As part of the Industrial Media assignment, here is the synopsis from Curran Bernard, S. Documentary storytelling for film and video makers, on how to evaluate story ideas for a documentary film:
While evaluating story ideas for a documentary film, on should ensure that the story must provide an entry into new and interesting worlds and give the viewers access to these new worlds. Hence look at its Accessibility! It’s important to note that extraordinary access leads to unique films. Example: News Producer Alexander Pelosis proximity to George W Bush on his campaign for Presidency in “journeys with George”
Some kinds of access being granted, say for a grand mother’s kitchen film could be as follows:
Personal access: Access to your grand mother
Location access: Permission to bring your equipment into your grand mom’s home
Archival Access: Access to her personal collection of poems or photo albums.
Gaining access means establishing a relationship and building trust with the people who can grant that. It helps to be truthful about oneself and the project from the beginning.
The other aspects to consider are:
Affordability in budget and schedule
It is important to evaluate that one can afford to tell the story in the way you want to tell the story. Always must also keep in mind he cost of Rights to use archival film clips, piece of music or a location right for a shooting.
Passion and Curiosity help guard against discouragement, boredom, frustration and confusion. Passion helps to drive the idea as most exciting, relevant, meaningful and something to look forward to.
Always know your Audience
Details of audience in Age, Geography, Education are critical to know .It is important to have a story that will grab the audience and hold them and stay with them for long. Story for a festival screening meant for community group viewing will be different than that meant for a broadcast.
Relevance
By rising beyond its specifics, a story gains greater relevance for a wider audience.
Timeliness
It’s important to look at the aspect of the story being “ evergreen ”.
If the subject is topical, such as the Presidential campaign, the same may not be evergreen as compared to a film on Elephant behaviour.
Visualisation
Make the story visual. The options to do this are:
• Subject can be inherently visual
• Story takes place at a spectacular location
• State of art photography
Example: Trend in nature and wild life programming is to tell the stories about the Natural world by focussing on human subjects. ”The Elephants of India with Goldie Hawn”
Hook
Story must have a hook which gets everyone interested in the subject and reveals the drama which will unfold with it’s characters.
Existing Project
Important to evaluate how the project is different from existing projects on similar topics.
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