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Guide to Creating TV Documentaries

Documentaries are non-fiction films that document or capture reality. They are intended to inform or educate audiences on some aspect of reality. There are three main types of documentaries: expository aim to inform through narration; observational simply observe the world; and participatory include the filmmaker in the narrative. TV documentaries are usually journalistic, broadcasted, and have time limitations and a segmented format. When making a documentary, one should choose a story close to them, make a plan with research and narrative structure, shoot with available equipment and collaborators, write and edit the material into a script, then release and review the documentary.

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41 views20 pages

Guide to Creating TV Documentaries

Documentaries are non-fiction films that document or capture reality. They are intended to inform or educate audiences on some aspect of reality. There are three main types of documentaries: expository aim to inform through narration; observational simply observe the world; and participatory include the filmmaker in the narrative. TV documentaries are usually journalistic, broadcasted, and have time limitations and a segmented format. When making a documentary, one should choose a story close to them, make a plan with research and narrative structure, shoot with available equipment and collaborators, write and edit the material into a script, then release and review the documentary.

Uploaded by

leigh juts
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Making TV

Documentaries

EdukCircle 2018
What are
documentaries?
A documentary is a broad term to describe a non-
fiction movie that in some way "documents" or
captures reality.
“Factual film which is dramatic” - American film
critic Pare Lorentz
What is the purpose of
documentaries?
Intended to document some aspect of reality,
primarily for the purposes of instruction, education,
or maintaining a historical record.
Documentary filmmaking can be used as a form of
journalism, advocacy, or personal expression.
What are the types of
documentaries?
EXPOSITORY

Aim to inform and/or persuade — often through


omnipresent “Voice of God” narration over footage
devoid of ambiguous or poetic rhetoric.
OBSERVATIONAL

Aim to simply observe the world around them


PARTICIPATORY

While having elements of Observational and


Expository, include the filmmaker within the
narrative.
What are TV
Documentaries?
● Usually of a journalistic nature
● Broadcast medium
● In the Philippines, usually host driven
● Time limitations
● Segmentized
Let’s make a
documentary!
CHOOSE A STORY

● Unusual or unknown
● Close to your heart
MAKE A PLAN
● Research
● The narrative: beginning, middle, and end
● Basic story arc: exposition, inciting incident, crisis and rising
action, climax, falling action, resolution
● Audiovisual storytelling: how can I tell this story using images
and sound
SHOOT
● Make a calendar, mark important events, set deadlines
● Equipment is not important
● Get the right people for the job
● Collaborate: you can’t do everything alone
● Don’t be afraid to experiment
● Be dynamic and flexible
● Don’t lose sight of the narrative
WRITE AND EDIT
● Review all your material, video and interviews
● Make an outline
● Write the script: find your own voice and style
● Edit, edit, edit
RELEASE YOUR DOCUMENTARY

(the fun part)

… THEN DO A POST-MORTEM

(the not-so fun part)


Truth, Empathy, Story, Purpose

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