VIDEO
How to make a documentary film.
Explore the documentary filmmaking process and get tips from professional filmmakers on how to turn real-life stories into great nonfiction films.
What is a documentary film?
Documentary films are powerful tools that capture actual events and tell stories that deeply resonate with audiences. As filmmaker Truen Pence puts it, “Documentaries have always been a way for me to live vicariously through a subject. When I started making them, it was through things I was just interested in.”
Transforming footage into a documentary involves more than just capturing moments. Whether aiming for Sundance, Netflix, or YouTube, creating a documentary requires gathering diverse footage, from interviews to archival material. The key is in the editing — selecting and blending these elements to craft a cohesive narrative. Plan how these pieces will fit together to tell your story.
Image by Truen Pence
How to make the most of preproduction.
Before turning on your camera, prepare by doing your research. “Figure out your story and learn about the people or subject so you can ask informed questions,” says Pence.
The type of research you do will depend on your topic. For a historical documentary, you might spend time in libraries or archives. For a film on rainforest destruction in the Amazon, you can learn a lot online, but you’ll need to visit and speak with people on the ground.
Collect archival footage.
Research relevant archival footage, and ask interview subjects for old photos or videos.
Outline the story.
Documentaries aren’t scripted like fictional narratives. Create a broad outline or storyboard to visualize the footage you need. “Sometimes I’ll write a storyline to help me envision the story or to help my stakeholders understand the type of story that I’m going for,” says Pence.
Build trust with subjects.
An outline builds trust with your subjects. “If you’re telling a story about someone’s personal experience, make sure they understand the story that you’re trying to tell so that you can get the appropriate access that you need,” says documentary filmmaker Erin Brethauer.
Be prepared to abandon your outline.
“Think ahead and think strategically, but you also need to recognize that sometimes things change, they don’t go as anticipated, and you need to react and just go with the flow,” says Brethauer.
Imagine the look of the film.
Documentaries can have style, too. Create a moodboard and compile visual references to guide your vision, including types of camera angles. “You’re learning and changing throughout the whole thing, but if you go into it with a point of view, a lot of times you’re going to hold true to that,” says Pence.
Image by Truen Pence
How to get what you need from interviews.
Often the best way to learn about people and their experiences or expertise is in their own words. Most expository, participatory, observational, and performative documentaries contain interview footage.
Ask all the questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions that might seem dumb or obvious. You never know how many viewers have the same questions they’ve been afraid to ask, or where those answers might lead. But then ask informed questions based on your research. “Come at it from a place of curiosity. That will help you get past the obvious questions,” says Pence.
Be willing to come back.
Documentaries often develop over years, so to capture changes in your subjects’ lives, it’s essential to build and maintain ongoing relationships with them. For Brethauer and her co-director/husband, this means staying in touch and making frequent visits: “We make sure that we’re there and know what’s going on, so we can anticipate when we need to be back.”
Think outside of the talking head.
Keep viewers engaged with visual variety. “Errol Morris uses five different angles on one person during an interview, cutting between them to create a dynamic experience,” notes Brethauer. Consider using B-roll, dramatizations, or animation to enrich your storytelling. “You can use people’s voices and work with an animator to illustrate experiences,” says Brethauer.
Images by Truen Pence
How to do documentary video production.
If you have time, energy, and a little money, you can even shoot a feature-length nonfiction film with minimal help.
A small crew can be an advantage.
A small team creates a more intimate environment, helping subjects feel at ease and forget the camera. Brethauer explains, “We both film, so we usually have two angles on different scenes. We have Canon C300 cameras, which are great for documentary purposes because they allow you to run audio in-camera.”
Shoot RAW.
For the best video quality and flexibility in post-production, Pence recommends shooting in RAW with the highest resolution possible. “Get the best camera available to you that you can beg for or borrow because your film is going to age so much better,” he advises.
Capture a lot of footage.
You won’t know what your film will become, so capture everything. Pence finds this approach liberating, as it relieves the pressure to get the perfect shot. “You’re amassing a huge amount of content that you’ll cut into something later,” he says.
Image by Truen Pence
Edit your documentary in Adobe Premiere Pro.
Premiere Pro is the ideal editing software for creating documentaries because it’s easy to get started quickly with all kinds of media. It also includes AI-powered tools that save time working with interview footage, color, and sound.
Easily import media.
Import virtually any video, audio format, or resolution into Premiere Pro easily, including HD, 4K, or even 8K. Use the Media Browser to navigate and preview files directly from storage so you can decide exactly what media to start with. Manage metadata with notes or markers to stay organized during a long documentary process.
Edit Interviews efficiently.
You can use the AI-powered Speech to Text to quickly and automatically transcribe your footage in 18+ languages. Then, use Text-Based Editing to skim transcripts, search through extended interviews, leave notes, and edit video by copying and pasting text—no need to listen to hours of footage.
Simplify the editing process.
Use Scene Edit Detection to identify key shots and add cuts to digitized or single-file archived footage, making it easier to rearrange for your documentary.
Streamline color correction.
Achieve consistent color with accurate skin tones across clips using AI-powered Auto Color, and match color across multiple cameras with a click using Color Match. Then you can enhance your documentary with creative color grading to add emotion and depth.
Refine your documentary audio.
Keep your audience engaged with a polished audio mix. Use AI-powered Enhance Speech to clean up voice recordings and reduce background noise. Maintain consistent dialogue levels with Loudness Matching, and let Auto Ducking automatically lower music during speech.
Elevate your documentary with graphics.
Use professional graphics and Motion Graphics Templates to boost your documentary’s production value. Find animated templates in the Essential Graphics panel or create custom ones in After Effects. Incorporate precise on-screen text to effectively drive your story forward.
Image by Truen Pence
Share your film for valuable feedback.
Use Frame.io, included with Premiere Pro, to gather frame-accurate feedback directly in your editing software. This will help you refine your documentary before finalizing it. Your passion for the subject will resonate with others, but feedback will ensure your film is as polished as possible.
Once you’ve created the final cut, submit it to film festivals. While you can’t predict which films will attract attention, having a well-edited documentary will increase your chances of making an impact.
Contributor
Truen Pence, Erin Brethauer