Once the documentary has been funded, the production team must establish a budget and create an appropriate production plan. As in the artistic field, the unpredictability of working with reality is critical in this organisation, so flexibility in management is essential throughout the three phases: pre-production, filming, and post-production. The selection of the technical team is another key factor, especially in productions where the human factor can be delicate or where deadlines are extended over time. Documentary film production presents unique challenges, such as ethical concerns, rights management, and legal considerations.
ProfilesAddress Production
Pre-production: Organizing the Unforeseen
- Is production planning compatible with the common unforeseen events of a documentary film? How do you balance these elements?
- Specifically, what implications do unforeseen events have on the management and organisation of resources (schedules, work plans)?
- How do you organise this in your specific case? How do you react to these unforeseen events?
- How does production planning adapt to the needs of a film whose development, direction, or completion time are unknown in advance?
Team Relationships: Direction-Production-Photography-Sound-Editing-Music
- Who (production, direction) and how are the professionals who form part of the team chosen?
- At what stage of the project do they join?
- How are contacts between them established or fostered?
- How do these relationships influence the different stages and the film's outcome?
Specific Challenges of Documentary Filmmaking: Legal Aspects, Rights, Ethical Issues
- What are the specificities of documentary filmmaking in relation to the legal aspects of production?
- How are the rights of the people involved in the films managed and secured?
- How do production documents (rights) reflect the ethical aspects of the representation of these people?
- Can you provide specific examples?
Post-Production Coordination: The Final Cut
- How does the production role evolve throughout the creative process of a film?
- How is the director supported during this process?
- How is the production team involved in the creative decisions of the team?
- How is this aspect reflected in the final cut?
- How do you negotiate with management the responsibility or decision regarding the final cut?
