Documentary Scriptwriting
We do a lot of documentaries at Nsibidi Fables. And one thing I’ve come to realise is that many people don’t realise that documentaries have scripts. They do! Now you may be wondering how do we write them. Well here’s a step by step process:
1. Find a Story That Sparks Your Passion!
So, why choose a documentary? What’s the message you want to get across? And why are you the best person to tell this tale? These are key questions you need to tackle in your pitch to grab the attention of producers and execs. But before you dive into that, it’s crucial to think these things through for yourself first. Figuring out your answers can lead you to a story that you truly care about, making all the hard work of documentary filmmaking totally worth it. Once you’ve sorted out your thoughts, you can jump into the exciting world of researching your topic, uncovering the story, and crafting that script!
2. Do Your Homework, Have Fun with It!
When you’re gearing up to create a documentary, diving into research during the pre-production phase is key! It’s like laying down the groundwork for your entire script. Chances are, others have already touched on your topic, so it’s your chance to dig deeper and find a fresh perspective. Want to find experts in the field? A great tip is to hunt down some books related to your subject and reach out to the authors. They can share valuable insights, help with fact-checking, or even join you on camera to boost your film’s credibility. Their expertise is super important for shaping the backbone of your documentary, and then you can add all the fun story details as you get your outline going!
3. Plan Your Documentary Adventure
Now’s your chance to get organized and map out how you’re going to share your story with your audience! This usually starts with an outline that breaks down into awesome “sequences.” Think of these as the key scenes that will bring your film to life. Once you’ve nailed down this sequence outline, shooting becomes a breeze because you’ve got a clear vision of what you want to capture. This outline follows the natural flow of storytelling, divided into acts that lead up to the powerful message you want to share. There might be some adjustments along the way, but think of the sequence outline as your trusty roadmap!
4. Now Write!
Alright, once you’ve gathered all your research, data, and interviews, that’s when the fun begins—writing the script! Without doing your homework, it can be tough to predict what your interviewees will say and how it all fits together with your message. So, get all the facts and materials lined up first, then grab a seat and start writing your script and voice-overs. And here’s a little tip: try working backward. It’s one of the best tricks for crafting a killer documentary script!
If you follow these steps you’ll be writing Nsibidi Fables quality docu-scripts in no time! Good luck!