Pre-Production For Documentary

A friend and I are in the early stages of pre-pro for a feature documentary covering a very specific (and kinda disturbing) sexual fetish. Neither of us has ever made a documentary, so I am looking for tips and advice from those of you who have been down this road. We are also looking for key crew, especially sound. I look forward to your pearls of wisdom.
 
I've never made one but i starred in one.

Therefore I say ... It's all about getting the right subject (person) in front of the camera!!

:)
 
I've never made one but i starred in one.

Therefore I say ... It's all about getting the right subject (person) in front of the camera!!

:)

This will involve several interviews and some demonstrations. We are still trying to figure out how to show what these people do without it coming across as porn. At the moment, I'm thinking we show B roll visual metaphors while the interviewee describes the act.
 
A friend and I are in the early stages of pre-pro for a feature documentary covering a very specific (and kinda disturbing) sexual fetish. Neither of us has ever made a documentary, so I am looking for tips and advice from those of you who have been down this road. We are also looking for key crew, especially sound. I look forward to your pearls of wisdom.
I'm editing one right now. It's a terrible mess. And here are the reasons why. I forgot to ask these questions. Who is my audience? What is my movie about? Why would this audience care about my movie? And, how can I make it interesting enough for them to want to share it? In other words, I didn't do my research. Find the communities that are interested in this subject matter. Listen to their conversations and interact. That will give you a clue of what your movie is about and the storyline. Good luck. And, last but not least, it gives you an audience.
 
Thanks IPD. We did those things during the research phase. I am a huge proponent of doing as much research as possible before you begin preproduction. My partner joined a number of online communities and contacted people who are into that particular fetish. She even lined up interviews and is planning a meet and greet for the more interesting members. One of our struggles is making a niche fetish, that most people's knee-jerk reaction would be revulsion, relatable. We want to treat the subject matter with care and respect, no matter how "out there" it may be.
 
good luck on your doc

Thanks IPD. We did those things during the research phase. I am a huge proponent of doing as much research as possible before you begin preproduction. My partner joined a number of online communities and contacted people who are into that particular fetish. She even lined up interviews and is planning a meet and greet for the more interesting members. One of our struggles is making a niche fetish, that most people's knee-jerk reaction would be revulsion, relatable. We want to treat the subject matter with care and respect, no matter how "out there" it may be.


Well, Just make sure that every segment of your film makes the audience want to watch the next scene. It's all about editing in the end. Get plenty of footage, it's a documentary. Plan your story—know the ending and work backwards.
 
What I need help with are a few things.

1) What is different about shooting a documentary VS a narrative?

2) Sound Design - What challenges will we face and how to overcome them?

3) Subject Matter - How do we show the audience what the subjects do without it becoming porn?

4) Story Arc - I want the film to be more than just an introduction to this fetish, but not a how-to. How do we give the finished product a storyline?
 
1) What is different about shooting a documentary VS a narrative?

A lot more natural light. Put subjects by windows if you can

2) Sound Design - What challenges will we face and how to overcome them?

A sound guy makes an enormous difference. Hook up the subjects with lavs and keep replacing the batteries.

3) Subject Matter - How do we show the audience what the subjects do without it becoming porn?

You can't show a sexual act without someone calling it porn. I think thats actually the definition of porn.. video or photography of a sexual act.

If you're doing a documentary on the missionary position you probably wouldn't show the action right?

4) Story Arc - I want the film to be more than just an introduction to this fetish, but not a how-to. How do we give the finished product a storyline?

What are they building to? Is there a big convention you can record people leading up to the convention and then show them all interacting with each other when they get to the national gathering.
 
Lucky, if you haven't already, watch Tickled and The Jinx. One talks about a niche fetish and the other deals with true crime. Both approach the subjects with respect and an objective viewpoint. Also, anything by Louie Theroux is great reference for a documentary in my humble opinion.

Best of luck!
 
We are working on getting doctors (medical and psychiatric) to interview on the potential effects of this particular practice. I appreciate the tips and advice you guys have given.

So, does anyone else any any practical advice they would like to add? Anything, no matter how seemingly minor, may help us deliver a better product.
 
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