Production Planning

Tips on pre-production tasks like storyboarding, location scouting, and scheduling.

Pre-Interview Research

Production Planning

Pre-Interview Research

Research your interviewee’s background to ask insightful, engaging questions and guide the conversation.

For best results, use research tools like Milanote for notes and Otter.ai for transcription.

B-Roll Planning

Production Planning

B-Roll Planning

Plan B-roll shots that support your narrative and add visual context to your documentary.

For best results, create a shot list to capture the most relevant supplemental footage.

See tips from other categories

Emotion-Driven Close-Ups

Emotion-Driven Close-Ups

Use close-up shots of faces during emotional moments to connect viewers to the cause on a personal level.

For best results, use a lens with a shallow depth of field to isolate the subject and capture emotion.

Emotional Arcs

Script around emotional beats, ensuring that dialogue, narration, and pacing mirror the audience's emotional journey for maximum impact.

For best results, use mind-mapping tools like Miro to visualize emotional peaks and valleys alongside your script.

Natural Light Optimization

Natural Light Optimization

Maximize natural light by shooting during the golden hour for soft, warm lighting.

For best results, use a reflector to control natural light and fill shadows.