Documentary Ideas
Find a documentary idea you can film

A documentary idea can start with a person you know, a question you cannot stop asking, or something happening in the world around you. The challenge is finding the story you can follow and bring to the screen.

Use the prompts below to explore your own ideas and find a story you can realistically film.

Questions to spark ideas

Start with subjects you care about and experiences that have stayed with you. Ask yourself:

• What do you find yourself thinking or talking about repeatedly?
• What makes you feel excited, frustrated, angry, or curious?
• Is there a person or subject that fascinates you?
• Is there something you cannot explain and want to understand?
• Is there a mystery you could investigate?
• Is there an injustice you want to examine?

Make a note of the ideas that emerge. Read local news, follow reporting in your areas of interest, and talk to people whose experiences differ from your own. Look for overlooked stories, unexpected details, or a situation that is changing.

Start close to home

If this is your first documentary, start with people and places you can reach. What are the great stories within your own family or community?

If a family story feels like the right first project, this self-paced course gives you a 12-week route from the initial idea to a finished documentary short.

Your own experience could be the starting point, too. Think about the people, places, and changes that would help someone else understand the story.

Find a story you can film

Once an idea catches your attention, think about what you could actually show. Who could you follow? What is happening in their life? What question, challenge, or change could hold a viewer's interest?

Consider the access you would need: whether people are willing to take part, which places you can film, and what material already exists. A manageable idea with access to people and events can give you somewhere to begin.