How to Write a Documentary Script in 3 Steps

Just like in Hollywood, documentary filmmakers can use scripts to help them stay on track doing a shoot. But unlike in the movies, in docs we can’t predict exactly how things will pan out, so the process needs to be a little less formal. In this video I’ll get into 3 simple steps to creating a basic documentary script that will help you stay focused as your story progresses.
#filmmaking #documentary #script #writing
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🔗 LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO
The Hero’s Journey: www.movieoutline.com/articles...
CHAPTERS
0:00 - Intro
2:07 - First Step: Define your story
4:36 - Second Step: Fill the narrative with possible scenes
7:36 - Third Step: Rework your plans every time your doc changes
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[@aulcamedia]

I'm going to be watching this again and again as I work through my first documentary idea. Almost fell at the first hurdle when I found that the subject was basically writing their own scriipt which was a long way from my vision. After watching this I got back on track.

[@brignole]

What a coincidence! 10 minutes ago I was about to start writing a treatment for a documentary about the Italian Olympic breakdance team and was looking for some inspiration. Thank you!

[@LucForsyth]

You're welcome, hope it helped!

[@cookyehavis8501]

I want to do a family historical doc. This is my first project. What do I do for footage?

[@idemilitv2488]

How is the Story going?

[@natashadiamond4388]

Good morning ooo... it’s urgent I’m asked to write a documentary on our trip to another country... how do I do it please😢😢😢

[@seekeroftheball]

No coincidence. KZbin’s reading your thoughts!

[@FlatlandFilmsLLC]

Just found your channel. I'm an AOD student and diving into my first feature doc currently. Even with all the knowledge at my fingertips via AOD, I'm getting lots of value out of your channel as well! Well done, Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Great to hear, and good luck with AoD - it's a great course. Happy shooting!

[@MattiasSkoog]

Awesome. I wish I did this before my current project (60 min tv documentary). I know I missed a lot of things during the major parts of shooting because I hadn’t figured out the depths of my characters in advance. It’s not at all a disaster, but could be so much better. Keep up the good work with your channel! ⭐️😊

[@LucForsyth]

It's so hard, believe me I struggle with this all the time!

[@CreativeTies_]

That's the video I've been waiting for. It's so simple once you actually think about it a little bit.

[@LucForsyth]

I know! so simple, but also complex to put into practice

[@cinema-q]

I literally have on my search list to look up how to write a documentary script. Somehow you were ahead of me on it. Thank you! 🙏🏾

[@LucForsyth]

destiny!

[@izzyk1998]

So glad I found your channel! I studied film but still feel like I have SO many gaps in my knowledge when it comes to film making. Thanks for sharing the emphasis of planning, even if you don't know in advance where the story is going to go

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Izzy, glad it helped!

[@Mpumzar]

Do you think any person can teach themselves filming ?

[@givebackdocumentaryproduct5981]

Hey Luc, your channel is an amazing source of knowledge for doc filmmaker. Thank you 🙂

[@herospath]

This was really useful! Thank you! I’d love to see a video about that post-shoot phase of scripting you mentioned.

[@donhendricks3190]

It is possible that I already "knew" most of what you taught in this one, Luc...but honestly - I had not recognized these points in a useful and productive way! You've helped me to recognize and organize and, for me, that is worth its weight in gold. I always benefit from time spent watching and studying your content and I am forever grateful to you for that. With love from Atlanta.

[@LucForsyth]

that's great to hear Don, thanks!

[@zanzer386]

Just found your channel tonight & now I know what I’m doing tomorrow…binging your stellar content! 🙏🏻thank you

[@moniquebeastie]

Thank you for taking the time and providing all the valuable information you do! I appreciate you immensely. I would love to see a video about the next step in the process once filming is complete.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Monique, i'll add it to the list!

[@debbier.9354]

Helpful info and thank you for sharing simple steps in planning a docu script

[@g.e.velasco7972]

Luc, thanks for all the good information and the experience that you share in your channel. It has helped me a lot!

[@TheThinkersBible]

Very helpful, concise and practical guide to documentary scripting. I'm working on a documentary script right now and I'm really glad the Lord blessed me to run across this video! Thanks!

[@MrTerryRay1]

Thanks for this video Luc. I'm learning about scriptwriting in general, but I do documentary videos. What you taught here is really helpful for script writing in general (to me). I like how scripts give you tracks to run on, which gives you ideas about what to shoot. I like how you de-mystify "the story". Many talk about using stories, but I like how you give examples of what a story is.

[@LucForsyth]

Awesome, thanks! Glad it helped

[@jaymesagency]

Love this channel so much. You give such great guidance & in such an accessible way. Thanks for all your hard work!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks, really appreciate that!

[@outliersoverland]

Thanks for the video. It helped. I’m starting a documentary of the past seven years of our life working towards driving around the world.

[@johneniola3284]

Hi Luc. My documentary layout has been greatly impacted by your posts. Much appreciated. You are the best. Thank YOU

[@LucForsyth]

No worries John, glad they're helping!

[@goat-mostamazingtop1078]

Great content! I'm totally new to writing. Trying to write my first Doc Style script for my KZbin channel. Not easy for sure but you gave me a great outline. Thanks!

[@cellerdoor2954]

thank you for this advice taken it in

[@studiosoul]

Amazing thanks for sharing as always!

[@JusttJC]

Very valuable content man, appreciate this!

[@user-cl4pw2sg6r]

Thanks! Useful info!

[@LegendEater]

i've just discovered your channel, this is so helpful and pertinent. thanks so much

[@Deep-Travel]

Thanks for producing so many useful and interesting videos. No fluff. All great practical information. I would love it if you make tutorials on two areas (1) the mental process to select what to film once you are in the field, and what things you look for, etc.; and (2) the mental process for choosing the right shots to tell the story. Thanks.

[@LucForsyth]

Both great ideas, thanks. I'll put them on the list, though you might have to be patient with me - there's a few in the queue

[@redwan_lmati]

Thank you! you really made it simple and clear.

[@LucForsyth]

Awesome, glad it helped!

[@findlestick]

Nicely explained.

[@a.guittet-videaste]

Great video Luc, it was gold material and I learnt a ton of things ! I would love to know more about the guide to give to the editors with visual and audio.

[@jrfsailing07]

Great video Luc! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks John, same to you!

[@rdstudios-production]

Was hoping you'd lay this out. Bravo

[@LucForsyth]

Great, hope it helped!

Great video as usually Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Niklas!

[@kekeholiday5872]

This is very helpful - I am beginning the writing process

[@keef69]

Thank you so much !!! writting a film / documentary.

[@famedset1162]

Thanks! Thinking about making a documentary about moms and their stories about embracing their motherhood. Thanks for your help!

[@oktaviaveri7230]

I am an ethnomusicology student and now I want to start making documentaries for my final assignment on campus about traditional music. Your explanation is very easy to understand, thank you🙏☺️

[@yanisshammad2476]

Hey That sounds like a great idea, have you considered doing that since you've posted that comment? If you ever posted that on your YT channel I'd love to see that !

[@lilxgraveyardxshawty420]

Im making my first doc soon and this is the exact thing i need to see

[@user-um3dy2pr6q]

amaazing! It helped me so much!

[@TheChristiandsouza]

Wow what an excellent video, thank you, liked and subscribed

[@MTAFan585]

I am actually working on a documentary script right now and I recently started a month ago and up to like 10 pages. This documentary is about me living behind Covid for 3 years and how it impacted my future, my mental health, friendships and my greatest expectations.

[@FK-we1dp]

your mental health was clearly the biggest casualty of all this.

[@MTAFan585]

@@FK-we1dp Exactly! That is what my project is all about! I’m sorry about that. I’m still working on it hoping it’ll be done by the end of the month. I have to rehearse mu story so it’s gonna take time

[@NickPayneHH]

This channel is amazing

[@leefparks]

This content is gold. Definitely took away some gems from this! Great work

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man, appreciate that!

[@Freedom_vice]

I have hopes of becoming a GOOD documentary film maker. Ive done a "making of the album" mini doc and have a few interviews for a cannabis doc. Ive been hired to create another making the album doc and am in the idea process of a self titled doc. Needless to say i want to be a doc film maker. Ive never done a script or even a treatment and ive been having the hardest time finding a story line for anything outside of making the albums. This will help me so much thank you for bringing light to the process.

[@IAmNotABot9]

Really good stuff here!! Thank you

[@LucForsyth]

👊🏻

[@michaelnelson900]

This helps me to understand the importance of documentary

[@timely383]

I watched this video 1 year ago, but I spend the last 5 month making the very mistake you mentioned, and here I am again😂 finally realize I might benefit from a script

[@andrewwhite8762]

Did I see East Van in your notes? Good place to start!

[@theQandA]

Helpful stuff 👌🏻 Yes please to a video on the other type of script.

[@LucForsyth]

Noted! I’ll add it to the list!

[@jaymesagency]

And I vote yes on the detailed post script video

[@LucForsyth]

good to know!

[@andrewthomasvisuals7670]

Yup.

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Thanks Luc 🌎

[@FarbcafeDe]

Would love to see this in practice to really understand all the steps

[@JourneyDude]

another awesome usefull video thank you

[@LucForsyth]

no worries, glad it helped!

[@the_emmagination]

This was very helpful

[@LucForsyth]

Glad to hear it!

[@UFCGEO]

amazing

[@NickKhoo]

yeah now that you say it's so obvious to outline your doco before you start. Thanks for the tip Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

No problem! Yeah, it seems obvious once you've heard it, but not most people's intuition

[@mauricioli3901]

Great content. Thanks Luc for sharing. 👍🏻☀️📸🏝☕🌋🌴🌊

[@LucForsyth]

You're welcome as always Mauricio!

[@mehmetaliarsan]

🙏 thank you

[@LucForsyth]

You're very welcome!

[@dustmote3020]

Great video Luc! One question though, about how to approach a complex subject that requires some exposition - how might you handle something where you need to explain a number of concepts so that people can understand the struggle that the hero is going through? Best example I can think of is a movie called "Molly's Game", where the viewer needs to understand how to play poker to understand what battles the hero is fighting. How do you balance the hero's journey element with the teaching element? Another example would be "The Social Dilemma", where the teaching/instructional element really overshadowed the story element, in my opinion.

[@LucForsyth]

Hmmm, that's a tough one. I think the answer is it depends. I've seen it done in a lot of different ways. My least favourite way is text overlay though. There can be interviews with experts, a narrator, archival footage, so many different ways that I don't think I can give you a definite answer - sorry!

[@lavaspin]

As always, great info. How much interviewing of the subjects occurs beforehand and do you have a way of bringing out powerful statements from your subjects when the camera is running?

[@johnclay7644]

informative 10mins.

[@sharbear1338]

Thank you for the info. I’m working on a documentary about my gparents but Idk Anything about filmmaking or editing or even how to start.

[@speliotis]

Hey Lic, very helpful information.. WISDOM - If you havent made the video on the topic of Editing.. the audio with. the Broll... as you suggested.. I'd def be interested in hearing what you have to say about the editing process in telling a story.. with more than one character.... Thank you for your time...

[@tdfilms_]

thx amazing help :==))

[@jenchieri8353]

thank you..

[@LucForsyth]

You're very welcome!

[@BHUTAN-EXPRESS]

Wow great

[@banderlust]

I'm using your amazing skill to prepare my trip on middle east.

[@LucForsyth]

nice one, happy travels!

[@wildpatagoniafilms16]

great post ! as always! quick questions: 1- You use the FX6 or FX9 as your main camera...? 2- I'd love to hear how you use your audio recorders with the tentacles, any chance you can show us how? ;) I know you are busy but your posts are really good mate! Cheers!

[@LucForsyth]

Hey! I use the fx9 as my Acam and the fx3 as a Bcam. I'd love to make a video about tentacles and I plan to...just give me a while, I'm pretty backlogged!

[@shmuelaryehkoltov241]

Great insights and thoughts, appreciate it :) I'm wondering though, what if the story isn't about a person but a place, like a historical or archaeological site. How would you approach that?

[@Webrisernl]

Thanks for sharing. I like to create a short documentary of a local talent in boxing.. I have a lot of ideas and visuals in my mind that I get lost!

[@LucForsyth]

relatable!

[@tubekane]

Hi Luc, thank you for this. I am about to write my first documentary. It is a simple story, traveling to Mongolia to visit an old high school buddy . I think it has potential, but I don't know where to start. If you can recommend a simply outline that I can follow to get started I would appreciate it. Dennis Kane

[@EliVazquezSifuentes]

Thanks for the content Luc. I have one question, How do you plan your structure or script when your documentary is focused on a topic instead of a subject and you do not know yet your characters? I am making a doc about food in the north of mexico and i am struggling to outline the story.

[@LucForsyth]

I would think about possible characters you might find and plan scenes around that. Maybe you're imagining a little old lady making tamales - where does she go shopping for ingredients? Maybe there's a scene where you go to the market with her. How did she learn to make these things? Maybe you'd go to her house and meet her mother, or daughter who she's now teaching. Even if you don't know your characters yet, you can still try and picture how you'd make a scene about them and then adapt the script once you meet the real person. Even if you don't end up doing any of those things, at least planning them out gets you thinking about story rather than topic and when you're actually in front of a real person you can apply the same thing to their story. Hope that helps!

[@vedadrive3130]

The Go Canada 🇨🇦 part SENT ME 😭😭😭😭😂😂😂😂😂

[@LucForsyth]

hahaha! Does it help to know my favourite rapper is Jay-Zed?

[@user-nd6zr7pc8w]

Hmmm... a very western approach to thinking about the art of storytelling. Documentary storytelling is not just a choice between "the hero's journey" and interviews with b-roll spliced in. I'd like to see more variety in the kind of narrative and argumentative structures that a documentary can take. It's a doc! The whole point is that if we follow a story unfolding in real life and in different social contexts, we will find new narrative structures to follow and new insights to draw from those unfolding events. I am cool with planning ahead, not cool with using "the hero's journey" as the narrative frame for everything.

[@pedangpena]

Sometime the idea and creative not in line with the pictures, how that's?

[@ScottSpinucci]

What you are mostly talking about here is treatment. That’s helpful for all the things you mentioned: funding etc. But you need to differentiate a shooting script - which you are trying to describe and a finishing script which is were the real work comes in and is EXTREMELY difficult. Please do a video on that.

[@Decoratoooor]

Hey Luc, i would love to hear about how to go into the edit process after shooting the footage. Actually I find it's the hardest thing in doc. (iam editing my first feature doc and I also have written a new synopsis after shooting, but I really don't know where to start off) Greetings from Germany

[@LucForsyth]

Hey Patrick, good idea. It's on the agenda, though it might be a bit before it's released. Thanks!

[@Beyond_Borders1]

what would you say about creating documentaries about entire places not an individual character? For example, i love anthony bourdains parts unknown but he explores entire countries in his episodes. How do i build a story around this and how does "This is a story about X, who has to do Y in order to get Z" change?

[@flatcamerafilms307]

I’m thinking about using a short documentary as a pitch for a feature film. Thoughts?

[@rabah4306]

Hello Luc , i have a question, is documentary script different from movie script ?? Great content by the way😊

[@antoniodossantos5960]

I am looking forward to writing about a survivor - Venezuelan immigrant who became a writer...in Bogotá Colombia 🌎 Thanks. The Venezuelan immigrant writer 🇻🇪

[@OffTheBeatenPot]

Oh you beauty!!!!!

[@LucForsyth]

haha, glad you liked it!

[@jboushka]

Should a documentary story take the protagonist(s) through the 8 steps of a complete "Harmon Circle"? (like paying a heavy price after getting what they thought they initially wanted)? Also check out Tyler Mowery's very recent (Oct. 2023) video on writing loglines.

[@KristaandChase]

Hey Luc! I am an aspiring documentary filmmaker from Toronto! I am loving your content, its some of the best advice i have found online so far. I have a question for you. I am trying to piece together a story about my unexpected run in with a street dog in Bolivia, who i ended up traveling with on my trip but had to eventually leave there. I then returned six months later to rescue and adopt him. The problem is, I didnt intend to make a documentary until now, so i didnt pre plan my shots. I have a lot of footage still, which i will be making an attempt to organize into a compelling story after the fact. My question is, what is the best way to tell this story without some necessary shots? Would you recommend i fill in the blanks with interview style shots explaining what happened that was necessarily captured? Maybe you have some advice that I havent thought of. Thanks so much in advance and KUDOS on a great channel.

[@LucForsyth]

Hey Krista, without knowing anything about what you have and what you don't, I'd say interviewing yourself to form the spine of the story makes a lot of sense to me!

[@mariamanna5998]

I have the story, I wrote the script, it's a docudrama and I am the narrator. I feel I need to be seen in the docu, speaking, as I feel my enthusiasm while speaking is an added benefit to the storyline. The story starts out by explaining where the story takes place with great visuals. I'm not seen in that part. When should I be seen if at all? Otherwise, it's pics and tons of B role. Thoughts?

[@CasimirArtmann]

Below was our plot structure, but after 6 months in Sweden the horse got a sick and the vets didn’t gave her a chance to stay alive. “A five year old wild horse in Portugal is rescued from slaughter by a female horse rider who fulfills a dream when she educates the mare to be an equestrian horse in Sweden. The story starts in Alentejo, Portugal and we will follow the mare during her education and new life in a stable near Höganäs in southern Sweden during a year.”

[@diaryofanafricanpsalmist]

How do i go about an audio documentary podcast

[@user-xd3cm5wz1j]

can you make a video, how to be a documentary producer?

[@Majohistory]

I was wondering if you're going to doc for schools how many students should you focus on?? and how many interviewer can you include in the doc??

[@LucForsyth]

Not sure I understand the question, do you mean how many characters should you focus on in a doc about a school? I think that depends on how long it is, who it's for, and how many strong characters you can choose from. A 5 minute short might be best with 1-2, a feature with 3-4, and a series could have more still!

[@Majohistory]

@@LucForsyth thanks for the reply, they need a school doc of 2 hours with all the information about the school and their achievements, so I am lost on where to start because this is my first project.

[@paushalisaha8803]

Please make a video on Film Pitching.

[@LucForsyth]

good idea! I'll add it to the list

[@paushalisaha8803]

@@LucForsyth Thanks. 🤗

[@telfsermarco]

In my Documentary Idea I have a Topic with 6-7 persons who speak about the topic. I'm still figuring out if I want to give all 7 of them a heroes journey, i think this feels unnatural and would be faked. Maybe I focus more on one character. Or I try to tell the story of the topic, as if the Topic itself would be the main protagonist (but don't know how to do that)

[@imotrendy1160]

I'm a film undergraduate and my project is to produce a documentary film on environmental pollution. Came here for help. Would be back when I finally get an A.

[@LucForsyth]

You got this! 👊🏻

[@natashadiamond4388]

Good morning I’m asked to write down a documentary on one trip we made to another country.. please what are the key points to write 😢😢😢

[@brianmengini]

About to embark on my first mini doc. It’s on a local table maker. He asked for a treatment. He has a whole company making the products but I’m a one man band. What do you suggest I include in this treatment? Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

That's a big question, but I would touch on the overall aim, the expected impact, the characters you'd ideally include, and what the overarching message would be. KZbin "how to make a film pitch deck" and I'll bet you'll find tons!

[@brianmengini]

@@LucForsyth thanks so much!

[@chrisharris_arizona]

8:31 “When your Olympian fails their drug test.” That made me laugh. When, not if haha

[@torreenicole881]

How do you trademark a documentary?

[@akaBoG]

My boss has been writing history subject scripts for me for the past couple years. I want to take over but am not an expert on the subject.

[@lauraplatt6577]

What do you do if the story has already happened and you want to look back in the video but don’t have footage from the past?

[@Brainsore.]

All you have to do to make a documentary is figure out what agenda to push, and the rest of your editing and “scripting” will fall into place. Good luck!

[@MessianicJudaism]

The project I'm doing is a lesson from my rabbi called Yeshua and the First Church: The First Great Schism. I would like to shoot it documentary style of Mike Roe, or Allen Alda, or Morgan Freeman. Another lesson to documentary I would like to shoot is about the 10 commitments. Everything has been written, but not in a documentary format. Where can I get advice on how to convert the lesson into a script?

[@mirochlebovec6586]

Ok so I’m making a doc about my grandgrandpa who was sent into a nazi POW camp and I’m thinking about making myself the “main character” as I set off on a jurney of historical research (which I have never done before) to find out what was his experience like and what horros did he endure. Any thoughts or tips?