Documentaries: Researching and developing your idea

Researching and developing your idea

3 lessons we've learnt so far about setting up your films in terms of:

Casting:

Keep good contact with casting people to ensure people don't get mis-informed

Communicate

All the way through to production so people don't get put off

Locations:

Recce ((Can meet person at the location too))---risk, access, sound, lighting, storage, power

Take macs to drop off footage

Scheduling:

Write down when and where things are happening and ensure they won't over lap with other things

Write them on more the one thing e.g. paper, computer, phone etc

Estimating how long it takes to set things up

Always over estimate wrap times

((Characters---interesting characters never commit to someone and never throw someone away too early  Phone over emailing  make people feel important  extra crew eg minding kit etc  be prepared to get rejected  be thorough with casting  Be polite and talk to everyone))

Organisation:

Prioritise

Estimate time lengths for things on script---travel times

Have back up plans

Check equipment

Paperwork:

Keep everything in date order and filed under easy to find things

Potentially digitalize things as so they can be found easily

Paperwork done as soon as possible

Got ideas---what's next??

Test the viability of your story

Develop your script/schedule/budget

Essential for you to understand the potential of your idea and what we can see/film prior to pitching your story

So how do you do this??

Where to research

Begin researching online and relevant journals, publications and news papers

Acquaint yourself with the broader picture and background to your story

Establish key contacts

NEVER make a call to any of these contacts until you understand that basis of the story you wish to tell and have an appreciation of the remit/specialism of the individuals you are calling

**Keep records**

Relevant background info

Legislation/regulations

Organisation and experts

Existing research-up to date as possible, if unpublished better-exclusivity

Case studies

Previous coverage on TV/archive as appropriate

Factual films require a 'journalists nose'

What makes your story worth commissioning

WHAT IS NEW-YOUR ANGLE

How much research should you do prior to pitching

Enough to answer the basic questions about the story to form your proposal

Who/what/when/where/why/how

Find your usp

Ethics and representation

Important to realise that these are more than the subject of essay or discussion

What it means is the way in which we handle individuals and present them to the world

There are particular groups who should be treated with a lot of care eg: disability

What is representation

D isability

I ncome/class

V alues/culture

E thnicity and race

R eligion

S exuality

I ssues

T okenism

Y outh/middle/old age

Relevant organisations

OFCOM (regulatory body for broadcasters)

Press Complaints Commission (independent self-regulatory body deals with complaints about editorial content of newspapers)

Broadcasters have their own guidelines and regulations

Ensure people are treated with a fair representation of the wider context

Fairly treated and represented (honesty)

Also worth remembering that even in selecting someone to contact you are making ethical decisions about them so again: avoid stereotypes and reinforcing prejudices, aviod lazy journalism, treat people with respects

Who's films is it anyway

**Picture on the film**

Making factual programmes means dealing with 'real' people

It can feel daunting at first, calling what are effectively complete strangers- some of whom will not be expecting your call and may initially feel worried or nervous about even speaking to you

Finding case studies/characters

These should be people who best illustrate your story and who are also the best talkers/characters

Via relevant organisations

Via experts

Via reported cases in the media

Through your own contacts

Meeting your characters

You should always meet potential case studies in person having initially had a brief chat on the phone outlining who you are and how you found them and what your doing

Always arrange to meet in a public place, unless you are being escorted by the press officer or going in pairs

Ensure you tell someone responsible who, when and where you are meeting

When you meet go prepared

Essential questions for contributors:

ALWAYS ASK
Name/age/contact details

Availability

Potential locations for filming them

Potential sequences

Always parental consent under 18

Similarly if the are vulnerable, seek rel permissions

Contributor consent forms provided to gain permission to film your major contributors

As a courtesy you can create a small sign which explains that you are filming at the location today so that people can decide whether they want to be in the background of any shots or not

Recce locations

Your research should include recce of locations

Should be considering: looking etc

NEVER FILM WITHOUT A LOCATION AGREEMENT

Don't commit too soon or make promises you can't keep

Applies to all people you deal with

Say it's research

Professionalism

Build rapport

Be polit etc

Prof

Keep accurate and legible note and keep them safe and organised

Organization is key

Keep key contacts in a file not a scrap of paper