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Documentary filmmaking guides

Free, practical guides on finding your story, filming it and editing it, for people making a film on their own.

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Our most-read guides

A filmmaker with a camera at sunset

Getting startedHow to Make a DocumentaryThe whole process in 12 steps, from your idea to sharing the finished film.

Writing a documentary script

StoryHow to Write a Documentary ScriptA/V scripts, paper edits and narration, with free templates.

Watching a documentary on a streaming service

DistributionHow to Get Your Documentary on NetflixHow the pitch works, what Netflix pays and the package you need.

A documentary treatment on screen

PlanningHow to Write a Documentary TreatmentPlan your story with real examples and a free template.

Planning a documentary in three acts

StoryHow to Structure a DocumentaryThe three-act structure and the six plot points inside it.

Finding a documentary idea

Getting startedHow to Find a Documentary IdeaA five-step way to find an idea worth making, with 50 examples.

All guides

How to film a cinematic documentary using natural light

Natural Light for Documentary Film: Tips From a Pro

How to make a documentary film

How to Make a Documentary: A 12-Step Beginner's Guide

How to fund your documentary, 8 practical funding strategies for filmmakers

How to Fund a Documentary: 8 Proven Strategies

Person filming a documentary on a smartphone outdoors

How to Film a Documentary on Your Phone: A Beginner’s Guide

Solo documentary filmmaker keeping subject in focus on set

Keep Your Subject in Focus When Filming Alone (6 Tips)

How to write a documentary treatment that gets funded

How to Write a Documentary Treatment That Gets Funded [2026]

Solo documentary filmmaker shooting on location with a camera

Solo Documentary Filmmaking: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sebastian Solberg filming with a camera in the field

Documentary Camera Angles: Shot Types for Filmmakers

Camera movement in documentaries, filmmaker Sebastian Solberg on location

Camera Movement in Documentaries: 5 Techniques That Work

Cinematic Camera Settings Checklist

Cinematic Camera Settings: A Checklist for Filmmakers

How to edit a documentary, filmmaker at editing workstation

How to Edit a Documentary: 6-Step Workflow

Sebastian filming with drone

8 Cinematic Drone Moves for Better Footage

How To Create a Documentary Budget

How to Create a Documentary Budget: A Guide for Filmmakers

How to write a documentary script, step-by-step guide with free templates

How to Write a Documentary Script: The Complete Guide (With Free Templates)

Documentary filmmaker in the field

How to Become a Documentary Filmmaker: Complete Guide

Filmmaker struggling with failure and self-doubt

Filmmakers and Failure: 6 Lessons That Kept Me Going

Documentary screening at a film festival

How to Get Your Documentary Into Film Festivals (5 Tips)

Audience watching a documentary at a cinema screening

How to Get Your Documentary Distributed: Complete Guide

Character-driven vs topic-driven documentary storytelling approaches

Character vs. Topic: The Art of Documentary Storytelling

Documentary filmmaker editing a sizzle reel on a computer, how to make a documentary sizzle reel

How to Make a Documentary Sizzle Reel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Must-watch documentaries for aspiring filmmakers

10 Must-Watch Documentaries for Aspiring Filmmakers

Sebastian Solberg using a documentary camera on location

Best Documentary Cameras 2026: Buying Guide for Filmmakers

Underwater camera housing held by diver filming a documentary on location

Documentary Filmmaking Challenges (+ How to Fix Them)

Filmmaker using rules of composition to frame a documentary shot

5 Rules of Composition in Film (For Filmmakers)

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10 Secrets to Creating Cinematic Documentaries

A free 42-minute training on finding your story, filming it well and starting your edit, with the camera or phone you already have.

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