How to Create Your Documentary Film Then Sell it to Netflix

Finding your drive and passion is a very important step to making this a project that you can sustain for as long as it takes to get it done, which could potentially be a while, especially if you're doing around other commitments in your life such as work and socialising.

This is SO important. Finding the right team is one of the most vital aspects to making your project a success. Are they willing to go the distance with you? Are you willing to let go of control a little bit and let them feel like their input is important? Important questions to ask.

Staying sane and having good work boundaries around this project are a very important part of not burning out...and we don't want you to burn out.

The all important question - How are shows sold? We cover the basics here and we will go over this whole area in more depth in the 'selling' section of the course.

Let's Go! Your project begins!

This is a great time in history when inspiration is all around us and very easy to access. Whether it's a Pintrest board or a playlist on YouTube, start some folders and start putting stuff that you're digging in there.

Understanding how much money you might need for your project can be tricky, but in this video I'll start giving you ideas about how to start getting an insight into the kind of cash you're going to need to aim for. We will also discuss this more in 'Other Expenses'.

The all important equipment. Let's dive in. And as far as cameras go - this can be a bottomless rabbit hole. These days I think the Sony FX6 and the Canon C70 are amazing cameras for making documentaries, but for some people they can be on the pricier side. Sony and Canon both do amazing professional handicam cameras similar to the XF100 that we used. Also the Sony A7 series cameras are amazing, and don't think that you have to get the latest one. I was using the Sony A7r2 up until very recently on many professional documentaries, and they have a great XLR converter that plugs into the hotshoe and gives you XLR inputs for your audio.

Just remember, if it's a little confusing just send a message or start a discussion on the course page or hit me up on instagram, as I'm more than happy to help.

Ok, a little more money talk to get you tuned in to the cash you're gonna need to get this bad boy done.

Don't skip out on these kinda areas. They can seem pretty boring and menial, especially to the creative types, but neglecting these can come back to bite you in the ass later down the line.

Release forms are so important. They cover you legally. You don't want to film someone, put your project out there, and then that person claims that you weren't supposed to film them. And that goes for using locations and intellectual property too.

In this day and age your online presence is always worth some thought, as it can help legitimise what you're doing in the eyes of others, especially distributors or broadcasters that might be scoping you out later down the line when you're trying to sell them your content. Also, if approached right, it can be fun.

Things will always play out differently once you hit the ground, but it's always good to put in the time to plan out your stories so you know what kind of angle you're aiming for.

If you're making a documentary then chances are it's going to involve people and places, both of which are good to try and line up in advance. It really helps to scope people out in advance, as they might not be as great of a character as you hoped when you talk to them in person, so it's good to know that ahead of time. It's also good for building up rapport with people, which helps them to feel more comfortable when it comes time to film them.

Looking forward to seeing you in the next section.

Hey guys here is the link to two crowdfunding campaigns that mates of mine have run in the past so you can get a vibe of what works.

https://www.pozible.com/project/miss-unicorn-launches

https://www.pozible.com/project/11143/supporters

Crowdfunding can be a great way to get some cash to kickstart your project, or to just help out with some of the costs.

This is my friend Gen's video who ran a successful campaign, just to get some ideas for your own. I think it's always important for the person running the campaign to appear on camera.

Ok y'all, let's get going on a very important part of your project - the Production stage.

Making sure you're familiar with your camera is a very important thing to do ahead of time. Even getting familiar with the menu setup is pretty handy. The amount of times I've been caught out in the middle of a shoot trying to figure out how to change some setting, can't even count.

Setting up your own workflow. It's something that you'll need to customise to what works for you, but I'll give you some tips from our own workflow to get the juices flowing.

In the era of reality TV, people will abide by bad video, but they will not abide by bad sound.

Lighting is often limited to what's available when you're out on a documentary shoot but here's some easy tips.

What to film? - that's a HUGE question. And with digital film it's even easier to have a huge amount of video but very little quality content. So let's start dialling it in a little bit.

This is an example segment from our documentary series to give you an example of how we filmed some of our segments.

Yes - It can certainly be weird!

Being a good filmmaker is essentially being a good Storyteller, so it's good to get familiar with this art form.

Interviewing people is one of the key ways to get information across in a documentary, so it's a vital skill to nail.

A raw, unedited interview from our show to give you an idea of how we conducted some of the interview.

Some pointers on different interview methods to try and keep your interviews diverse and interesting.

Let's lift your directing game.

Just keep snapping! You'll thank yourself later down the line.

Not all of us love it, but it can't be denied that it's an important part of the modern landscape.

Conflict is going to come up, and navigating it well is like a superpower when doing a project like this.

Often under appreciated but HUGELY important.

See you in the next section. I hope the creative juices are starting to flow.

Selling is generally a very mysterious part of the process. When we started our filming our own documentary series I had no idea how we were going to get it on-air or on a streaming service. So lucky for you we bungled our way through and figured it out by doing, so that I can share it all with you now.

Yep, it's an unfortunate part of the process.

Not as hard as it sounds. Just make sure you talk to an accountant and he words you up on what you gotta do if you go down this road.

Let's go over this again because you've probably forgotten after all the information I've been throwing at you.

Not a road we went down but it can be hugely beneficial to go down the Film Festival route.

Alright lets cover the things you'll actually need to start selling your project, and then later we'll cover who you actually take this stuff to.

Here's a look at our pilot episode so you get a feel for what we went to potential buyers with.

Alright, who do you hit up and how do you hit them up?

I'm going to take you through our selling process so you understand what that process can look like. Your journey will be different but at least it gives you an idea of how this can go.

The age old saying is very true.

This will be an important piece of paper when you make the sale, so don't neglect it. Take this moment seriously or it can come back to bite you later. Once you sign on the dotted line you've made a legal agreement.

Bit of a heads up on what to expect from the broadcasters once you get involved with them. This can vary depending on the type of deal you're signing.

Distribution is a massive part of getting your show out there to multiple broadcasters and streaming sites. So choose your distributer wisely.

This is an area that you shouldn't stress too much about but should give a bit of thought to.

Ok so hopefully you've got a better feel for the selling process. I'll see you over in Post Production Part 1.

Alright let's start putting your project together so that those hungry eyes out there can see it.

Let's discuss what you're going to need to start the post production process.

Let's discuss what else you're going to need to start the post production process.

Let's discuss what else you're going to need to start the post production process.

Let's discuss what else you're going to need to start the post production process.

Alright let's start figuring out the structure of this film or series.

It's good to get into good habits when you start setting up your edit, otherwise it's going to get real messy real quick.

I hate this stage because I find it really boring but it's really important to do this well. It will pay dividends in the long run.

Very important to keep your audio tracks orderly. Again, it'll help you later down the line.

Censorship is something that you'll need to consider - as in what rating are you aiming for with your content, and what are the guidelines around this.

Ok it's time to start putting your documentary together in the edit. I use premiere pro, but most editing softwares follow a similar setup with the timeline structure.

Voice-over (or narration) can be very important for driving your story. Contrary to popular opinion, you can record voice-over without needing big bucks for a recording studio. I'll show you our method for achieving this.

As you've become very close to the whole project, it's very important to get people you respect to give it a look over and provide some valuable feedback.

It's really helpful for your viewers to spell out who your on-screen characters are, and putting this text on screen is very easy to do. Let's walk through it.

Putting some basic graphics (GFX) on your film can really help to elevate the perception of your professionalism, and it can be achieved quite simply.

While many people watching the show won't care so much about the credits, this is a very important step for the people who were involved in the show, and can mean a lot to them. It's also a very basic way to say thank you to those who worked hard on, and contributed to your show.

The audio mix is SO important, don't even think of trying to skip out on this step. Most contracts you sign will specify the audio deliverables that need to be met, and if you're like me (a video guy) these can be hard to understand. It's very important to get a proper audio person involved so that you meet your audio deliverables properly - and also so that your film sounds great.

Not my strong point by any means, but this can be a whole rabbit hole for you to go down. Just know that if it's also not your strong point it's not going to be a deal breaker.

Wow you made it, the final export. This will be a huge moment in your journey!

If you haven't sold the show yet, then your criteria for exporting the audio and video are going to be a little more relaxed as you don't have any particular specifications that you need to meet just yet.

Here's an excerpt from one of our episodes. It's a piece we shot about an LA tattoo parlour called the Shamrock Social Club. It'll give you an idea of how we edited it all together, including graphics, voice over, and all that jazz that I've been going on about.

Wow, it's getting real now, we've almost reached the end. Just a few little bits to go. See you in the next section.

Sometimes when you sign a contract with a broadcaster, you might need to deliver a few other bits and pieces aside from the actual finished video. In this section we're gonna walk through what a few of those might look like.

Music cue sheets are basically a record of what music you have used in your show, where you have used it and for how long. I have included some downloadable cue sheets so you have these incase you need them

I hate post scripts and hopefully you don't have to do them, but if you do then at least you won't be floundering around in the dark because we're gonna go through them here.

Keep taking those photos while you're making your film, aside from just the great memories they can come in handy.

Putting some effort into marketing your show will go a long way to get more eyeballs on the project that you've worked so hard on making. And getting more eyeballs on it can lead to other opportunities. It did for us.

Holy Wowzers! We did it. I'm so proud of you for going on this journey with me. Remember that if anything is unclear feel free to ask a question and I'll help you out to the best of my abilities. Wishing you luck on getting your project out there. You Rock!