Typically, documentaries are about people, places and things. They promote philosophies and ideas and convey scientific discoveries or natural facts. Although documentaries present truth-based information on a subject, they can also be comprised of opinion-based commentaries from notable persons and from documented research. What will make your documentary film stand out is your own passion and its influence on the subject you pick.
Reality TV has changed the way we watch television, and its distinctive style has begun to make its mark in fictional feature films, such as "Cloverfield," "Before Sunrise" and "Reality Bites." The reality style can be applied to basically every genre: Comedy, Horror, Romance, Action and Drama. The reality style is also well suited to filming skits, spoofs and daredevil stunts. But remember, when filming any stunt or action sequence, it is best to follow all safety precautions to avoid injuries.
Put your drawing or photography skills to use by animating them. With today's digital technologies, it is easier to render photographs or pen and ink sketches to video than it used to be. You don't have to be Disney or Pixar to animate your characters or ideas. Animation is a fun and entertaining way to bring your story to life.
Investigative filmmaking presupposes a question and seeks to answer it. Sometimes, the question goes unanswered and the journey of discovery becomes the movie's content. An investigative style has become a staple of paranormal and ghost hunting videos, offering viewers experiments, travel, facts, interviews and journalistic methods of reporting. The investigative style can also be applied to fictional stories, giving the traditional romantic comedy or action adventure a new and inventive twist.
A biography tells the story of someone's life by drawing attention to key figures, places and events in that person's life. Biographies can be made about historical figures, friends, loved ones, members of your local community, and people alive or dead. The events of a person's life can be approached as fiction or non-fiction. A non-fictional approach will include the use of photographs, documents and interviews with people who either knew the person or have studied the person's life. A fictional approach will require research and scriptwriting a story loosely based on the person's life that brings his essence to the screen.