What documentary filmmakers need to know about themes in stories (plus a free guide for you!)

Summary

This documentary filmmaking guide explores the importance of themes in crafting compelling stories. It defines themes as central ideas or questions that drive a film's narrative, such as identity, love, or resilience. The video highlights how themes shape every stage of filmmaking, from pre-production to distribution, by guiding research, interviews, and visuals. It stresses the need for a clear point of view, offering examples of how thematic statements can differentiate a film, such as focusing on the perspective of families in recovery stories. The video concludes by offering a free guide on common documentary themes and thematic statements.

Takeaways

• 😀 Documentary filmmaking is more than just documenting events; it explores deep human experiences and themes like love, resilience, and identity.
• 😀 A theme is the primary premise or idea of a film, usually a question the filmmaker seeks to answer or raise through the story.
• 😀 Thematic statements provide a clear viewpoint or perspective on a theme, offering depth and direction to the documentary.
• 😀 Themes guide every stage of filmmaking: development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution.
• 😀 In pre-production, themes help with research, identifying interview subjects, and shaping the narrative style of the film.
• 😀 In production, knowing the theme helps determine what to shoot and how to visually communicate the core message of the film.
• 😀 During post-production, themes can help resolve creative blocks and guide editing decisions to ensure the film communicates the intended message.
• 😀 A clear theme in distribution helps attract audiences and potential partners by communicating exactly what the film is about.
• 😀 Short films should focus on one central theme and one or two sub-themes to avoid confusing the viewer.
• 😀 For feature-length films, focus on one core theme with a few sub-themes, maintaining clarity while exploring multiple layers.
• 😀 Differentiating a documentary through a unique thematic perspective (e.g., focusing on the family’s role in athlete recovery) can make a film stand out.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of documentary filmmaking according to the script?

Documentary filmmaking is about far more than documenting events or retelling history. It explores themes that resonate deeply with the human experience, shedding light on injustices, revealing unexpected truths, and tackling complex topics with sensitivity or brutal honesty.

How are themes defined in documentary filmmaking?

In documentary filmmaking, themes are the primary premise of the film. They represent the question the filmmaker is seeking to answer or raise. Themes are the central ideas the filmmaker wants to communicate through the story.

What are thematic concepts in documentary films?

Thematic concepts are the big-picture ideas that the documentary explores. These could include abstract ideas such as love, resilience, overcoming adversity, or identity and belonging.

What is the difference between thematic concepts and thematic statements in documentary filmmaking?

Thematic concepts are broad ideas such as love or identity, while thematic statements dive deeper into the specifics of what the filmmaker wants to communicate about these concepts. Thematic statements reflect the filmmaker's unique point of view on the theme.

Why is it important to define the themes of your film in documentary filmmaking?

Defining the themes helps guide the entire filmmaking process, from research and interviews to narrative style, shot selection, and editing. It ensures a clear vision and keeps the focus on the central message throughout production.

How can knowing the themes of your film help during pre-production?

Knowing the themes helps guide research, identify potential interview subjects, and dictate the narrative style of the film. For example, in a film like 'Hale County This Morning, This Evening', the theme could influence the decision to avoid expert interviews and instead let life unfold in front of the camera.

What role do themes play during the production phase of a documentary film?

In production, themes help filmmakers decide what to shoot and how to visually represent the ideas they want to communicate. For instance, if the theme is about loneliness, the filmmaker might choose to frame a character in an empty, dark space to visually communicate isolation.

How can themes assist filmmakers in post-production?

Themes can serve as a guiding light during editing, helping filmmakers decide what message each scene should convey. If stuck, filmmakers can consider how to communicate their themes through editing, which may unlock new creative solutions.

What is the recommended number of themes for a short film?

For short films, it's recommended to focus on one central theme, with perhaps one or two related sub-themes. Having too many themes can confuse the audience and dilute the film's message.

How can filmmakers use themes to differentiate their film from others?

Filmmakers can use themes to offer unique perspectives on common topics. For example, in the film 'Mo Crazy Strong', the filmmaker focused on the theme of family support in athlete recovery, which differentiated the film from other similar stories focused solely on the athlete's perspective.