How To Generate Ideas for Documentary Films

#filmmaking #documentary #inspiration

Where do ideas for documentaries come from, and how can you generate more of your own? That’s what I’m talking about in this video, starting with some of my favourite sources of information, how I capture them, and my super top secret method of refining them in my mind.

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CHAPTERS

0:00 - Intro
3:03 - Before anything, establish a system to record your ideas
4:37 - Ideas from other people’s stories
5:53 - Generate Ideas from Reading

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IG: @lucforsyth

[tyu]

Thanks for all the good ideas. I’m an 80 year old YouTuber and need to learn a lot fast. The sand is getting low in my lifeglass!

[homemade_vancity]

Another great and informative piece Luc. I like how you talk about where you get your best ideas. It's funny because as a new cinematographer I struggle with coming up with a cohesive plan to shoot a doc style piece, BUT while I am out and about in my day I see situations or things happening around me and it gives me ideas for scripts and I write. Sometimes the basic experiences lead to story ideas and I have dreams at night where I watch the whole movie play out in front of me. Happened a couple of years ago and I woke up and wrote a 127 page feature in 2 1/2 days. Since taking up camera work more seriously I've written several shorts that I'm working hard now to get off the ground.

Still, in the back of my mind, I would love to revisit some of the places I've been in my life. I had a thought the other day about going back to Guyanna to film life on the gold dredges in the interior ... maybe one day. Would be cool to see if any of the friends I made were still putting on the diving helmets 30+ years later.

[vrxlgmz]

Very informative, just like your other videos.

[Zakwildlife]

Love this vid, walking on the beach on evenings get me thinking real good

[barryfinnimore]

Plus you look smart reading on the bus too 😀 brilliant Luc. Great episode

[caitcooper]

Great, actionable tips! Coming up with ideas is a skill you have to exercise... a lot like a sport. Thanks for sharing :)

[WhySteve]

I always feel bad when I'm getting inspired by people's work, like I am stealing their ideas. Then I try to avoid doing anything similar to what they did, ironically ending up making like a half-assed version of what they did, lol. But going for a walk definitely helps to get the ideas flowing. I used to take a bath or shower, but I've noticed that it has turned into an "argument simulator" the last while so now I take my dog for a walk whenever I get frustrated or stuck with my work and it actually helps me get good constructive ideas.

[youngerbrotherpictures]

Awesome stuff Luc. For a minute I thought you were going to mention Walking in This World or The Artist's Way, great books about the art of creativity! Enjoying your videos immensely and watching your channel (deservedly) grow!

[zacbaillie]

Great video Luc, Very informative and relevant. thanks

[meinthai]

so many great ideas. Thanks. keep em coming!

[Sven.Stolk_]

Thanks for the tips! I’m a student on a videography school in the Netherlands and I recently started freelancing and taking video jobs. I’ve always wanted to make a nice documentary but couldn’t think about a subject. This video really helps me a lot further. I might be able to find a subject soon!
Thanks!

[brianmengini]

Loved this! This was an amazing follow up on your reply to me the other day! Thanks!!

[wildpatagoniafilms]

great post mate! I had no idea you worked with Aldo KAne! He is am awesome lad! Looking forward your next post. 🙌

[mauricioli]

Great channel, thanks Luc. 👍🏻☕🌴🌋📸🌊🏝☀️

[theherospath]

Hey Luc, great content! It's nice to see topics that aren't just following trends, but instead, delivering valuable, usable material that we can apply to our filmmaking process! Incidentally, taking a walk or any type of lightly stimulating activity is a great way to enter into creative flow states, so your idea isn't "dumb" at all, quite the contrary. Selfishly, as I prepare for an international trip to film a documentary and material for future non-profit fundraising, where can I get a comprehensive packing list? Your video on packing was invaluable but you said it was a pared down version of what you would normally bring. It's a one person shoot and I am doing a number of interviews and lots of B-roll, indoors and outdoors, in a tropical environment. I'm leaving late August. Any information you have would be great, (or maybe a follow up video) Thanks, Dale

[sixfootfilms]

Sorry, also goodnotes on an iPad mini. Used to rock various notebooks / diaries, but had to fold in the end...goodnotes with the iPad mini form factor and paper like on the screen for the pencil has changed my I love analogue; listen to my music on a Technics 1200, shot my photos on an writing, ideas and creative word play? iPad mini and Goodnotes!

[rockybproduction]

8:50 I love the king of Kong! I never met someone else that has seen it

[_GhostGarden_]

Great stuff, I'd love a video going over some of your favorite documentaries if you haven't done one yet.

[godancs]

hmmm.. Interesting take on ideas that come to you! I tried to write ideas down fast way I must say this is not for everyone. I found that by doing so you immortalize the bad ideas. If it was a cool idea it was always somewhere in my head for like a week or even more and only then Im like, yea. Lets shot it

[nauticfilms]

Great points! I agree that fast capture is essential. I found out long ago that typing or even handwriting is sometimes to much interface getting in the way. I prefer voice memos to get things out of my brain and into the system as quick as possible. Being a bit older, before smart phones existed I used to have a dedicated voice recorder in my pocket (Olympus was the brand of choice back then). One of the first apps I installed on my first iphone was a voice recorder (wasn‘t build in by Apple in the early days. ) Today, I prefer an app named „Just press record“ over the apple voice memo. Even quicker, as the name suggests.
As you point out, I would have lost so many ideas over the years without being able to quickly record them. Downside over written notes is obvious: you have to put in the time to go through them, transcript and sort them later, or your ideas will be lost just the same. I try to make it part of a weekly brain dump / review process to sift through my recordings. Trash 90% of them, and put 10% in my ideas journal.

Thanks for sharing your process, Luc.