Later on in his session Production Process of Public Affairs Documentary, Mr. Botkin encouraged Academy attendees to get involved in making documentaries. Even for filmmakers whose goal is to work in other genres, the documentary is an excellent training ground for all aspects of filmmaking and communication. It also allows aspiring filmmakers to make money to finance future projects.

To give students some examples of possible documentaries and the process of making one, Mr. Botkin listed around 35 possible topics and a step-by-step overview of creating a public affairs documentary:

+ Pre-Production Process +

Research your thesis. You can’t be a wild, conspiracy theorist. You need solid facts and information.

Keep everything. All your email and phone records. Everything. The integrity of your journalism requires it.

Write an outline. Include all general information.

Write a draft script.

Identify the one important lesson.

Find the experts.

Arrange interviews.

Act honorably in what you set up and promise.

Exercise special care when children are involved. In a story that includes children you need to give greater privacy protection than you would with adults.

Take inventory of your B-roll. Your b-roll is all the pictures/footage you will include in the documentary.

Determine if you have enough material to proceed.

Work-up production design.

Work-up preliminary marketing plan.

Budget the production with time and funds. Do you have enough of both to complete it?

+ Production +

Begin interviews.

Get a written release from each interviewee and file it.

Take notes on your notes.

Time code wherever possible

Number and story your tapes and research material carefully.

Continue to research.

Use surreptitious news-gathering techniques, including hidden cameras or microphones, only their is no other way to obtain stories of significant public importance and only if the legal technique is explained to the audience.

Shoot volumes and volumes of b-roll.

Keep updating your script draft with the best material.

+ Post-Production +

Transcribe your interviews.

Pull every quote and video clip and drop them into a time line.

Write narration. A good documentary does not have a lot of narration. The content is supplied by the “experts” you interview.

Record scratch track. Your voice recording the narration at the right speed.

Add the scratch track.

Choose a narrator.

Review pacing.

Add silence and creative space.

Verify that you have permission to use everything you include in the edit.

Trim everything to the right length: 26, 47, or 105 minutes

Revise your narration and script.

Study the final script for journalistic accuracy.

Make sure every statement is triple checked.

Make sure you defame no one.

Make sure your comments damage no one.

Make sure you can defend every statement.

Make sure your interviewees are credible in every statement or correct them in the content.

Have a lawyer review.

Record final narration.

Perfect your final edit, adding all transitions.

Add SFX.

Compose and add music.

Mix all audio.