Three Essential Questions for Every Documentary
Crayons & Opera
Every viewer has three essential questions when they sit down to watch a documentary:
Where are we?
Who are we talking about?
What are we talking about?
Every film and filmmaker will answer these questions differently, in different order, and at different times. Crayons & Opera, a short documentary by Brett Chapman, is a great example of this.
Shots 1 and 2 of Crayons & Opera
The film opens with two wide shots: a building with a sign, and then inside the building. We also get a time stamp.
Starting this way immediately brings us into a place. There’s no talking yet, no music, just the sounds of the street and inside the building. We get to live there, absorbing the images and sound before anything else. In two shots, Brett gives us the WHERE.
Shots 3 and 4 of Crayons & Opera
The next image we get is of a man, but we don't know who he is. We just see him marching around the building giving instruction, for what we don't know. This introduces us to the first character of the film, but it does so in a way that makes us lean in. Who is this guy? Why is he marching around? Brett has created an open question, which engages us to watch more.
Directly after this shot is a line of kids marching down the road. We’re meeting the second group of characters: the children. They are in school clothes, walking in a line, and again we have open questions. Who are these kids? Where are they walking? How are they related to the man?
Even though there are open questions, Brett has given us the WHO.
Shot 5 of Crayons & Opera
Now we are introduced to the man we saw marching around. Alan Lane, artistic director. And his first words give us the WHAT: “So we’re making an opera… and today is the first time that all the 180 children… are coming together.”
All the pieces we’ve seen come together in this moment. The characters, the place, and now the goal: to create an opera that the children perform.
How a documentary starts requires choices. With each the choices Brett makes, he creates curiosity in the viewer and then answers those questions to provide clarity and a mission.
This takes patience. It takes trust in the audience. It takes distinct choices to know what you want to convey.
Tips for your Film
1. Identify the where, who, and what of your film.
It's difficult to introduce this information in a creative way if you don't know what it is! Write down what your audience needs to know, then find the images that convey those details.
2. Experiment with how you give the information
Try different options and see which one fits your film. Can you create curiosity and intrigue by withholding one area? How long can you wait before you answer the questions? What order works best for your film?
Do you need editing help for your documentary? Let’s chat.