I think I'm on the right track..or am I?

1. Daruba
   Member

   

   For years I'm eager to make a few nature documentaries, and for a good while I have some scripts that ready to use.

   I'm brand new in the world of video graphing so be patient with me please.

   About those script:

   I'm wondering if I did the right thing, have the right approach (for I never have seen a "real" script in my life)

   First I did write the whole story that I want to be told and put that on sound-tape. Timed each segment of that story to determine the minimal length of the scenes. Various scenes are divided into sub-scenes (takes) to highlight certain aspects of the subject at hand. I investigated if the time of a "take" is not too long or too short by comparing that with existing documentaries of the same kind. Also I sort out some background sound/music that fit the nature of my documentary. 

   Well, I think it will work out just fine. I visualize that it going to work as planned.

   Do you think this is the right approach? Any suggestions?

    

   -----------------------------------
   I can roast beef; Can you pea soup?

   Posted 2 years ago #

2. grinner
   Member

   

    Most documentaries' stories are put together in post. This is because they are simply docuemented in the field (hence the name). It sounds like you are making more of a feature. That said, you are planning it fine. Unless you are bound to a specific running time, you are set.

   http://grinnerhester.com

   Posted 2 years ago #

3. shastabroadcaster
   Member

   

   My suggestion would be to do an outline only of what you want, and then let the story evolve in your edit.  By locking yourself into a tight script for a nature feature you run the risk of missing a wonderful opportunity to do something truly unique.  So have a plan, but don't go out with it etched in steel!  Most important, HAVE FUN DOING IT!   Good Luck!

   Posted 2 years ago #

4. Daruba
   Member

   

   Thanks guys!

   I'm glad you both think I'm on the right track.Of course there is room for changes / additions etc. (thus certainly not etched in steel :D)

   The bid idea is to have at least the matters highlighted in my documentary that I think is important. It must not only be informative but also educative. As is right now I calculated 25 minutes, but I'm willing to stretch it to 45 minutes.

   Well...to make a long story short....I have work to do!

    

   Posted 2 years ago #

5. composite1
   Moderator

   

   Dick,

   Yeah, you definitely want an outline so you can make up a good shot list. Funny thing about Doc's is you're 'writing' the story more with your camera than anything else. The outline just keeps you in the 'neighborhood' of what you're trying to shoot. But often while shooting, it will be the pickup shots that will dictate the direction of your story.

   The outline will come in handy later when it comes time to do narration if required and to act as sort of a 'script' when you're hammering out the edit in post. Also, your estimated running time is a very fluid number. A while back I shot a Doc that was hard and fast a 10-minute piece. However, I had enough covering footage to go for at least an hour!

   So, your doc depending on what you plan on doing with it may benefit from being shorter or longer.

   H.Wolfgang Porter, Composite Media Producer
   Dreaded Enterprises Unlimited, Inc.
   http://www.dreadedenterprises.com

   Posted 2 years ago #

6. mode11
   Member

   

    Sounds like you are on the right track, but never shoot to the exact time limit. Running time should be determined during post, plan out your shoot as much as possible to get as much coverage as possible without your run time in the forefront in mind. But I would definitly say plan out as much as possible shoot times script questions for interviews and so on, on the fky can bring out great things but going in without the plan is the worst.

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. 2ten
   Member

   

    One of the things I include on my outline is specific shots I at least think I want to use as cuts or establishing shots.  If I am shooting nature maybe I want to remember to shoot a sunset, a few seconds of a flowing stream...dew on a spiders web..whatever.  I know you think you won't forget something so basic but I hate to be back in the edit bay and have an "oh yeah" moment.

   Travis

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. aaroninbna
   Member

   

   210pe is correct about an "Oh Yeah" moment. The only thing I could recommend (everything has already been stated, story-boards, scripts) would be to watch what others have done in the past docs you have seen and take notes like studying for a final. Use the internet and "gurgle" nature documentaries and see what shows up. I just did some investigation and saw a lot of free documentary sites that I will spend a lot of time watching, like PBS/Nature (linked below).

   http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/

    

   Good Luck and when you are done, post a link so we can watch it !

    

   Aaron

   Posted 1 year ago #

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