Q&A for How to Make a Short Documentary Film

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How can I budget to shoot a documentary?

Kendall Payne
Short Film Writer & Director
Kendall Payne is a Writer, Director, and Stand-up Comedian based in Brooklyn, New York. Kendall specializes in directing, writing, and producing comedic short films. Her films have screened at Indie Short Fest, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Channel 101 NY, and 8 Ball TV. She has also written and directed content for the Netflix is a Joke social channels and has written marketing scripts for Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Astronomy Club, Wine Country, Bash Brothers, Stand Up Specials and more. Kendall runs an IRL internet comedy show at Caveat called Extremely Online, and a comedy show for @ssholes called Sugarp!ss at Easy Lover. She studied at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and at New York University (NYU) Tisch in the TV Writing Certificate Program.

Kendall Payne

Short Film Writer & Director

Expert Answer

If you're shooting something short, see if you can do favors for the people you want as crew. That way, you can work with other filmmakers and save some money. However, you should pay your crew if you have the money to do so.

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I'm making a documentary about our bridge and how it was destroyed by nature. What are some good interview questions?

Community Answer

Ask when it was built, how it was built, how big it is, how much it cost, if there are any plans to restore it, etc.

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Question

Is there any app which I could use?

Community Answer

iMovie is good. You can edit clips and add sound effects and much more. It's in the Apple App Store for free.

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What about the text in the videos? Also, how can I speak while the documentary goes on?

Community Answer

If you use Windows Movie Maker, you can add titles, captions, and credits, and you can also record narration.

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What should I include in the budget when planning for the documentary?

Community Answer

You should at least include: Film equipment, transportation, how many people being employed and wages in total or per hour, editing equipment, submission costs (for festivals, contests, etc), editing software, promotions, etc.

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What are some interview sample questions in documentary filming?

Community Answer

Ask people what they think about the subject or how the subject appeals to them

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Is a production house necessary for making a documentary?

Community Answer

It's good to have one, but you don't need it in order to make a documentary film.

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I'm making a documentary about a group of students who graduated from an english language institute. What are some good interview questions?

Community Answer

What school did you attend before this one? What was the most important thing you learned? What is your favorite memory of the school? What would you tell future students? If you could give advice to your past self, what would you say?

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Question

Outlining the script when writing the treatment: This is what I don't understand. Before I have interviewed subjects, I won't know what the script is, since I don't know what they'll say. How do I handle that?

Hajar iaouf

Community Answer

Ask the questions to your subjects before taking the video. Then you have an idea of what they'll say and when they'll say it. It's a pre-interview and it's very common in documentaries.

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What kinds of questions should I ask when making a documentary?

Community Answer

Ask questions that relate to the theme of the documentary. If you're making a documentary about a person, you may ask questions about their childhood or how they got into their work.

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What kind of questions do I ask when making a documentary on conflicts?

Community Answer

Here are some suggestions: What was it like to fight in that conflict? How did that conflict affect you and your country? Questions like that will get you good answers. But be careful to who you talk to because some veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. If they say they do not want to talk about it, do not bug them for answers.

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