Just like fictional films, documentary films are created to tell a remarkable story of a real person or a group of people. Documentaries often feature the stories of those who have gone through a difficult struggle, usually a matter of life and death, and managed to survive.
 |
| Edward Bass Image credit: veracityfilms.com |
In choosing a story to tell, filmmakers, like Edward Bass, agree that it should be something that the producer, director, and all those who will be closely involved in the production are passionate about. This is because documentary filmmaking requires a lot of patience and commitment. It greatly differs from fictional film production because producing a documentary entails a long period of researching, filming, interviewing, and editing, among many others.
 |
| Edward Bass Image Credit: tecca.com |
Research plays a crucial role in the production process, especially in documentary films. Before the filmmakers can record the stories of their subjects, they must first conduct extensive research on the topic and possible sources of information, and make sure that they have the right subjects and have found the right filming locations.
Aside from choosing a story and subject, another crucial process in documentary filmmaking is creating a budget. This can be determined by the number of shooting days, the members of the crew, and the type of equipment to be used.
 |
| Edward Bass Image Credit: wordandfilm.com |
After the film has been made, filmmakers are advised to submit their work on local film festivals. Though submitting a film to a local film festival doesn’t guarantee a movie deal, what it can give filmmakers is exposure, especially if the documentary deals with a timely issue and presents a thought-provoking subject.
Visit www.edwardbassfilms.com for more on film production.
