Documentary Film Ideas

I think a good documentary idea would be how companies and government are bilking Americans with small hidden fees weighed onto us under lies.  Just like corporations, government now operates under a profitability viewpoint.  With consumer electronics, for example, you would think costs would get cheaper as technology improved, but it’s the opposite.  The same with government.  You would think that expansion and growth in a jurisdiction would cause the government to have increased revenue.  The government in turn raises taxes under a lie that the cost of government services have increased.

Everything from taxes and growth as cited above to the cost per student in public schools should be examined.  What is the cost per student in public schools that excel versus those that don’t?  Why is it lower in better schools?  How do teacher union and parenting affect education of youth?

My opinion is that Americans must be vigilant with their finances and smart enough to know when they are being bilked.  Look at everything you buy and decide if you are paying a reasonable price.

As an opposing example, I was at the liquor store the other day and they were selling 50ml shots of Gin for $1 each.  Well, they were also selling 750ml of the same brand for $20.69.  When you buy the bigger bottle you end up paying $1.38/shot, which is greater than if you bought each shot separately.  Either the store owner can’t do math, or he is being very nice for providing a smaller more convenient quantity with higher per unit production cost than the full bottle.  This isn’t bilking, it’s just stupidity most likely, but it is an example of why It’s important to know what you are paying for and that consumer vigilante is important in the the new economy.

This documentary, like most, leads into another idea:  Which companies are failing because of the economic conditions, and which companies are using the economy as an excuse for their own failures?

A local Emory University professor has a new book out called “The Dumbest Generation”.  This book shows statistics which backs up the author’s claim that the “avalanche” of socially pushed technological trends placed upon the youth are causing an imbalance in learning.  Statistics show that the basics of learning such as writing and  factual information such as who is the speaker of the house, aren’t being absorbed by today’s youth.  The cause of this imbalance is socially pressured requirements for kids to be on facebook and other internet socialization networks and blogs, where good writing structure isn’t there.  Also teenagers are averaging 1000 text messages per month.

This is hurting the business world, as evidenced by many large corporations lately pouring millions into writing classes for employees.  In addition, statistics show that the number of students going into engineering and science has dropped, and the Asian countries are far above the U.S. as far as innovation and technological advancement.

I was looking at pics of rapper Dolla from Atlanta, who was gunned down in Beverly Hills last weekend, and noticed a videographer in the back.  This discussion came up once at my favorite forum, HV20.com.  I think that it’s expected for there to be a videographer for a famous person’s wedding.  These types of weddings have famous people in attendence sometimes, and speeeches.  However, when a videographer is asked to film any random person’s funeral, I think it’s normal to question the sanity of the client.

I guess that society is becoming more emotional, and that in the future when there are television screens  everywhere, you may mention “____’s funeral” and the screen may pop up a 5 second clip of the funeral just to reinforce mood.  That’s really the only reason why I would see the benefit of videoing a funeral for any Joe Mug.

Film people in conversation or in action somewhere you believe something interesting is going to happen.

The coffeehouse on the displayed picture is just one of hundreds of options for an unscripted real life film.  Another example could be to go to a park and either film people in the park or sit on a bench and document conversations.  The best way to handle this type of film is to let the subjects know before they enter into the view of the camera lense what you are attempting to do and make sure they are o.k. with it.  Give them your business card (make some if you don’t have them) and try and get their email or phone number in case you want to seek their permission to use the film for commercial purposes later after editing.  Place the camera somewhere and walk away and come back later and see what you have.

Logistically speaking, a place to conduct such a film may be hard to find.  You can put up an ad on the internet asking someone if they know of a group of people that would allow this, maybe they will invite you into their home to film a party or their place of business.  Again, It’s very important to either get everyone’s contact info, or have them sign release forms.  Otherwise, you will have to blur out faces in editing if you don’t have permission.  The amount of footage taken versus the amount actually used will be very small.

Create a documentary film on a subject relying on visual footage combined with a musical score.

Here’s one of 10 Documentary Film ideas I will post on this site.

Your goal with this film is to create unforgettable visual impact in the audience.  Breathtaking imagery coupled with music are required for success.  Surely you have noticed that all cinema, fiction or non-fiction, consists of scenes utilizing only visuals and a musical background with no narration.

Imagine yourself as a factory worker who has finished working for the day, and seeks an outlet to escape from the negative thoughts that work has induced.  You would be interested in seeing beautiful landscapes,  or the daily life of a butterfly to escape these thoughts.  In contrast, imagine you’re a farmer who seeks an escape from the natural world you’re accustomed to.  You might appreciate a visual film about factory processes, or get satisfaction watching what goes on in a train yard on a daily basis, a major international airport, or a construction site.  Try and visualize the intended audience when brainstorming the documentary subject.  The music choice is especially important because it establishes the emotional impact of the subject you choose.  When choosing your soundtrack music, try and determine what feeling you would like to convey to the audience:  wonder, excitement, fear, or amazement are some examples.  Classical music is universally appreciated and is my recommendation for creating a feeling of class.  Different types of music suites different feelings.  Avoid music with any singing in it.

You must pick a subject that has movement, because film is defined as moving pictures.  Avoid still frames, because you wouldn’t want to watch static imagery when you can do that on an online photo album.  Try and make your subject specific.  Don’t just go out and film a sunset and call that your film.  It is a documentary film, which means that you must show people something that they have not seen in detail before.  This can be a great starting point in filmmaking, because you will have a chance to improve your cinematography skills.

Inspirational Ideas:
What happens at night when everyone is asleep?  Find something in your community that nobody knows about because they are asleep.  Is there something unique going on where you live that could be filmed?
Tips:
Use HD if possible.  Get as many angles as possible.  Don’t make scenes too lengthy.  Do a test screening with friends before deciding on the final cut.  Don’t use hand held shots, use a steady tripod.  Try to entertain.

Note: This post is 1 of 10 posts of documentary topics for my book.  This post will be put in the book, give or take differences in editing.  Please comment and tell me what you think about this documentary idea.