Behind the scenes of documentary

A Look into the Production Process

When we as “everyday people” engage with documentary filmmaking, we often only experience the polished, final product—whether on a big screen or via a streaming platform like Netflix.

However, understanding the intricate production process of what it’s like being “behind the scenes”, can not only enhance your appreciation, but also inform your expectations and collaboration.

Documentary filmmaking is far from simply capturing footage on the fly. It is a rigorous, multi-stage endeavor characterized by meticulous planning, deep research, and strategic execution. Our crew is tasked with unearthing compelling stories that are not only relevant and engaging but also made accessible for the people you care about most. This initial research and story development is foundational, shaping everything that follows.

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Once a viable story is identified, the logistic planning kicks into gear. This phase involves scheduling, securing the right crew and equipment, and preparing for interviews and on-site filming. For you guys, it’s important to understand that these preparations can help us manage the scheduling, and ultimately, it will help us create honest expectations with the project’s timeline and demands. When our preparations are done well, the process always runs smoothly .

The production phase is where the raw material for the documentary is gathered. This is the most demanding part of the process for us, involving long hours and challenging conditions to capture the essence and truth of the story. We as personal documentary filmmakers strive to record authentic moments and compelling narratives, a task that requires patience and adaptability. Of course, and we say this from experience, sometimes we have to make creative or narrative decisions, which could seem odd at times, but we always have your best interest at heart. It’s only by being as “real” and objective as we can, that we as documentary filmmakers can collaborate with you. Witnessing this effort firsthand, underscores the dedication involved in bringing your documentary to life.

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Post-production is where our collective efforts begin to visibly take shape. Through editing, we sculpt the narrative, pace of the story, and refine the story structure with our producer, to resonate with audiences. Seeing this transformation can be a revelation to some of you sometimes, highlighting the creative and technical expertise** required to transition from raw footage to a coherent and engaging narrative.

**What comes out of our camera is super important to us, and when we film, we produces our images with a technical term called “raw files”, an asset that our camera’s give us the most data & flexibility for color correction in this part of the process.

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Finally the release, and audience reception of the documentary are where we can see the impact of the film. It’s rewarding to observe your audience’s reactions and gauge how the story connects and resonates with your family & friends… which are basically the only people you care about.. This stage can be both satisfying and enlightening, offering direct feedback on the effectiveness and reach of the documentary. But also, simply giving you the the possibility of sharing something truly important you went through.

From your perspective, being involved and understanding the behind-the-scenes efforts of documentary production could end up in fostering a supportive partnership (sometimes even friendship) between you and the production crew. Recognizing the challenges and triumphs, we as personal documentary filmmakers, like to more actively contribute to and collaborate on projects that aim to inform, inspire, and influence."

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Being behind the scenes of a documentary production is a challenging and rewarding experience. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and patience. But, it's also a very fulfilling experience. It's an opportunity to tell stories that matter to those close to you… or afar, and to make a difference, one important person at a time. Your story may not conquer the world in crazy numbers, but sometimes it seems like a documentary is the only way to reach some people that are otherwise not in reach. Think about it?