Filmmaking 101: Finding your story
- Carman Chew
- Sep 3, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2022
How to tell a great story, not just a good one
To adapt the wise words of Chef Gusteau from Ratatouille: not everyone can tell a great story, but a great story can come from anywhere. I believe that with the right angle, one can find meaning and purpose in any story, so here is how to find the right spin for it.
This will be the first post of (at least) three for filmmakers out there getting started with their first project, or for veterans who simply need a refresh.
In this post we'll be covering the following:
Where to find your story?
#1. Start at home or in your community
The first videos I ever made were home videos where my cousins and I were experimenting with the Macbook's crazy iMovie effects. My first documentary was inspired by a class discussion on migration, and you guessed it, my family members were my main interviewees.
So don't be afraid to dig into stories close to home as a start.
Of course, while these are often good launching pads, it would be even better if you could use these personal stories and link them to a universal theme instead.
For example, what might be a personal loss can be reframed into a more general discussion about gentrification.
Unfortunately, no one cares about private troubles, but when you present it in a way that is a public issue, that's when it will grab eyeballs.
#2. Read (the news) and experience new things
This tip was inspired by a Tan Pin Pin sharing where she talked about how she has a stash of newspaper clippings, whether it's something odd that happened or a particular vibe.
Other things you could consider saving are descriptions from exhibitions, quotes from books, poetry, or even photos of places that you love so you'll remember to go back.
#3. Watch more films
Back to the food analogy, great cooks learn from great food. In the same way, watch more films to develop a sense of taste and get inspired by innovative storytelling techniques along the way. It's a great way to learn more about the world too!
Specific to documentaries, please PLEASE move beyond Netflix and Nat Geo. There are great docs there of course but they're mostly very bland.
Below are some of the sites that I frequent and recommend (not sponsored):
Free options | Paid options |
MUBI (mostly arthouse docs) | |
GuideDoc (lots of indie films here) | |
Curiosity Stream (science docs) | |
iwonder (great social commentary docs) | |
Hulu (great bio and crime docs) |
#4. Stay curious!
Last but not least, stay curious and open to new things around you!
You may never know if you'd meet an interesting person at an event or learn of a cafe owner's interesting background. I've personally heard many stories from Grab drivers who definitely have tea to spill.
Your next big story is definitely out there.
With all these stories you've gathered, the next big step is to filter them down or find an angle on them. Cheese can go in any dish, but some work better for certain dishes.
Up next is how to differentiate great stories from good ones.
7 elements of a great story
Many of these are rather self-explanatory, so I'll just run through them briefly.
#1. Impact/magnitude
Much like an earthquake, does this issue affect many people? Again, think back to how this personal trouble can be presented as a public issue.
#2. Proximity
Is this issue something close to home?
#3. Timeliness
Is this something that happened just recently or something that happened years ago? If it happened years ago, why are we telling this story now? Is it to see some sort of progression across a 10 or 100-year journey? Has it found some new relevance today?
#4. Conflict
What are the various viewpoints in this conversation? Things can get stale pretty fast if everyone is just thinking the same thing. Sometimes the conflict isn't by an onscreen character; it can be something larger like corporate capitalism perhaps.
#5. Human interest
Was this a very heartwarming, personal journey for your interview subject? Do they have a special talent or achievement under their belt? Does it tell the story of the human condition?
#6. Novelty/oddity
In line with the last point, is this the first time the feat has been achieved? Or is it just something very out of the ordinary? Even if it's a familiar subject, how can it be presented from a different perspective?
#7. Prominence
Does it involve a famous celebrity, politician or icon? Many documentaries use star power and their associations to help draw eyeballs, bring in new audiences, and set or subvert expectations of a show. Think David Attenborough vs Jeff Goldblum, for example.
4 additional elements for productions
While the above can apply to any story, whether it's for journalism or marketing or just something you want to share at the dinner table, documentary/film production has some more specific considerations, conveniently remembered with the acronym ABBA.
#1. Access
You might find the perfect setting but do you have the proper documentation to allow you to film there? If you're filming a crime doc, do you have the rights to film in court or the interviewees? If you're filming a free climbing doc, can you even climb?
#2. Budget
Money also comes into consideration when you think about the activity and the people you'll be filming. Who doesn't want Jeff Goldblum in their documentary? But can you afford him?Back to the free climbing documentary, for example, besides being able to climb, you might need special equipment and money to fly to the location etc.
#3. Brand
Does this video idea align with your brand?
For instance, would your American free climber work for a doc for China Daily? Is your doc about philosophical trees exciting enough for Red Bull?
#4. Audience
Similar to your brand, is this content relevant to your audience? Who is your target demographic? Would your car fans be excited by something like animals in Africa?
With that, I hope this post has helped you get a better idea of where you can find your story and what kind of stories you're looking for. If you found it helpful, please feel free to share this resource and stay tuned for part 2: funding your story.
This series is adapted from a talk presented on behalf of NUS CNM for Mayflower secondary school on 31 Aug 2022.
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