Screenplay 4 Documentary-What 2 Do?

[LDoc28]

Hi, I am new to this forum!

I am working on a documentary, that is based off of some thesis research I am working on. It is about a female journalist from the 20s from L.A., she is dead but her granddaughter is still alive.

Her granddaughter has agreed to be a part of the doc. But, I do not know how to write a screenplay for a doc..what do i do...does it even need one....I basically need to know what type of format do i use to discuss what the doc is about, who I plan on interviewing, where it will take place etc.

If anyone can help, I would appreciate it!!!
Thanks

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[director15]

Just write the questions you want to ask and if thier is a Narrator for the doc write down the narration.

 

[ralck]

I've done some documentary stuff myself (Actually, I haven't cut the footage together yet, but that's because I've been trying to work on some other stuff before the end of the summer).

Of course, mine was a bit different than you describe. I was following the progress of a group of software developers and didn't know how the project was going to finish (although I did know what they wanted to get done and had an idea what I thought might happen).

What I did, was sort of come up with an idea of how I wanted to present the documentary (I have experience in software development myself, so I knew the process a bit). What I did, was simply get footage of the kinds of things I wanted to show (as well as a crapload of other footage because you never know when the perfect shot will come).

So basically, try and get an idea of what kind of story you want to tell. As Director15 said, write your questions acording to that. I would suggest you do a little research on the subject as well, and possibly have multiple cameras on your subject so add some energy to the shoot.

 

[director15]

Re: Screenplay 4 Documentary-What 2 Do?

Hi, I am new to this forum!

I am working on a documentary, that is based off of some thesis research I am working on. It is about a female journalist from the 20s from L.A., she is dead but her granddaughter is still alive.

Her granddaughter has agreed to be a part of the doc. But, I do not know how to write a screenplay for a doc..what do i do...does it even need one....I basically need to know what type of format do i use to discuss what the doc is about, who I plan on interviewing, where it will take place etc.

If anyone can help, I would appreciate it!!!
Thanks

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Also besides actually questioning the people , if you want to show what they really did , and have actors act it out , you will need to write that too.

 

[LDoc28]

screenwriting-Documentary

screenwriting-Documentary

I was thinking about getting footage of some of the events my journalist covered.

She covered the King George VI coronation in 1937 and I found some footage online, I am not sure if that is a part of public domain or not... and she did a lot of Hollywood coverage of various actors and actresses. So, I was hoping to get some footage of the movies they were in as well(?)

Re-enactments...wouldn't I have to get some type of release forms drawn up or something if I used actors? Are there any legal situations I would have to consider? I think it's a great idea, I just don't want to get in over my head on my first try.