Does anyone here have any experience with making documentaries?

[Os Cangaceiros]

I'd be interested in reading up on this topic, plus any advice regarding computer software related to film editing would be nice as well.

[Rooster]

I used to do this for a living so if you have any questions then feel free to ask.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Trying to make a short film on a specific topic is something that I've been somewhat interested in...I'll probably never do it, not now at least, because I can't finance the modest amount of money it would take to make it happen, but I am interested somewhat in the subject of what makes a good documentary. My favorite documentary film is The Thin Blue Line, just because that was the first one I'd ever seen that had no narration.

But what is a editing program, if I wanted to edit a piece of footage on a computer?

[Rooster]

It depends on what computer you are using. For Macs, you might have an inbuilt one but the main one that is used is Final Cut which is fairly decent. For PCs you have windows movie maker as the inbuilt one and a good one that I can recommend is Adobe Premier. Basically, they allow you to upload footage from a camera, if you are using digital video, or you can import video from digital memory such as a camera with a hard disk or a flash drive. You put the film onto a time line at the bottom and it allows you to cut it up to make it into a coherent sequence. It allows you to edit footage and to over dub audio or to clean up some footage. Most cameras connect to a PC through firewire cable so I hope you have that. Don't worry about the quality of the equipment you are using. It's not about the tools you have, but how you use them. My best advice is to just watch documentaries you enjoy and try to find out why you enjoy them, from a film making perspective. If you are making one yourself, then you should really try to write a script before hand.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Thanks, that was helpful. Unfortunately my filmmaking progress is still in "walter mitty" mode right now, but good advice regardless. :lol:

My idea was kind of inspired by all the politicians in the USA accusing Obama of "class warfare", and I kind of wanted to do a documentary exploring the topic of class discourse in American politics. Not from a ram-my-politics-down-your-throat leftwing perspective, more just to educate and entertain. I guess.

[Rooster]

Are you going to just use stock footage or are you going to shoot stuff for yourself to use?

[Os Cangaceiros]

Well ultimately I would like to combine news footage (both contemporary and historical) with some interviews of various people that would be done specifically for the film.

[ellipsis]

use the "ken burns effect" with still imagery.

[ellipsis]

also you can edit film in youtube, I have used imovie, finalcut and aftereffects, all have their pros and cons.

[Rooster]

Well ultimately I would like to combine news footage (both contemporary and historical) with some interviews of various people that would be done specifically for the film.

One thing you might want to get is a decent microphone then. People can ignore poor footage but it's really hard to ignore poor sound.