Select your topic/Begin brain storming
As you begin to think about your topic, generate ideas and record them. Ask yourself the following questions:
What is my theme, my topic?
What is my story?
What are my objectives? My message?
What is my intro, body, conclusion? How will this translate to the screen?
What do I want my audience to think, feel, experience?
What visuals will best represent my story?
What audio will enhance the emotion?
Who will I interview? How will this person contribute to my story?
Write your Treatment
After you have begun to think about your documentary and you have a few basic questions worked out with your group, you will now think about the story as a whole. You will write a treatment. A treatment is a very detailed outline of your documentary.
Site Visit/Interview Visit
Research your topic and select subjects. Contact them to set up a time to meet and walk through your location. This will familiarize your subject with you and create a comfort level making it easier for them to feel comfortable in front of the camera when the time comes and also make you feel comfortable. This will also spark shot ideas or a shot list and interview questions as you walk through the location and help you decide what you would like to include on the actual shooting day. This will cut down on shooting time because you will already know the shots you will need. Take notes as you walk through the location and even bring a camera to document some of the location you are thinking about using. It would also be helpful to take note of lighting, power outlets, noise factors, things you will have to consider when shooting.
Equipment Needs/Production Schedule/Shooting Schedule
Based on your walk through, you should have a good sense of the equipment you will need to film your documentary. You should think about your locations when deciding upon equipment and think about the following:
Are there power outlets? How many? Do I need extension cords?
Where will I shot my interview? Inside? Outside? Why would I choose one over the other?
Is lighting an issue? Should I bring additional lights?
Asking yourself these questions will make the actual shooting day run a lot smoother.
Your shooting script/storyboard will contain information such as images, sounds, music, effects, text for narration and text used on screen.
A production booklet could serve as a highly organizational plan for your group including shooting list, interviewees & their bios, interview questions, filming locations, contact info, photos.
Shooting Script Examples
The Interview
Choose a location with minimum noise. Again, ask yourself these questions:
Is the air conditioning running?
Are there any noises being produced by appliances?
Is the interview room next to a noisy highway?
Are the windows open?
Writing the Interview Questions
Do not share these with the interviewee. Only give him/her an overview or general idea of what you may be asking. Prepping them with questions will only make the interview sound rehearsed.
Release Forms
Have your subjects complete the release form provided granting you and Bucknell permission to use their location and interview for educational purposes.
Post-Production
This is where you breath creative life into your documentary. There are a myriad of creative avenues you can go down. Which one is the best way to tell your story? Think outside the box, be creative. Your imagination is your tool brush! It is here your visual clips, music, sound effects, transitions, composition, and pacing all come together to aid in your argument and engage your audience.
Getting to Know Final Cut Pro X