documentary Script 2

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How To Write A Documentary Script 2

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KAAL
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How To Write A Documentary Script

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Helen Kantilaftis

Documentaries are fascinating and capture the brilliance of humanity when executed thoroughly. Every
director and producer has his or her own routine of writing a documentary script, which can be very
liberating to those who are starting out. Depending on the subject of the documentary, the schedule can be
incredibly pressing, which means that having a system in place prior to embarking on a new documentary
project can be quite rewarding. And don’t forget to check out NYFA’s documentary filmmaking
programs to find the best hands-on, intensive program for you.
Here are 7 steps on how to write a documentary script:

1. Finding the Story You’re Meant to Tell


Why documentary? What are you hoping to convey? Why are you the perfect person to tell this story?
These are all questions you answer in a pitch in order to be green lit by producers and executive producers.
Answering them first for yourself can lead you to a story you feel passionate about and are thus able to see
through the long process of documentary filmmaking. Once answered, you begin the arduous task of
looking deeper into material that will lead you to the story and ultimately, the script.

2. Research, Research, Research


Research is the most important phase of Pre-production and is the foundation of your script. Often, when
we begin looking at a topic, others have come before us. This means that we need to dig deeper into the
subject in order to not only inform but also surprise the audience. This surprise is key to creating an
interesting story. If you’re looking for experts, one of the ways to find them is to search for books on the
topic and then approach the authors. They may simply become “advisors” – people who can provide key
background information and fact-checkers. They may also turn into interviewees, on-camera experts who
elevate the believability factor. Whichever role they assume, their input is important to create the skeletal
form that you then flesh out with “story” as you develop your outline.

3. Blueprint Your Documentary


This is the time to organize and plan how the story will be transmitted to your audience. This can be in the
form of an outline most commonly expressed in a set of “sequences”. These are detailed scenes to show
how the film may play out. When you have this sequence outline clear in your head, shooting the frame is
much easier because you already know what you want. This sequence outline follows the natural narrative
spine of storytelling which is broken into acts which culminate in the overall message that you are trying to
convey. There may be some tweaking along the way, but the sequence outline is there as a guide.

4. Writing the Script


The first column is optional and is used by some filmmakers as a guide to the arc of the narrative. Video
and Audio columns are the standard and they are formatted so that the visuals line up with the audio
(interview, narration, music, etc.) that plays over them.
A sample documentary script
You must work backwards. It is the only way to write a documentary script. Once you have collected your
research, data, and interviews, only then can you write the script. Without research, it would be impossible
to conceive what an interviewee is going to say and how that ties into your message. Once you have all of
the facts and materials, then you can sit down and write the script and voice-overs.

5. Compel Your Viewer


Viewers want to connect with your project. Zeroing in on protagonists to highlight compelling personal
stories will enthrall viewers. Emotionally, your viewers will open up and understand the complexity of the
issue while making the issue entirely relatable. Every viewer wants to be transported somewhere else, look
through fresh eyes, learn something new, and then be motivated and moved by this information.

6. Declare Your Point Of View


Presenting the facts and reality isn’t always clean cut and unbiased. That isn’t to say that directors and
producers spin a project a certain way but there is information that stays in a documentary and information
that is cut. So, what is it that you want your documentary to transmit? When your thematic message is
well-defined, putting the entire script and production together is much easier and it is clearer to the
audience regardless of whether or not they agree. They can still connect because of the clarity of the
message. At the very least, the audience is given something to think about moving forward. As a
director/writer/producer, you can be flexible and allow your story to unfold even if it’s not in the precise
direction that you thought it would go.

7. Finesse Your Project


Be thorough with your writing and voice-overs. Writing and rewriting the script is part of the process as
you continue to define your message and refine the story. If you are using a narrator, you may have to
readjust to your narrator’s style. Sometimes while you are fact checking, there may be some discrepancies
so you want to make sure that everything you are presenting to the viewer is accurate and reflected in the
rewriting process.

Documentaries aren’t an observation of humanity, but rather an opening door into our nature, into what
drives us, what makes us fill with joy and weep with sorrow. Documentaries are real, with real people and
dealing with real issues that are powerful and hit us at our core. Let your writing reflect those deep,
moving messages and capture your audience emotionally.

Just like everything else, writing the right documentary script can only come after hours of training and
practice, including feedback from professionals. Find out more about how you can gain that experience
at NYFA’s Documentary Filmmaking Workshops.

Interested in learning more about the craft of creating excellent documentaries? Check out NYFA’s
documentary filmmaking programs to find the best hands-on, intensive program for you.
How To Write A Documentary Script by Helen Kantilaftis
 Documentary Filmmaking
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