Documentary Storytelling for Video and Filmmakers

by Sheila Curran Bernard

Book Overview

As the market for documentaries expands, so does the challenge to create memorable, compelling films. Story and structure are the most important (and least expensive) tools available. This guide shows how to make stronger, more compelling documentaries through improved storytelling techniques. It offers a writerly perspective to filmmakers at every stage of production, from concept and treatment to shooting and postproduction. It is intended for the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0240805399
• ISBN13: 9780240805399
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Focal Press
• Length: 297 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Clear & Concise

This book was great for me as I am very new to documentary filmmaking. It was methodical but without being boring and Ms. Bernard has a very clear and deep understanding of what makes documentaries work and not work. Her experience shows throughout and having actual documentaries as reference points was tremendously helpful. I recommend this book.

Balanced and insightful - A must read!

Bernard's professional expertise shines through in this unique book. The book is balanced, insightful, and thorough. Bernard examines a wide range of filmmakers, bringing a critical and perceptive eye to their work. A must read for anyone interested in learning more about storytelling, structure and other essential aspects of documentary filmmaking. A practical and readable guide that is also the perfect text for upper-level college courses. Highly recommended!

It's about time!

It's about time someone wrote this book acknowledging the storytelling aspect of the documentary and few could have done it better than Sheila Curran Bernard. This is a must read for any serious student or teacher of the documentary form because Ms. Bernard's book is literate, informed. complete and packed with real knowledge about this difficult work. Congratulations and let's hope for better documentarians in the future!

Hugely Helpful

This is a very well written, very practical and very useful book. It's easy to forget that making documentaries is not about the coolest new camera or the new version of FinalCut Pro. Making docs is about telling stories and that's what this book is about as well. It's simple: Read this book and you'll be a better story teller. I've always questioned the usefulness of books for teaching storytelling, but this one is so practical and straightforward that it proves that books can do the trick. It's surprisingly good - go for it!

ESSENTIAL!

Practical and inspiring, this is the best book on documentary scriptwriting I've ever seen. Bernard is a thorough and knowledgeable guide, with a warm but no-nonsense approach to her audience. A must for the reference shelf -- it's full to brimming with information ranging from the technical to the spiritual, and yet it is extremely readable, like listening to a wise friend who wishes you well. Not "textbooky" at all!