The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

Welcome back filmmakers! it's now time for you to start thinking outside of your film... I’m not trying to be deep or metaphorical here!  Your documentary is the centerpiece of a network of different materials that all compliment each other, and one element of this network is the website.  And yes! You do need to start thinking about your website in pre-production. You can never be too carefu...

If you're planning on whipping up a documentary soon, hopefully, the next bit you read won’t rock your world too much: you need to know how to use your equipment! Your camera is your best friend. If it wasn’t for your camera - the likelihood of your film coming to fruition, is pretty slim. But like any friendship, you’ve got to nurture it. That means, getting to know it as deeply as you can. ...

You’ve come a long way since we started this journey, but now it’s getting very real - it is time to start working out exactly where you will be filming.  Naturally, preparation is key! The more you understand the locations you are shooting in, the less obstacles you’ll have to overcome on the day.  Okay, when I read that back that seems a fairy obvious step in the filmmaking process and one that...

Welcome back fellow filmmakers, and hello to any new aspiring creators who are just starting on this exciting journey.  Making movies is really fun and rewarding, but to make sure you have a safe space to work in there is one very important topic we have to discuss… Insurance! Don’t click away!! Trust me, I get it. The word sends a shiver down our spines and makes the hairs on the back of our neck...

Creating a documentary can be daunting process. But if you are tenacious, each week, you’ll get closer to seeing your ideas become a reality. To continue forward, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of pre-production. Which means working out exactly who is going to be working on your masterpiece. A production team is made up from a broad range of roles. From pre production to post, it’s best to know e...

As we enter this new year, take pride in how far you’ve come along and your persistence through the pre-production process. If everything falls into place in 2023, who knows, maybe this year is finally the year you see your film on the big screen.  If you’ve been following our documentary series, you are well into your films pre-production and are ready to move forward to the next stage.  Hopefull...

Welcome back fellow filmmakers! We’ve come along way but we still have some important work to do before we enter production. So, without further ado let’s get into the nitty gritty details that are going to make your documentary happen.  The next vital step in your journey is scheduling. Yes, your read correctly: scheduling.  Now, if you have all the time in the world, unlimited resources and all...

One of the first lessons I was ever taught as an early-career filmmaker was this: never use another artist’s work without seeking the proper approvals first. This goes for everything from stock imagery, to YouTube footage, archival material, animation, art, music – even a capella renditions of famous songs!  In fact, many moons ago Mike and I were filming with a participant for one of our document...

In this episode of Moonshine Moonshot, I dig into the pre-production phase of documentary filmmaking. If you're about to start pre-production, you're pretty clear on your documentary idea and finally edging closer and closer to actually making your film. During pre production, you’ll map out the flow of your film, lock in your on screen talent, scout locations, finalise your budget, thin...

This week, I show you how to create a pitch video and sell your film to potential funders. If you’re an aspiring documentary filmmaker with an important story to share, there’s one thing you need to get straight  how to pitch your film to potential funders. Ah yes, the dreaded ‘p” word. If you’ve been keeping across the How to make a documentary series, I'm sure you knew this one was coming u...

Filmmaking is a time consuming endeavour. While it might take someone less than 90 minutes to consume and fall in love with your film, it takes you and your team countless hours, many sleepless nights and endless shots of espresso to pull it all together. From storyboarding your narrative to perfecting your script, securing talent and selecting locations and lets not to forget the actual filming a...

This episode is all about pre interviews – Mike and Sue break down what they are, how to conduct one and why they think they’re so helpful for developing your documentary film. A pre-interview is an essential step towards crafting a well-told, engaging film story.  And it’s exactly what it sounds like, it’s an interview you do with someone before you ‘officially’ interview them. They’re beneficial...

Hello listeners! This week I want to help you find the perfect title for your movie.  That's right – you’ve made it to an exciting part of the ‘How to make a documentary film’ series which is all about having fun and maximising your creativity.  Yes, you read that correctly– fun . I promise, this week there’s nothing about ‘finance’ or ‘budget’ or even ‘planning’. I won’t be chatting to you a...

Hello listeners! This week I'm sharing an overview of the 'How to develop your documentary or narrative film series' – why I made it, how it will help you and your filmmaking and what topics I'll be covering over the next several weeks (and months!).  I recognise that learning how to craft films is a challenging process.  When I was just starting out it was really hard to find...

This questions is a big one! How to stay creatively motivated as a filmmaker?  You’re no doubt hoping for a magic answer, a simple technique that would pull you thought and keep you feeling on top of it all.  Because when filmmaking gets tough, when you feel like it’s a grind and you’re getting nowhere.  It’s had to stay motivated and you need a way to get through.  There are definitely times in f...

This week, I'm running you through how to conquer Imposter Syndrome – so that it doesn’t take hold and paralyse you during the filmmaking process. This is part 3 in the Moonshine Moonshot mini series, which will help you develop your documentary and take it from an idea to a ready-for-release motion picture. If doubt sets in every time you start a new project, you don't want to miss this...

Surprise! I'm jumping into your podcast feed today with a bonus episode to help you find something we all seem to lose track of – time. How does any filmmaker or content creator find the hours they need to craft the work they want to make? Time is precious and everybody runs out of it way too quickly. So I thought it was time (pun intended) to do a short episode on helping you find more of it...

Hello fellow filmmakers and creatives! Welcome back to my mini series on the documentary development process.  I’m putting this together to help demystify what is involved in developing your documentary or narrative film idea from just an idea into a project ready to pitch for funding.  I kicked off last week with a deep dive into getting clear on your story – ie figuring out your genre, defining...

So you’ve got a brilliant idea for your next (or perhaps it’s your first) documentary. Now it’s time to get to work. But how on earth do you take a concept that exists in your mind and craft it into a living, breathing film?  Taking a project from idea to completion is no mean feat.  And if you haven’t been to film school or attached yourself to a great mentor then its a process that can be hard t...

Are you considering making a documentary? Do you already have a story in mind? When you’re deeply passionate about a topic or cause, documentary films are a fantastic way to share the story and have others discover or learn about it as well.   Once you’ve crafted your work and put it out into the world, documentaries have the power to shift hearts and minds.  I’m sure you can already imagine the b...

Hello, fellow impact filmmakers. In this epidose, I’m discussing something I know you will be interested in. And how do I know that? Because almost every conversation I have with an emerging – or even established – filmmaker leads to the same question: How do you distribute your impact film or documentary?  The thing is, there’s no one clear-cut answer that I can give. Because in 2022 there are en...

Hope-based messaging?  What is it and why is it useful for impact filmmaking and communications in general really? It’s the way I communicate for all of the projects I produce and it’s defiantly worth putting some thought to as you develop your own work. So my first hope-based message for you is that I hope you’re having a really great day, that you’re listening as you walk in the sunshine or driv...

  Ah, The Call-To-Action. Or the ‘CTA’ as those in the know refer to it. It’s quite possibly one of my favourite parts of the video-making process. Namely, because it’s where I ask my audience to get involved and be part of the story.  When I began producing impact films over a decade ago, I wasn’t familiar with using a CTA.  It wasn’t as common. Passively viewing entertainment was the absolute no...

Can screen testing help you craft a better video story? A screen test is kind of like a job interview for actors.  But if you’re making documentary or a factual project, and you don’t have actors, why would you need to do a screen test? Today I’m going to share with you why it’s still going to be a very useful tool for you in your pre production. Welcome to this weeks episode of Moonshine Moonshot...

If you’ve ever sat in a boardroom with your colleagues to “brainstorm” a new project, video or campaign, you’ll know how tedious and tiresome coming up with ideas can be. I’m not sure what it is about the word “brainstorming”. But as soon as someone mentions it – POOF. Suddenly every creative thought you’ve ever had vanishes. Your mind goes totally blank and all you can think about is what you pac...