A Mini Documentary...
is a non-fictional film that highlights real-life events, mainly for educational and historical record purposes. It features a visual storytelling with a non-fiction subject that is presented in a factual and informative manner and is often accompanied by narration.
The length of a mini documentary might be anywhere from 2-25 minutes. A mini-documentary might also be referred to as a micro-doc or mini-doc.
Getting Started
Elements of Digital Storytelling
Award-winning short film
Sample Mini Documentary
Top Tips for Presenters
Tips and tricks for the newbies:
How to make a mini-documentary in 8 steps:
Define your message in planning + pre-production: Start off by deciding the purpose and goal of your mini-documentary.
Anticipate everything in scripting, mood boarding, and storyboarding: This step is all about developing your narrative. Scripts are still essential to making sure your key message is delivered the right way.
Select the right people when casting: Choosing the right cast directly affects the success of your documentary, as these are the people that viewers need to relate to and empathize with.
Gather proper video equipment to get the best results: The camera doesn’t make the movie, the filmmaker does. That being said, using and sourcing the proper equipment is still very important.
Scout the perfect location: Take the time to find the right location(s) for all your shots. This includes leaving enough time to ensure you're allowed to film at specific premises.
Film, then film some more: Once filming starts, aim to capture as many different kinds of shots as possible.
Jazz it up in post-production: Save time by bringing your storyboard back into play here. Follow it as a guide when editing your footage to set the order of your scenes. Don’t forget to add transitions between the different scenes to make the pacing more fluid and natural.