NHD DOCUMENTARY TIPS Rachel Priebe Haley Hocking Selecting

NHD DOCUMENTARY TIPS Rachel Priebe & Haley Hocking

Selecting a topic It HAS to be something you are interested in. You will be working on it for a long time. Narrow the topic, but: Are there enough resources for more “obscure” topics. It has to fit with all of theme: Leadership & Legacy

Research from different resources, not just websites. Diversify your resources. Use books, National Archives, films, newspapers, etc.

Narration Avoid “fast” narrations. Although there are only ten minutes, don’t rush. consider “pausing for effect” The narrator should not be the only voice you hear. Include interviews.

Perspectives / Point of Views Include multiple perspectives (POV) from different sources. This shows that not all sides of an argument are in agreement.

Starting your Documentary When starting a Documentary, load all photo’s and film images AFTER the ten minute mark on the timeline, so when narration is done, select most appropriate images / film clips and put them in. Keep all other “reference clips” past the ten minute mark.

Images It’s better to see full images or motion / film. “Fill the screen” Close-ups are more personal. Watch professional documentaries to see how they integrate “still” images and interviews into their documentaries.

Judges comments Select judges comments you think will improve your documentary and make changes. See judges comments as suggestions for editing your documentary and improving it at every level of NHD competition.