How to get started on a documentary?

by Sunaina Panthy
(kathmandu Nepal)

Question: I am the beginner in this field, I know only few metrals and tools, so what things are important in the making of a documentary.

Answer: The first thing you need to do is figure out the subject for your documentary. Are you wanting to tell a story about something in your home country of Nepal?

Once you figure out the subject, decide who you want to interview and what footage you will need to tell you story.

At that point, find a video camera (if your funds are tight, you may be able to borrow one from a local school or business). Only you can say how technical you would like to get with your equipment. It can be as simple as using a small handy-cam, like a flip video camera. Or if you have the budget to get something really nice with good lenses and a microphone input.

Once you have some basic equipment, start to interview people or shooting the footage of what your documentary is about. Don't feel you need to have everything perfectly figured out before you start. Sometimes just starting the process helps you figure out what to do next.

Once you have some footage, find a computer that has some video editing software and start piecing together your clips into a story.

Of course, there is more to it than I can explain here. Please review the different pages on this website for more details on each step of the process.

A good place to start is this page:

How To Make a Documentary

I wish you best of luck!