Pitch Your Documentary Ideas

Instead of trying to list a zillion random documentary topics, allow me to suggest something far better.

I’m going to help you come up with great ideas specifically designed for YOU. Trust me. They will be much more unique and interesting than anything you could find on any list.

If you are truly looking for the BEST documentary ideas of all, this will involve a bit of good ol’ fashioned soul searching.

I love the quote by French film director, Robert Bresson: “Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.”

The point of that quote is to say that each one of us is a unique individual with a unique set of experiences and viewpoints. No one in the WHOLE world has exactly what you have.

So with that in mind, let’s go through some questions to help you pinpoint some documentary ideas.

Clues to finding your perfect documentary idea

When looking for documentary ideas (especially if this is your first project), look around you at the “low hanging fruit.” What are the great stories within your own family or community? Maybe the story is YOU, the lowest hanging fruit of all!

Turn Your Documentary Idea Into Reality

Do you know how to pitch your idea to investors, filmmakers, foundations and wealthy individuals?

Is Your Documentary Idea Any Good?

If you’re not sure about your documentary idea, here’s a great way to test it.

The truth is, that no matter how much research you do or how hard you try to pick a topic that you think a lot of people will be interested in, if you personally are not fascinated by it, you are doomed to fail.

If you already have an idea for a documentary, ask yourself if the subject is interesting enough to you that it will keep you motivated day after day for the next year, two years, three years or more? (I have met or heard of filmmakers who spent up to 10 years on their projects!) Especially if you have little money or time, the process can be excruciatingly slow.

There will be many times that you will hit a brick wall and be tempted to give up. That is when you will need your passion the most.

If you’re still stuck for ideas, below are a few more recommendations to get the creative juices flowing.

The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide
By Anthony Artis

A few more documentary ideas....

Got A Documentary Idea?

Do you have a great documentary idea you'd like to share with the filmmaking community? Want feedback on a documentary idea you're considering for yourself? Share it here!

Your Documentary Ideas

Click below to see documentary ideas and comments from other visitors to this page...

Ace Youth | Documentary Idea
I discovered my asexuality in June of 2011. I spent most of my life wondering what was wrong with me, and convincing myself that I was just a late bloomer....

Amy Snowdens Life | Documentary Idea - Help!
Here is the documentary I put together. IT IS a true story about my life as a stand up comic.. I think I could make it better, but just don't have money ...

Children of Woodlands | Documentary Idea
This is a documentary that must be made. It's the story of the Woodlands School in BC, Canada -- where it's reported that unimaginable acts were made ...

Pittsburgh-Dublin Amateur Boxing Tournament | Documentary Idea
I am involved with local amateur boxing here in Pittsburgh and our gym has put together an interesting international event that I strongly feel is worthy ...

Dompas: The Stinker We Loved to Hate | Documentary Idea
This is a documentary idea based on, and inspired by, the pass book or reference book, which only Africans had to carry as an identity document during ...

Streets of India | Need Documentary Idea
I'm a student and we have to make a documentary on the streets of our city... so for that we have to select an area to explore.. eg: one of my classmates ...

GA state law makes it unconstitutional for GA cities to adopt "chronic nuisance property ordinances"
Documentary Idea: The urban core of Augusta, Georgia like many Georgia cities has become blighted because of "Known Drug Houses". Augusta citizens have ...

The Divine Quest: Religion vs. Spirituality
It is estimated that about 85% of the world population belongs to some kind of organised religious group. This percentage is decreasing rapidly as many ...

Shelter Life across America; behind the scenes tragedy
I would love to see a documentary get out to the public on how animal shelters really work. Expose the horrible things that really happen to the animals ...

Steve
A documentary I have.. Ok, not sure about the title yet. Steve is my dad. He is seriously a left field guy, I am pretty sure he has aspergers. He is ...

Leclaire Courts: The history of a community in public housing
Documentary idea: Leclaire Courts was a public housing development which was completely torn down over the past 5 months. Half of this development was ...

Brandon's Window: Reversing the Symptoms of Autism Using Natural Treatments
We are reversing the symptoms of autism using natural treatments. This documentary will show how using a natural diet, natural supplementation, programming,...

Is Facebook dangerous?
I was thinking maybe a documentary on the dangers on facebook.

A lot of people have their profiles so that anybody can see who they are and what their ...

80 proof: Moonshining goes mainstream
Documentary Idea
Can you think of someting that is perfectly legal to buy, own, sell, and consume... but is illegal for anyone to make in their own ...

"December holidays in South Africa" - Documentary Idea
I want to let other people from various countries know how we spend or enjoy our December holidays in South Africa. And how we as South Africans enjoy ...

"Sounds of Heritage: The Mejorana" Documentary Idea
This is a documentary about the mejorana, a folkloric guitar and a dance from Panama, the thinnest country in Central America.

The mejorana is the ...

Documentary Idea -- "Horses, hairspray and hysterics: exploring the world of children and show-ponies"
Children from 3 years up are paraded round on overfed, inbred, artificially kept ponies wearing make-up (the ponies AND the kids) in order to win that ...

Europe's Forgotten Mountains - Documentary Idea
Snowboarding is a worldwide phenomenon that was born out of rejection from mainstream society....sounds dramatic but it's true! Snowboarders were demonised ...

The Migrant Workers of Plant City - An American success story?
Documentary idea:
I work as an employment counselor in Plant City, Fl. I am employed by a government agency (Hillsborough County). My agency is Department ...

Home Economics: How the Meltdown Affects All of Us
I want to direct a documentary about the individuals affected by the economic crisis. We know that many U.S. citizens believe the bank bailout was not ...

Life Stories of Dementia Sufferers Told With Their Own Photos | Documentary Idea
I have compiled DVDs: combining clients' own photos, 2 dimensional memorabilia and their choice of music. Here is my documentary idea capture the life ...

London Pub Culture | Documentary Idea
I am a student from India currently living in London and I wanted to make a documentary about the London pub culture. The only problem is that I don't ...

Occupied America | Documentary Idea
We need to move on this documentary idea now while the Occupied Movement is happening in American cities. Go to these protests with a real soapbox and ...

A Rim Without a Net | Documentary Idea
My documentary idea is based on a guy I grew up watching play basketball and everyone around here, including local College and former NBA players said ...

Baptised in Blood: Saint Manche Masemola | Documentary Idea
This cathartic, thought-provoking human interest story is a heart-rending one about a 14 year-old girl killed by her own parents for converting to the ...

"Narmada Parikrama" Documentary Idea
I want to make a documentary on a spiritual journey. It is called Narmada parikrama. It is to circumambulate the entire river Narmada which is filled ...

Traditional Rice Farming Methods and Practices of the Igorot Aplai Tribes of Sagada, Mountain Privince, Philippines
Documentary Idea: Nestled about 5,000 ft above sea level, Sagada is located 150 kilometers from Baguio City, north of Manila, Philippines.

It is one ...

Afghan Refugees Schools in Pakistan
I want to make a documentary about Refugees Education Program (REP) in Pakistan. There are 15 schools located at different areas in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa,...

Follow My Money
Something I've always wanted to do, follow my money for a year to see where it goes. Every two weeks I receive the amount of money from my employer. Each ...

Is Life Too Short | Documentary Idea
Getting old is something we all have to experience. The only people that view this first hand are the elderly themselves. This documentary would be a great ...

The Opposite of Super Size Me | Documentary Idea
Instead of starting off with a young healthy person who eats junk food to become unhealthy, this documentary will start off with a 70 year old former US ...

60 years on - the little boy who ran away | Documentary Idea
At 10 years old 'J' ran away from home. This was a practice run. As a young man he served time in the army rather than jail time for some trouble he ...

What makes you happy | Documentary Idea
In about 3 months I will be hiking the Appalachian Trail. This trail goes from Georgia to Maine which is equivalent to 2,181 miles. I am new to long distance ...

The Last Testament (The Book of Man) | Documentary Idea
What if I told you something so seemingly preposterous, although the truth, it questions the very fabric of mans existence. How do you convey something ...

Suicide Bomber and Victim | Documentary Idea
We read about, hear, and see stories almost every day about suicide bombings. While these stories are sad, they remain apart from our reality when we ...

In Our Own Words, A Family Documentary | Documentary Idea
This documentary project has been in the works for some time now. The entire premise of the storyline is based on the lives of my parents; Very Reverend ...

Retired Boxers Foundation | Documentary Idea
My documentary idea is based on a conversation I had with former professional boxer Alex Ramos and an article I published in WBAN (Women Boxing Archive ...

What Will Happen To Us | Documentary Idea
My documentary idea is for a film showing the issues with the fact that people are out-living their plans for retirement. My mother-in-law is now 94, my ...

Taxi drivers in Montreal from Haiti
My documentary idea is to follow three taxi drivers in Montreal from Haiti and tell their stories.

There are many taxi drivers in Montreal from Haiti....

True lives of Catholic school teachers
This documentary idea explores what it is really like to be a teacher in a Catholic school.

Most people think that private school teachers get paid ...

The Family Law System: The Rights of a Good Father?
I'm looking for someone to create a documentary about the family law system. I come more specifically from Ontario Canada but in my research I see that ...

Unemployment: We want to work
The documentary idea is to follow a group of long term unemployed through their everyday job hunting and things they do to get work etc. But also to line ...

gay pride
Please help! I want to do a documentary on gay pride but i'm having a hard time thinking of what to focus on.

Water Crises
Two-thirds of the city's population resides on top of high mountains. As a result the struggle for water cannot be over emphasized. On this note I want ...

Romanian Gypsies | Documentary Idea
This documentary does not want to denigrate the gypsies, romanians or europeans! Just wants to show the truth, reality and differences between romanians,...

GIGS | Documentary Idea
My documentary idea involves 30 days of freestyle employment working gigs from craigslist. Everything from the mundane labor gigs to the creative; doing ...

The Beis Din, The Jewish Court System
In theory, The Beis Din, The Jewish Court System, is invested with legal powers, where its judgments hold varying degrees of authority.

How often is ...

Powerball
Powerball Documentary Idea: Most people have paid a dollar for the chance at becoming a multi-millionaire, but few actually win. Whatever happens to ...

Personality Disorder: The Truth
I am a personality disorder staff trainer. I would like to star in a documentary about The Truth about Personality Disorders. This is because the subject ...

SIDES: Actor dialogue from their P.O.V. (Documentary Idea)
This documentary would investigate the various methods that actors use to memorize dialogue, not only for auditions, but also for long scenes that are ...

Volunteer Work in Kenya | Documentary Idea
A documentary on a normal girl from America who goes out to work in Kenya for two weeks to help out and see what their life is like. It will give me the ...

Certified or Normal: Stories from the Mentally Unstable
i want to ask people about a time they think they went crazy; had a mental breakdown or a moment of insanity. i want to reconfirm to society that everyone ...

Skating
A documentary on the world view of Skateboarders being chaotic and rebellious.

now a days.. women deliver babies by caesarean more than normal delivery..
In my family everyone discusses mine and my sister's caesarean delivery.. older women of my family are not happy about it.. This is my documentary idea....

The Secret? Really?
My documentary would focus on not only the bs that is so very obvious to anyone who has ever met someone with delusions of grandeur, but will also explore ...

inside vs outside
My documentary idea: exploring obesity in children and how peoples ideas of fun affect their weight.

MMA/UFC WORLD 30 city tour - looking for filmmaker
Professional Documentary treatment/production outline already created by award winning director.

Follow MMA/UFC champion fighters who put their lives ...

Will the rich always be with us | Documentary Idea Not rated yet
We know that here in Britain the government is scared to tax the super rich too high because there is a chance they might leave us and take their money ...

Struggles in Laos during the war Not rated yet
My documentary idea is to explore the struggles in Laos during the war. I'd like to explore two primary questions:

How long has this struggle been ...

Help find my daughter's father? Not rated yet
We only have a photo of him, not even a name. By the time mum realised she was pregnant he had left the country.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-...

The Life of Johnny Depp Not rated yet
Basically, this is a documentary talking about Johnny Depp's life and how he became who he is. Then later on, it will begin talking about the movies Johnny ...

Family Problem- Divorce Not rated yet
Documentary Idea: I have collected information from the net. Advocate will talk about divorce. She can discuss the problems, reasons, steps to solve it....