Every documentary film is an investigation, a journey in which we explore an unknown place, geographical and/or human, in which we have to immerse ourselves to find the best way to tell that story. At this point, the filmmaker opens up to the real world to get closer to the people he will work with in his film, in whom he will recognize the characters of the story. At the same time, he begins an exhaustive study of the subject to be developed and the search for aesthetic references in order to find a unique and coherent look.
In this chapter, mentor Mikael Opstrup, filmmaker Lynne Sachs, and others explore the early stages of documentary creation. They discuss recognizing characters and spaces that will drive a film, the role of research in shaping both content and aesthetic choices, and how a filmmaker’s point of view develops and evolves throughout the process.
