How to Plan a Documentary Videography Project: Research & Interviews

Creating a documentary is a powerful way to tell a story, communicate a message, or raise awareness about important issues. The process of producing a documentary involves multiple phases, and one of the most important stages is planning. Planning not only involves the technical aspects of videography, but also crucial elements such as research, conducting interviews, and crafting a narrative that resonates with the audience. This article will guide you through the essential steps for planning a documentary project, focusing on the critical areas of research and interviews, both of which are foundational to producing a compelling and informative film.

Understanding the Purpose and Audience

Before diving into the research and interviews, it's important to define the purpose of the documentary and identify your target audience. This step will guide all subsequent decisions and help to maintain focus throughout the project.

Defining the Purpose

The purpose of your documentary is the driving force behind the project. Are you aiming to educate, entertain, raise awareness, or influence public opinion? Understanding the core purpose will inform your choice of subject matter, the style of filming, and how you approach interviews and research. Some common documentary purposes include:

• Educational documentaries: These aim to inform the audience about a particular topic or issue, often through expert commentary or detailed analysis.
• Advocacy documentaries: These focus on raising awareness about social or environmental issues, aiming to inspire action or change.
• Historical documentaries: These explore past events, providing context and analysis to help viewers understand their significance.
• Biographical documentaries: These focus on the lives of individuals, offering insights into their experiences, achievements, or struggles.

Identifying Your Audience

The audience is just as important as the subject matter of the documentary. Understanding who your viewers will be allows you to tailor your content to their interests, knowledge level, and emotional engagement. Are you making the documentary for a broad audience, or is it aimed at a specific group, such as students, activists, or professionals in a particular field? Knowing your audience will influence the tone, style, and complexity of the research and interviews.

Conducting Research

Research is the backbone of any documentary. It provides the facts, context, and background needed to tell a truthful and compelling story. Without thorough research, a documentary can lack depth and fail to engage or educate the audience effectively.

Types of Research

There are two primary types of research that will form the foundation of your documentary: primary research and secondary research.

Primary Research

Primary research involves gathering original information directly related to your documentary's subject. This type of research typically involves:

• Interviews with Experts: Experts in your documentary's field can provide in-depth knowledge, context, and opinions that are essential to the narrative. Depending on the documentary's subject, these might include historians, scientists, social activists, or subject-matter specialists.
• Field Research: This involves visiting locations, observing events, and experiencing the subject firsthand. It might involve filming on location, attending protests, events, or conferences, or simply spending time in the environment that you are documenting.

Secondary Research

Secondary research involves gathering information that has already been published or recorded. It includes:

• Books, Articles, and Journals: These can provide historical context, expert opinions, and comprehensive data that will inform the documentary's narrative.
• Archival Materials: These could include old photographs, videos, news reports, government documents, or recordings. Archival research is especially important for historical documentaries.
• Online Databases and Resources: Researching online can yield academic papers, reports, documentaries, and other resources that could add depth to your project.

Organizing Research

The next critical step is organizing the research. As you collect data, notes, articles, and other materials, make sure to keep everything well-documented and categorized. You can create a system for storing and organizing files, whether digitally or physically, so that you can easily access the information during filming and editing. Here are some strategies to help organize your research:

• Create a Research Database: Organize your findings into categories such as themes, people, locations, events, and historical context. This will allow you to quickly find relevant material during the editing process.
• Develop a Timeline: For historical documentaries, it is often helpful to create a timeline of key events or milestones. This will help guide the structure of your film.
• Keep Track of Sources: Maintain a record of where each piece of information came from. This is important for credibility and, if applicable, for referencing sources in your documentary.

Planning and Structuring Interviews

Interviews are one of the most critical components of documentary filmmaking. The right interviews can make or break the film, so planning your interviews carefully is essential. From selecting interview subjects to crafting the questions and establishing the right atmosphere, your approach will influence the quality and impact of the interviews.

Selecting Interview Subjects

The individuals you choose to interview should have valuable insights, relevant experience, or a unique perspective that contributes to the documentary's theme. Depending on the subject of your documentary, interview subjects might include:

• Subject-Matter Experts: Professionals or academics who can provide factual information or in-depth analysis of the topic.
• Personal Narratives: People who have experienced the events or situations featured in your documentary firsthand. Their personal stories can add emotional depth and humanize the subject matter.
• Witnesses and Participants: Individuals who have been directly involved in the events or issues you're documenting, whether as activists, bystanders, or key players.

Choosing the right interview subjects is about finding voices that will resonate with your audience while also providing an authentic and balanced perspective. If your documentary covers multiple perspectives or sides of an issue, be sure to represent them fairly by interviewing a diverse group of people.

Crafting Interview Questions

The quality of your documentary interviews will largely depend on how well you prepare your questions. The goal of the interview is to elicit compelling, thoughtful, and authentic responses from your subjects. To do this, you'll need to ask open-ended questions that encourage conversation and reflection. Avoid simple yes-or-no questions and instead ask questions that prompt elaboration.

Here are some tips for crafting interview questions:

• Be Clear and Concise: Ensure that your questions are easy to understand and focused on a specific topic. This helps avoid confusion and keeps the interview on track.
• Ask for Stories: Ask your subjects to share personal stories or experiences that relate to the documentary's theme. Personal anecdotes add emotional depth and authenticity to the narrative.
• Avoid Leading Questions: Don't ask questions that suggest a particular answer. For example, instead of asking, "Don't you think this was a terrible decision?" try asking, "What was your reaction to this decision?"
• Follow the Conversation: While it's important to have a list of questions prepared, be flexible and follow up on interesting points that arise during the interview. Sometimes, the best moments come when you let the conversation flow naturally.

Preparing the Interview Setup

The physical and technical setup for interviews is equally important. Here are a few considerations to ensure a successful filming environment:

• Lighting: Ensure proper lighting so that the subject is well-lit and appears natural on camera. This is especially important for indoor interviews. Use soft light to avoid harsh shadows, and position the lights at eye level for the best results.
• Sound Quality: Invest in high-quality microphones to capture clear and crisp audio. If possible, use lapel microphones for the subject, as this ensures clear voice recording. Always check the sound quality before starting the interview to avoid any issues later.
• Framing: Pay attention to how you frame the subject in the shot. Typically, you'll want the subject positioned slightly off-center in a "rule of thirds" style for a more visually appealing composition.
• Background: Choose a background that complements the subject matter. Avoid cluttered or distracting backgrounds that could take attention away from the interviewee. If possible, select a background that is relevant to the story being told.

Building Rapport with Your Interviewee

To get the most out of your interviews, it's important to build a rapport with your subjects. A comfortable and trusting relationship will allow your interviewees to open up and share their true thoughts and emotions.

• Introduce Yourself: Start by briefly introducing yourself and explaining the purpose of the documentary. Make sure they understand what the project is about and how their contributions will help.
• Create a Relaxed Environment: Try to make the subject feel comfortable by engaging in casual conversation before the interview begins. This will help reduce nervousness and create a more natural flow during the interview.
• Be Empathetic and Respectful: Show empathy and respect for the subject's experiences and feelings. If your documentary covers sensitive topics, such as trauma or personal struggles, be considerate and allow the subject to share at their own pace.

Organizing and Analyzing Interview Material

After conducting interviews, the next step is organizing and analyzing the footage. This is where you begin to shape your documentary's narrative by identifying the most compelling stories, insights, and key moments.

• Transcribe Interviews: Transcribing interviews allows you to easily reference specific quotes and moments during the editing process. It's also helpful for organizing your thoughts and developing a storyline.
• Categorize Key Themes: As you review your footage, identify recurring themes or ideas that emerge from the interviews. This will help you structure the documentary and decide which moments to highlight.
• Select Powerful Clips: Choose the strongest, most engaging segments from each interview to feature in the documentary. These should be the parts that best communicate the subject matter or convey emotion.

Conclusion: Crafting a Narrative

Once you have completed your research and conducted interviews, the next phase of documentary planning involves structuring your narrative. By weaving together the research findings and interview clips, you will create a compelling story that resonates with your audience. Careful planning, thoughtful interviews, and comprehensive research are the foundation for producing a powerful and informative documentary that can inspire, educate, and entertain.

The success of your documentary hinges on how well you plan and execute these early steps, so take the time to research thoroughly, ask the right questions, and create an atmosphere where your subjects feel comfortable sharing their stories. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a documentary that captures the essence of your subject and leaves a lasting impact.

View Product