What will you do during the workshop?

● Orientation

● Welcome and Introduction

● Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking

● Understanding the documentary genre and its various subgenres

● Exploration of different documentary styles and approaches

● Conceptualization Documentary

● Developing a documentary concept and identifying a compelling story

● Conducting research, interviews, and gathering relevant information

● Crafting a documentary proposal and treatment

● Short Film Screening and discussion

Task: Participants should refine their ideas.

● Storytelling and Narrative Structure

● Revision from the previous day

● Exploring the power of storytelling in documentary filmmaking

● Creating a narrative structure for your documentary

● Techniques for building tension, conflict, and resolution

● Incorporating emotions and personal perspectives into the narrative

● The Art of Pitching

● Short Film Screening & Discussion

● Short Film Screening & Discussion

Task: Participants will work on their ideas and prepare for their pitching the next day.

● Recap from the previous session

● Individual pitching of the participant’s ideas

● Interview Techniques and Conducting Effective Interviews

● Strategies for conducting impactful interviews

● Preparing interview questions and conducting research on interview subjects

● Techniques for eliciting authentic and emotional responses from interviewees

● Ethical considerations and best practices in documentary interviews

● Pairing the participants and Idea selection

Task: Planning with the co-partner.


● Recap from the previous session

● Cinematography and Visual Language
● Understanding the visual language of documentary filmmaking

● Camera techniques, shot composition, and framing

● Fundamentals of Lighting- Different lighting styles

● Incorporating visual aesthetics to enhance emotional impact

● Using a camera for practice around the venue

Task: Communicate with your characters.

● Recap from the previous session

● Update on the characters

● Sound Design and Music

● Importance of sound in documentaries

● Techniques for capturing high-quality audio

● Effective use of music to enhance emotions and support the narrative

● Using an Audio Recorder for practice around the venue.

● Discussion about Editing and Post-Production

● Overview of Editing Software (Adobe Premier Pro) and tools for documentary filmmaking

● Techniques for structuring and organizing footage

● Crafting a compelling story through editing

● Incorporating emotions and pacing into the editing process

● Final preparation for their shoot.

● Shoot day

● End of the shoot day, mentors will be providing feedback to each of our participants looking at the footage to see where their story is leading.

● Discussion of the strengths and areas for improvement in each project for next shoot day.

● Post Production

● Finalize Editing

● Distribution and Impact

● Understanding distribution options for documentaries

● Strategies for reaching audiences and creating impact

● Film festival submissions and strategies for promotion

● Participants present their documentary films in closed groups (family, friends and few filmmakers from the industry)

● Certificate Distribution

● Final reflections and wrap-up of the workshop