Creative Resources for Documentary Creators

Aesthetics

A Step-By-Step Guide to Shooting Documentary Interviews Read More
Watch IDA "Interview Shooting & Lighting Master Class with Adam Irving"
Watch IDA seminar where "Cinematographers Share Their Secrets"
Watch Kirsten Johnson's Master Class where she shares insights on capturing once in a lifetime moments
Watch IDA's "Docs Get Graphic Master Class with Neil Berkeley"
Watch IDA seminar on "Using Graphics to Tell Your Story"
Watch IDA seminar "Yes, But Is It Art?" on how to mobilize aesthetic choices to affect change around social and political issues
How Doc-makers Heighten Perception and Solve Problems Through Animation Read More
The Aesthetic Dos and Don'ts of Audio Documentary Read More
The Single Shot Cinema of Leonard Retel Helmrich Read More
Cinematographers Focus on Telling the Story Read More

Watch IDA seminar on "Creating Sound and Music for Docs" Part 2 focusing on Scoring Your Film - Licensing and Composing
The Important Role of the Music Supervisor Read More
Why You May Need a Music Supervisor to Keep Your Film's Soundtrack on Track Read More
Tips for Working with a Composer Read More
The How-to Guide on Production Music Libraries Read More

Archival Research 101: Looking for the Perfect Image Read More
Watch IDA seminar on "Using Archival Footage to Tell Your Story"
6 Essential Tips for Using Archival Footage Read More
How to Find-and License-Archival Footage Read More
Finding Footage in a Foreign Land Read More
Finding Footage at the National Archives Read More
Select list of US Archives Read More
The Rising Cost of Putting History on Screen Read More
Archive Verite: Editing as an Art Form Read More
The Rescue and Recovery Mission of Film Preservation Read More
How Makers of Profile Documentaries Shape Their Subject from Archival Footage Read More
Experimental Filmmakers Widen the Parameters of the Archive Read More Read More

Writing

Center for Media & Social Impact report "Honest Truths: Documentary Filmmakers on Ethical Challenges in Their Work" Read More
What to Do About Documentary Distortion? Toward a Code of Ethics Read More
Five Doc-Makers on (Avoiding) Extractive Filmmaking Read More
Ethics in Environmental and Wildlife Filmmaking Read More
Who Is Telling Whose Story, To Whom, and Why? Read More