Week 4 - Documentary Filmmaking 101 - Pre-Production

Sep 26, 2026

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Week 4 covers the pre-production phase for a documentary filmmaking course, focusing on the practical planning needed before filming begins. Key topics include scheduling, crewing, equipment planning, and ongoing budgeting. The schedule section explains booking interviews, working backward, building realistic timelines, and creating call sheets with essential production information. Crewing guidance outlines common roles and the need for at least one additional person on set, while equipment advice emphasizes choosing tools that support high-quality audio and reliable post-production workflows.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Pre-Production

Week 4 - Documentary Filmmaking 101 (MOOC)

Scheduling

Timeline

Call Sheet

Crewing

Equipment

Budgeting continued

Pre-Production Week 4 - Documentary Filmmaking 101 (MOOC) Pre-Production entails. . . • Scheduling • Crewing • Equipment planning • Budgeting continued • Legal releases • Storyboard • Shot List Scheduling • Book your interviews (subject availability is key) • Work backwards from there • Create a timeline on a calendar of all phases • Finalize schedule and call sheets Timeline Schedule • Date, location, arrival time, shooting duration . Be realistic, not optimistic! • Scenes to be shot-list should be shooting order • Determined by subject availability, locations, day/night, transport, equipment. Call Sheet • A Call Sheet is the key document that is distributed on any ﬁlm shoot to inform all involved of the day’s plan. Including: • Title of ﬁlm • the date • the crew call time • location address(es) • call sheet \# • contact phone numbers • weather forecast • health and safety info including nearest hospital • schedule • special instructions • equipment, transport info, location facilities, and a map on the back. **See example on website. [http://www.starboardmediauk.co.uk/writing-call-sheets-for-small-productions](http://www.starboardmediauk.co.uk/writing-call-sheets-for-small-productions) Crewing • While you will be fulﬁlling all roles yourself on this project, documentary crews usually consist of a minimum of director, camera operator, sound recordist, a producer and production assistant. • In your case, it is critical to have one other person on set. Equipment Equipment • Not everyone in the course will have the same access to equipment. • You can record with any camera, as long as you can record quality audio. If you opt to do a noninterview documentary, your have more options without sync audio. • iphone, DSLR or video camera, as long as you can import your footage to a computer with editing capability. • Do your research on video and sound quality. More details in the camera/lighting lesson . Budgeting • Refer to your budget from your proposal and update your actual amounts now that you have a better idea about your locations, shoot days, etc . • Continue to update your budget. You should make every attempt to stay on budget.

FAQs

What should scheduling for a documentary prioritize in Week 4?

Book interviews based on subject availability, then work backward to create a realistic timeline across all phases. Finalize the schedule and the call sheets once key dates and constraints are known.

What information must be included in a call sheet?

A call sheet should include the film title, date, crew call time, location address(es), call sheet number, contact phone numbers, weather forecast, health and safety info (including the nearest hospital), schedule, special instructions, and equipment/transport/location facilities plus a map on the back.

How should equipment and audio quality be approached during pre-production?

Choose any camera you can access, but ensure you can record quality audio. If producing a non-interview documentary, there are more options without sync audio, and you should research video and sound quality before committing.

Sep 26, 2026

Upload by Bintang