In-School Documentary

guissmo

So, we have this contest slash project in school of making a documentary about a certain issue in school or whatever. Of course, we're all first-timers in making this documentary but I'll need advice on how to make a good documentary in terms of everything (cinematography, research, topic, intro, etc).

Since Frihost has a diverse group of people, I figured some people can help me.

The only relevant rules I can think of right now is that we can't shoot outside the school and our tentative topic is if students in our school choose local products or imported ones.

This project is ending in less than a month so I need the most advice I can get. Smile

Again, please post any advice or suggestions. I might put up a list on this first post so that it'd be convenient for other people who'd want to make their own, too. And I might put up the "drafts" of the documentary.

Thanks for the help. Smile

brokenadvice

You need to use a tripod. Many small films are ruined by a shaky camera.

Magicman

Be sure to properly frame the head of the person in the shot. There needs to be some space around their head on screen unless you are going for some kind of style that uses closeups.

LostOverThere

Remember you're shot scale.

For most documentary's you would use anything from a Mid-shot and Closer.

A mid shot, is a shot, generally, showing from the persons belly button to top of their head.

irishmark

the biggest rule of documentary film making is: make every shot count. Every shot should add to the story sp dont waste any on making it look pretty and use irrelevant shots even ig it does include your mates in it!

guissmo

We've been advised to follow the rule of threes. Is this a good shot or is too cliche?