Make Better Documentaries: 5 Step Pre-Production

[@markbone]

Love seeing how you do pre-production Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Cheers Mark 👊🏻

[@nicholausmueller1884]

4:58 that shot was literally my backyard growing up! The Mariana mountains in Apple Valley. Wild! Love the channel Luc!

[@remcovanholsteijn4995]

No way I'm leaving this gem of work untouched, Luc. Just wanted to say I'm starting out as a documentary filmmaker and already appreciate the lessons I've learned so far by just watching your content. More specifically, the way you present yourself with such real stoicism and gratitude. P.S. Look forward to learn from your to-be-released docu course :D

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man, appreciate it!

[@GrandpaG4]

Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

Hey Gary, no, thank YOU! appreciate that a lot

[@Supercon57]

29:49 I would recommend removing any knobs from the tripod head I've grabbed my video tripod after flights and have had just about every screw broken at some point .. They must really throw those check bags hard I remove the pan lock, tilt lock, plate lock, arm and put them into a zipper bag for flights

[@MattSpeedhunters]

You're an MVP. So much great advice that normally hides behind smoke, mirrors and snarky answers. Cheers. Love your channel.

[@LucForsyth]

So what’s your pre-production process? Share it below. A huge shout out to The Art of Documentary for funding this series, so refreshing to see people putting their money where their mouth is and actually funding work. Don’t forget to claim your discount by using the code LUC and support the channel at the same time: bit.ly/3JhhTqX

[@gavenevans]

Love to see it Luc!! The fact you can do BTS, AOD’s involvement, and Jose’s story!! 🔥🔥🔥 as a vet myself, tell Jose we’re cheering for him!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Gaven, it's going to be a good one for sure. Such a powerful guy.

[@Brian-Hansen]

Great stuff Luc. I sum up preproduction as access and opportunity. Without those two things you might as well never even pretend you’re shooting a documentary. Also, I could not agree more on the need for scripting and planning. You are 100% correct. Without a script, all you will end up with is fancy B-Roll and a few general interviews. Storylines only develop with active planning before and during shooting.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Brian, you're totally right, 💯

[@dannypgrizzle]

Thanks for this video. Outstanding, high value guidance.

[@Theemoodyeye]

Love your channel. Essential for filmmakers on the rise like myself and just any filmmaker!

[@TheStorytellingDad]

Way to go Luc! Hey man I’m so excited for you and this was just fantastic! I can’t wait to see the rest! We asked, and you listened! You are just awesome! Thanks, truly great work.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man, glad you liked it. I think the next two are going to be really interesting as they're all out there in the world and away from the desk, but hopefully this was a good start!

[@andreaspretali]

Thanks Luc and I'm looking forward to join your upcoming documentary filmmaking course! 🔥🔥

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks you kindly!

[@jortploosvanamstel]

Hey Luc! Love seeing how your channel and online network are growing! The amount of useful information you're sharing still amazes me with every upload. So thank you for that. And keep on going because the collaboration with AOD seems really promising!!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man, it's been a fun journey for sure. And yeah - AoD is doing some really cool stuff, will be great to see how it evolves. Happy shooting!

[@lucasbrugh]

Thanks for doing this! Love the concept of this series and am glad you were able to collaborate with AOD on this. I’m an AOD member as well. Their content and yours are what I look to the most.

[@moniquebeastie]

I really appreciate this video and your insights. I have a 3 month road tour documentary I am in pre-pro for right now and this is exactly what I needed.

[@GrandpaG4]

Great stuff Luc, your inspiration is contagious. Keep up the good work you do.

[@LucForsyth]

Cheers Gary, I definitely plan to as long as it's helping people!

[@chipcurry]

I love hearing you guys talk about this stuff. I've been making documentaries for 40 years, sometimes they just fall into place, sometimes I'm just flailing. I've got a lot to learn.

[@00Chandler480]

Where do you release your work ?

[@ozielmelendez]

So much good information, thank you for share all this gems!

[@sitebstudios]

Luc! Thank you so much for your insight and knowledge! This is so helpful to independent filmmakers!

[@LucForsyth]

You're very welcome, glad it was helpful!

[@davidmorefield]

Love this detail oriented, real world use style of information. It may not be flashy but it’s extremely useful. Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

Great to hear, that's the aim on the channel and sums me up pretty well also - not flashy, but hopefully helpful!

[@davidmorefield]

@@LucForsyth looking forward to the rest of this non flashy series 😄 I’ve been making vlogs with my phone showing bts of decisions I make on set and freelancing as a career. So far people like the content and don’t care about the image quality. I’m glad to see that.

[@skkver_runs]

That’s a good useful valuable stuff. Thanks for sharing. Greets from Moscow

[@davidp158]

Great info on your process, and insight to the AOD course. When traveling, do you use TSA locks on your bags, or forego them? I’ve read mixed reviews about this, and curious what your take is.

[@tommynaturephotography]

Amazing content that you're offering! Thanks a lot for sharing this valuable information! I'm actually taking a lot of notes and learning so much!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Tommy, that's great to hear!

[@tubekane]

Thank you for this wonderful and informative video. Please keep producing more videos please

[@LucForsyth]

You're welcome Dennis - I will!

[@overcominggiants]

Great video! Very helpful

[@johnclay7644]

informative on better doc production Thanks Luc,

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks John!

[@emanuellsmith1944]

Thanks for sharing. Great content!

[@wynnerc]

Hey Luc, can you let me know what grip handle is that 27:18

[@DANAMIONLINE]

Traveling to film limits gear in a significant way by focusing on the essentials needed to capture your story. You mentioned you have your gear out for days when preparing to visualize what you need. How does this process change for quirelates that arise? I relare to your statement about not being involved in the AOD community while taking the course. I want to tap into this community more.

[@LucForsyth]

Yep, you're right! It doesn't really change tbh, I just stare at it for longer! Check out the AoD Facebook page, there's a ton of activity happening on there - going to go to the next Toronto meet up myself.

[@LuckyDogProductionsHawaii]

Very cool collaboration with AOD! Have a good time in SD!

[@PelicanNorth]

What do you think about shipping gear? When I fly I do the same as you bringing my essential camera gear with me as carry-on but then if I have a secure accepting point, I ship my other gear via two day FedEx with insurance. This saves a lot of airport hassle. If I ship boxes, well ahead of time, I get verification that they have arrived before I fly. That also gives time to resolve any problems if the boxes get misdirected.

[@jackvisualmedia]

So excited for this series!

[@LucForsyth]

Nice one, stay tuned!

[@byronjohnson8346]

EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE SIR. THANK YOU FOR THE MOTIVATION AND GIVING ME A BLUEPRINT. STAY SAFE. I ENJOYED THIS VIDEO ENORMOUSLY ✌️

[@hidicproductions4849]

Thanks for making this tutorial right at the moment my first own (professional) documentary production starts. 😁

[@cameron_cushman]

Jose is a good friend of mine! Was so excited when I saw him come on the screen!

[@LucForsyth]

No way! Jose is the man, love that guy

[@PatrickMallett]

Street cred went through the roof when I noticed your Murakami collection during the packing setup! 👌🏻🔥💯

[@LucForsyth]

haha, love me a good Murakami book. The perfect mood for covid lock downs as well, I think I went through them all! 📚🤓

[@scottievee330]

That budget is shockingly small. Especially including air travel. Wow. That is serious passion work. God bless.

[@LucForsyth]

You’re not wrong! But I’m terms of being able to create BTS content for KZbin, it’s a godsend!

[@kothaguru]

This helped me so much, I look forward to the upcoming videos!

[@LucForsyth]

Awesome, that's great to hear man!

[@JoanBesalu]

Great video Luc! I should really recomend you the new Mavic 3 pro. It has a very good quality and it's portability is magnificent. I've been working with cinema drones for three years and the new Mavic is a good Price/Quality drone!

[@nwb741]

great video! you don't travel with any small light panels?

[@ChannelGeekyGaming]

I agree with not wasting time making storyboards, but I think making one just for the intro is greatly beneficial.

[@scottsfreelunch]

This was great and helpful! We personally storyboard after doing a loose outline, but we only do that after speaking with the main character(s) multiple times. Using those conversations, it helps us plan our shoots better so we can do it in 2-3 days and is more scripted. It also helps us stay on track if we're filming things out of sequence. I love it when a main character says a great phrase in those pre-conversations so I can write it into the "script", but it also makes it so I don't have them say it prior to the right moment that I feel would help the story best. Definitely hard to "script" it in advance, but it definitely helps our workflow throughout the tough 2-3 days go a little faster. Sometimes even writing in the storyboard "Have main character tell us about this moment" so they can still keep it in their words, but get the general sense and have a general edit in mind. Storyboard sometimes loses or gains a scene after seeing it in person, but helps keep us on track.

[@Longpathwisdom]

Thanks for this one, well done. Sending you some scratch.

[@fireplaceinacozyroom2064]

Thank you very much Luc for your usual very useful videos. You are, without knowing it, one of few documentary directors l regularly follow and apply their advices beside theirs of Mark Bone. Thanks again man! Director Akim Ko

[@Avectwigg]

so helpful - thank you

[@hbmorris5558]

Hey Luc - great piece. I'm looking for your Deck download? Can you toss me a link? Thanks so much.

[@studiosoul]

Love your work and the way you express yourself as always! Would love to see a downloadable checklist if it hasn't already been made! Thanks!

[@johnbestfather]

Another incredible video Luc thank you. The information you are getting out to the community is extremely valuable. You are a beacon among content creators who truly gives back. I think I know the answer to the question, but I noticed your budget did not include any post-production costs (editing, sound, effects, promo). I imagine like me you just take that on yourself for you passions projects. Was this intentional? Do you have those costs projected on bigger shoots with more sponsors? This is a business aspect I need to learn moving forward so curious to your approach. Thanks! John

[@Codywpreston]

I'm 8 minutes in and not sure if you mention it but how was travelling to Mexico with gear? Did you need anything in particular to bring gear over? Costs?

[@OnBail]

What is a killer shot from a photographer might not resonate to all. We all have different tastes. Banger for some, may not be a banger for others. I love photography, take it shots of anything and everything. Just enjoy it. Thanks for the video!

[@powermfp1]

You put out great stuff. Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks, appreciate that!

[@herodot86]

you are truly one of my favorite you tubers out there in terms of teaching. thanks for that. However, one question: the bag you take with you on board, what's the weight? I mean here in Europe they are restricted with 8-10 kg. So how you could took this bag with you onboard😅?

[@sergiypudich]

That is inspiring, Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Sergiy!

[@GriffinConway]

Really great video Luc!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Griffin, glad you liked it!

[@CiprianTrip]

Great tutorial! You often only find these things in paid courses. Thank you.

[@dhadakmarg]

HI Luc - The networking guide is not reaching the inbox for some reason.

[@TheTechnoPilot]

Yeah let’s be honest, that $1000 for the one paid crew member works out to a day rate that I wouldn’t even be okay paying a PA. So not only is it not a good day rate, it’s arguably an unacceptable day rate in the Canadian market. While it might be okay in this instance, I would emphasize this isn’t an acceptable day rate in the vast majority of situations.

[@LucForsyth]

💯 - would never offer someone that rate on a professional job, we all just signed on for a passion project and had a great time!

[@oneflymedia8078]

Hi Luc, I love this video! I have been using your Script/ Scene sheet for a film I going to start making starting in April, and have found it really helpful in organizing my thoughts. I'm curious if you would change your process at all if the subject you were filming was yourself and someone else?

[@LucForsyth]

Hmmm, that's an interesting question...probably not as you'd still need to know what sorts of scenes would best tell the story. No matter what the subject was I think the more you think it through the better the end result would be. Though you can probably skip the zoom call!

[@scotey]

Superb video. Your most comprehensive video to date. Thank you. Where did you get that little bag for your Small HD 502? That's perfect!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Scott, glad you liked it. I think I got it at REI years ago...but I'm with ya, love the perfect pouch!

[@scotey]

@@LucForsyth You've got the best pouch game on KZbin. Can't wait for a pouch strategy video to drop in the future. ;)

[@davidschwan]

can you make a video how you do color grading? means render settings and on what kind of monitor you are doing..

[@LucForsyth]

There's one in the works!

[@JoeHartzlerTV]

Great stuff. Love the look of gear that's been well-used in real world filmmaking conditions. What size is that fstop ICU? I've been debating snagging one for just such a use case, debating between the Large ICU, Medium, Medium slope, etc. Thanks for the pro tips, big fan of the channel.

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks man! I have quite a few of those ICUs now, so it really depends on the bag. The one in the video is the medium I believe, and that's the one I keep in the small bag (Guru 25). For the Tilopa I use the large, and for the Shinn I use the XL. I have a couple small ones as well, but they don't get used all that much. IF you check out the bags on the F-stop website I think most of them have bundle options with the recommended ICU. That's where I'd start, hope that helps!

[@JoeHartzlerTV]

@@LucForsyth Very helpful, thanks for the reply!

[@heymanchan7829]

love it

[@yousefalshamrani]

Gold

[@johnrohdejensen1218]

'Some Broll and an interview' really cuts deep. I do that way too much.

[@bluedun9816]

The aktiv head is incredible, you can set up and level a camera in seconds.

[@LucForsyth]

It really is the best

[@zilaneizadpanah8550]

Where can I see the finished product?

[@DavesNotAlright]

Dude how can I help you with the translation for subtitles to spanish, i can even record the track

[@zariamultimedia]

I'm sorry but I gotta disagree with you on the check list Luc. I use it every time for every shoot, especially paid shoots! Also, do you live in Compton bro? LOL OMG, sirens in 25% of this video??????? I literally had to pause and rewind this video a couple times to see if it was your hood or mine? LOL In all seriousness though, I watch every single one of your videos and you give me great insight into making myself a better film maker. Keep up the great work man! Oh, and you may have possibly convinced me to take the AOD course too!?!?!

[@LucForsyth]

Hey man, whatever works for ya! Thank Vancouver's lack of double paned glass for the noise, and my editor for managing to cut most of that out in normal videos! But seriously, thanks for the support - I think you'll be happy with AoD if you decide to go for it, those guys have built a great course.

[@desipshelton9906]

i do not see the downloadable copy of the deck

[@davidschwan]

Nice!

[@LucForsyth]

👊🏻

[@malenky1595]

I have the same Anton Bauer Vs, bought 4 and 2 stopped charging within 3 months. Anton Bauer would not refused to give me a replacement or refund

[@franner9]

where are the other three parts?

[@LucForsyth]

Here's the 2nd part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roDIY2N9fJxresU and 3rd part: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4vVhKWQl56BsLc Enjoy!

[@tjwalkup7155]

Audio is over-modulated a bit

[@landonmetcalfe3302]

🔥🔥

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Landon!

[@thejoshthat]

18 minutes ago? didn't I just watch this at 2 in the morning (5 hours ago)?

[@calebgrenier6197]

35 minutes video? fuck yeah

[@LucForsyth]

Haha, experimenting more and more with long form as I personally watch KZbin more like TV these days…glad you’re into it too!

[@winterkat8693]

the audio sounds like its clipping or is it just me.

[@LucForsyth]

yeah, you're not wrong. It killed me, but by the time I figured it out I was already across the country and couldn't re-record. Hopefully it doesn't ruin it for you, but sure does irritate me! 🙁

[@winterkat8693]

@@LucForsyth naa. it dosen't ruin anything at all but it just irritates me as well. I was happy to learn that AOD has a community. lately thinking about joining film school just to get friends. you know, surround myself with like minded people.

[@LucForsyth]

Yeah, I hear that. I didn't go to film school myself and that community is nice to have...AoD seems to be really doing great in this sense these days, especially with the in person meet ups and group zoom calls. Will definitely be taking advantage of it myself as I missed out on that being self taught

[@tjwalkup7155]

It’s interesting how dependent on a script for a documentary it seems you are. Outline of what you know seems reasonable. Werner Herzog called scripts for a “coward”. I agree with bullet point to look for but documentary work isn’t sets ups it’s revealed while shooting. Granted knowing something about the story is essential however the interviews really give you the depth. There is a separation with subjects too. Yes you must build trust for access.

[@kristalarrison1490]

Do you need a NDA?

[@randallburgess6393]

Ya that tripod head is way over priced!!!!

[@SabarSABA]

Hello folks , maybe you have already found out that this joker is reading from a script written by VOD which he is trying to sell you their courses. We actually had a private detector track them knew each other since torah school in the summer. Their families are quite close and arguably this is not their first scam. 😂

[@johnnythunder8382]

Gear does not matter : thanks Anton Bauer ($100-900 batteries) + Schafer tripod ($875 camera head $3000 legs) for send us gear

[@kevinwelsh7490]

Who cares about film making. I just get off on all the gear. I don't have to actually use it for filming. Expensive gear guarantees a high quality movie. It pumps my blood.

[@bake.agency]

Making your own BTS can be really hard.. a plumber always has the leaky tap!

[@camillescottxenoenthusiast7929]

Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

Thanks Camille, that's really nice of you and it's much appreciated!

[@CiprianTrip]

Thanks!

[@Longpathwisdom]

Thanks!

[@LucForsyth]

Wow, thanks Jonathan - very much appreciated!