How to make a short documentary
How to find a subject, gain trust, film observationally and shape a short documentary in the edit, with lessons from a Young Greenhorn award winner.
Short documentaries suit first-time filmmakers: they need few people and little equipment, and the world provides the story. The hard part is seeing it.
Find a subject, not a topic
“Climate change” or “loneliness” are topics. A subject is a person, a place or an activity you can film. The best short documentary subjects:
- do something visible, ideally repeatedly, so you can film it well;
- are willing to be filmed over time;
- are specific, so a small story can suggest a larger one.
Sandyman, which won the first Young Greenhorn award in 2014, follows one man as he draws huge patterns in the sand before the tide comes in. That is one person, one place and one repeated activity. The larger themes, impermanence and devotion, come through without being stated.
Build trust first
Spend time with your subject before you film, and keep spending time once the camera is out. Explain honestly what the film is for, where it might be shown and that they can talk to you about anything that worries them. Get a signed release, and keep the relationship going after the shoot. Send them the film before it goes public.
Film to edit
- Observe first, interview later, or never. Sandyman has no narration. Many strong short documentaries let the action carry the film.
- Shoot sequences, not just moments. Get wide, medium and close shots of the same action so you can edit it.
- Record great sound, including ambient sound for each place.
- Shoot more than you think. Documentary is made in the edit.
Shape it in the edit
- Watch everything and log what you have.
- Find the change or the tension. Even observational films need a shape: a beginning, a development and an end.
- Be ruthless. A tight eight minutes beats a loose fifteen.
- Use music sparingly. Let the real sound of the place do the work.
Ethics
Represent your participants fairly. Don’t stage events and present them as real. Think hard about filming vulnerable people. Programmers and audiences can tell when a filmmaker has taken advantage of someone.
When it is finished, see how to choose festivals. Several major festivals, such as Sheffield DocFest, specialise in documentary.
Questions people ask
Do I need permission to film people for a documentary?
You need informed consent from your main participants, ideally in a written release. Rules on filming in public places vary by country, and venues and private property need the owner's permission. If in doubt, ask and get it in writing.
How long should a short documentary be?
Most festival short documentaries run between 5 and 20 minutes. Shorter films with one strong subject are easier to programme.