Documentary Production 101

Dennis H. Eiss, J.D., MFA

Joel T. Burkley, AAS

Get Organized

• Define the Documentary– What is the Subject?– Is the Subject of interest to anybody besides

you?– Research the Subject

• Has anything else been done on the Subject?– Written– Visual– How much information is available on Subject?– Is the Subject in the Public Domain or are Releases

Needed?

Do Your Intense Research

• How will you display your work?– Large screen projection– Broadcast Television

• Find Broadcast Specifications• If Commercial- Plan for Breaks

– Direct to DVD

Do Your Intense Research

• Collect the information on your Subject– Find Photos and Digitize– Contact living Witnesses

• Do Preliminary interviews– Obtain Releases from Witnesses at this Time

– Storyboard the Project

Write Your Script

• Write a Script- Even if You Don’t Think You Need One

• Each Page of a Script is Equal to One Minute of Your Production– 90 Pages of Script Equals 90 Minutes of

Program

• Use Your Script as a Guide– Modify It as Your Project Progresses

Raise Your Money

• Make A Budget for Your Production

• Always Add 20% to Your Maximum Dollar Amount to Protect You

• Make Your Decision- Commercial Venture or In the Public Interest– The Decision Will Change the Way You Raise

Funds

Plan Your Shoot

• Make Sure Releases are Signed if Subject Matter or Property Owner are not Deemed to be Public Domain

• Obtain Shooting Permissions and Releases Even if the Shoot is Months Off– No Sense Planning if You Can’t Shoot at a

Certain Location

Plan Your Shoot

• Determine Camera Codec’s to be Used

• Determine Cameras to be Used

• What Additional Equipment Will be Required?– Lighting– Dollys– Sound Recording Equipment– Review Monitors

Plan Your Shoot

• Obtain Your Crew– Producer– Director– On Screen Talent if Required– Voiceover Talent– Director of Photography

• Additional Shooters if Required

– Lighting Technicians– Sound Recordists

Plan Your Shoot

• Set the Date– What are Normal Weather Conditions for the

Time?– Make backup plans for shoot in case of

inclement Weather or Disaster

Plan Your Shoot

• Make Arrangements for Crew– Hotel/ Motel Reservations if Needed– Transportation Requirements– Craft Services

• Making Sure Crew is Fed, Water and Other Beverages are Provided-Particularly on Hot Days

• Very Important to Make Sure Arrangements are Made for Toilets

– Arrange to Use Someone’s or Rent Port-A-Pottys

Plan Your Shoot

• Obtain Insurance– Liability- Most Locations Require at Least a

One Million Dollar Liability Policy– Property Insurance- Covers Against Loss or

Damage of Your Own or Rented Equipment– Errors and Omissions- Covers the Production

for What You Forgot to Do. Many Broadcasters Will Also Require This.

Plan Your Shoot

• Obtain ID for Crew– You Need to Know Everybody who Belongs

on the Set• Craft Services is the First Place Crashed

– DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING!!!!!!

The Shoot

• Check That Everything is Done Three Weeks Out

• Check That Everything is Done Two Weeks Out

• Check That Everything is Done One Week Out

• Make Checklists and Use Them

The Shoot

• Make Sure the Crew and Equipment are In Place

• Roll Tape– Remember- Nobody Does It In One Take– Review Your Tape as it is Shot– Make Multiple Backups of Tape as it is Shot– Catalog Your Tape as it is Shot– Avoid the “Fix It In Post” Mentality

Post Production

• Obtain Written Transcripts of Tape

• Review the Tapes– Maximum of 30 Hours of Tape Per Workweek– Industry Rule of Thumb-

• One Minute of Tape is Used For Each Hour of Tape Shot

– Optimum Method of Editing• Cut Each Tape in Half• Repeat the Process Over and Over Until Done

Post Production

• Prepare a Rough Cut

• Prepare Final Audio– REMEMBER THAT AUDIO IS 70% OF THE

PRODUCTION VALUE- THE WOW FACTOR- OF ANY PRODUCTION

• Sweeten Dialogue• Prepare Voiceover• Review and Adjust Music

Post Production

• Prepare a Final Cut– Have Several People Review It For Anything

You May Have Missed

• Author a DVD

Distribution

• CREATE A DEMAND FOR YOUR PRODUCTION !!!!!!!!– You Will Get Nowhere Without Good

Marketing– Online Marketing is Cheap- If Not Free– Social Media is Essential Today

• Twitter• Facebook• YouTube

Distribution

• Make Several Hundred DVD’s– Have Them Replicated Rather Than Copied– Send a Copy to Every Outlet You Can

• Submit Your Production to Every Film Festival You Can Afford

Download Presentation

• PowerPoint Presentation Available at:

– www.ptvs.org/seminars.html