Documentary Storytelling

This entry in the Premium series of how-to discs from Videomaker magazine serves up a half-hour film school—aimed at aspiring filmmakers—on creating nonfiction narrative. In rapid-fire fashion, the hosts tackle story basics (including theme and motivation), research methods, and timing. They also discuss different styles of nonfiction films, not breaking them down by, say, sports movies or true-crime genres, but rather by categories, such as “poetic,” “participatory,” and “observational.” The point is made that while a camera-hogging onscreen documentarian like Michael Moore might entertain, his issue-oriented presentation won't be as persuasive to general viewers as one from an unseen presence, such as Ken Burns. Budding filmmakers are advised to use a three-act narrative structure—including playing tricks with timelines and innuendo—without straying too far from facts (again, Moore is offered as a cautionary example). Stock footage and public-domain material are drawn on for visual examples, while successful films cited to illustrate various principles include High School, Grizzly Man, Capturing the Friedmans, Surfwise, and Super Size Me. Also available are the related titles Documentary Funding, Documentary Production: Equipment and Crew and Documentary Production: The Shoot. Offering a solid, if brief, overview, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (C. Cassady)