Inside the Documentary Filmmaking Process

Alright, let’s talk documentary filmmaking. This journey is about finding your own path, hitting walls, and figuring out how to break through them with the best tools you have. And remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all way to do this, so think outside the box. This is a very brief overview, and if you want to talk more about it fill out the form at the bottom. Let’s go!

1. Choosing the Story: Dream big sport

So, here’s the big question: What story do you want to tell? There are endless ways to find that answer. You could grab a whiteboard and grab your crew and spend hours debating. Then you vote, fight, and bond about your favorite topics, and narrow it down to the top few ideas. From there, it’s all about research and seeing where the story goes.

But sometimes, you just have a moment of pure genius (…or pure madness). You find a topic that speaks to you, and huzza, you’re off to the races. WAIT, hold up! You will be living in that world for the foreseeable future and if you can’t imagine eating, breathing, and sleeping that topic for years, you may want to choose something else. If it doesn’t give you that “I could research and talk about this forever” feeling, you might regret it when you're knee-deep in research for the 10th month. Choose wisely bud!

2. Research: The More You Dig, the More You Find, the more it changes

Now, let’s geek out for a sec. Research time. It is time to dive deep into books, archives, making connections, watching every documentary ever made on the subject (don’t worry, you can totally call it “work” when you’re watching Netflix documentaries at 2 a.m.). You’ll dig into local libraries, make connections with historians, anthropologists, and experts, and maybe stumble upon forgotten old records. It’s like being a detective, but way more nerdy.

3. Pre-Production: The flexible, Sort Of Plan

Here’s the thing: your plan? It’s probably gonna change. Scratch that it is 100% going to change. You’ll sketch out a rough outline (think: “We’re gonna interview Person A in this place, capture B-roll of Thing B,” etc.), but trust me, by the end, this plan is going to look like a completely different beast. Embrace it.

This is also the time you start booking interviews, renting equipment, locking in your crew, and making sure you’ve got all the legal stuff (permits, insurance, etc.) locked down. Oh, and fundraising. Don’t forget that. Whether you go with sponsorships, partnerships, network support, grants, or crowdfunding (to name a few), there’s no one magic formula. Pick what works for you, what fits your goals and fuckin’ commit. Raise that money.

4. Team Involvement: You Do You, But Also… Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Whether you’re running with a tiny crew of just you and your trusty camera or have a full team of people, you’ve gotta know when to ask for help. Get a team of people who complement your strengths and fill in your weaknesses. This isn’t about being the jack-of-all-trades; it’s about knowing what you're good at and then finding people who are great at the things you're not. Don’t be arrogant, know your limits. The final doc. will benefit from it.

And hey, sometimes it’s just you standing behind the camera and asking questions (I’ve been there). That’s fine too. We all start somewhere, and if there is passion there is a way.

5. Filming: Just Wing It… But Not Too Much

Now we’re rolling. There’s a lot of pressure to have a “perfect” approach here. Should you go observational? Should you follow a more structured script? Should you try something you have never seen before? The answer: this is up to you kid. You gotta feel it out as you go. No one know the story you are telling more than you. Think about what enhances that story, what gets subconscious feelings across that you want, and what is something you aren’t quite sure will work but you have been dying to try. Now, go for it, and don’t let pretentious fucks in this community tear you down or scare you away from making it exactly how you want to.

On that note, check your ego at the door please. Documentary filmmaking isn’t about you; it’s about the story. And let’s be honest, nothing ever goes exactly according to plan. So be ready to improvise, stay safe, and always remember: the world is full of unexpected gems that can make your story even better. So, stay out of your own damn way and make some documentary magic!

6. Post-Production: The Never-Ending Party

Ah, lovely post-production. The land of endless possibilities—and endless re-edits. It is time to take all that footage and try to shape it into something something that makes sense. Sometimes you’ll feel like you have way too many amazing shots to fit into one film. Other times, you’ll be like, “Do we have anything worth keeping?” That’s the creative process babe, don’t give up.

For the love of all that is good, do not be afraid to play around with it, probably more than you think you should. This part of the process feels endless because there is always more that could be done. It can wear you down, burn you out, and make you want to burn everything down. I don’t even want to guess how many documentaries die in this step right here. Keep that motivation, make it fun, and make it through. Nothing is ever perfect, get it to where you are proud of it, where the story you wanted to tell is told, and export that baby. If anyone waited to publish a movie until it was perfect, we would have no movies.

7. Distribution: Getting Your Film Out There

Distribution is intimidating. You can hit up film festivals, try to land a spot on a streaming platform, or just throw it up on YouTube. Set your goals early—because it’s all about getting your story to the right audience. There’s no “right” way here, It’s all about how you want to share what you’ve made with the world. Find what fits best for your story and hit the ground running.

8. Challenges and Rewards: Keep Pushing On That Wall

Filmmaking is tough. You’ll hit walls, face setbacks, and probably wonder if it’s all worth it. But then, you’ll get that one interview, or that one shot, or that one moment where everything clicks. And that’s when you remember: This is why you do it.

In the end, documentary filmmaking is all about the people you meet and the stories you get to tell. It’s messy, it’s unpredictable, and it’s so very worth it.

If something is holding you back at any time along the production process, feel free to reach out. I love connecting with fellow creatives and filmmakers. If there is anything that I can do to help, let me know! Be it a sounding board, cheerleader, mentor, or whatever the hell else may be needed I would be psyched to be there for you. Shoot me a message below and let’s chat!