How to make a documentary film? - Basic Tips & Suggestions

Isn't the concept stage is quite big already? 😛 How would you plan the documentary out? Perhaps the script needs to be fleshed out, then a simple storyboard to illustrate what you want to shoot and how you want to shoot it.

I think its better to invest in a digicam rather than using a cellphone camera if you wanna do documentary. Shouldn't cost that much these days. You'd want to be able to capture decent video quality to make it a more enjoyable viewing experience. A separate microphone set should be used if you are going to interview people, then in post production you can sync the video and audio together.

I believe lighting plays an important role in capturing good images, so planning on the time of day and weather.

Oh, and a good video editing software is a must 😀 If your ok with using Linux, there's a highly acclaimed free video editor called OpenShot.

I'm also looking forward for tips by others too!

@ash: I think Apple's iMovie is also a great choice. Never tried OpenShot.