From on-set etiquette to how the story is conceived, shot, and edited, the tools you need to be an effective member of a documentary crew are specialized and different from narrative films and commercials. Making documentaries is a team sport in the truest sense, and it will tap into all of your multi-hyphenate capabilities, both artistically and personally. Hopefully, this doesn’t scare you—if you truly love documentary filmmaking, it should excite you.A documentary crew is very hands-on, both technically and creatively, and our team’s vérité filmmaking skills were put to the test in my recent film “A Radical Act: Renee Montgomery,” which follows WNBA superstar and activist Renee Montgomery from player to co-owner of the Atlanta Dream. Our production footprint would expand and contract based on the environment: was I at home with Renee and her family, or were we filming an Atlanta Dream game with thousands of screaming fans? In the first situation, I would likely be alone with a camera on my shoulder, and in the second, I’d be working with two or more cameras, producers, a sound mixer, and several assistants. In either scenario, being a multi-hyphenate is not just an asset; it’s almost essential because it helps keep the crew to the bare minimum. People who sign on as subjects of documentaries are often surprised at how much time they will spend with a camera crew, especially in their most intimate moments. Having a small footprint is integral to cultivating a protected space that helps the...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Thursday, 6 February