I’ve loved nature ever since I can remember. I watched so many nature documentaries, it’s ridiculous. It’s only now at the age of 23 that I finally see that I want to do something that makes me happy and fulfilled. I hope that I can one day make nature documentaries and spend my days sharing the beauty and wonder of the world with others. I’ve only just started learning on my own but I will keep your tips and knowledge in mind as I practice. Thank you for the video!
You are so welcome! Keep at it! The biggest thing to keep in mind, is to just get out and do it! Don't let the feeling of "I dont know much about it" keep you from starting. We all start somewhere so just get out there and start filming, even if it's an iPhone!
Hey. This is super helpful. It's my plan to do a documentary on Behr's Hairstreak butterfly this year. I am struggling with where to start! Thanks for the assistance.
Of course! I'm glad you've found this helpful! If you're struggling from a story perspective, consider the biology and natural history of the species, what are the stages of its life? Or maybe there are specific environmental challenges it has to face and overcome etc. Things to consider: will it be only natural footage or will it also include scientists/entomologist etc? Keep me posted how it comes along!
@@FilmingTheWild Will do! I'm hoping to have a few local conservation biologists do some interviews. It's an endangered species, so I want to focus on mortality rate, and risks. Its my first film ever so I'm going to shoot for 15 minutes.
Hi there, kind greetings. I am currently writing a script that has students filming wild life in my script. But I would like to know if your documentary is supposedly on 1 location or you can have multiple locations on 1 documentary. I will so grateful for your helpful reply. Thank U.
If you are writing a script, you can make it however you want to tell your story. A lot of wildlife films will use multiple different locations and different animals of the same species to stitch together one sequence for their story. This is actually common practice. If you can get the story from one location, that's the best way of course, but if you need to film behavior from one location, and different behavior from another location, it's important to make sure the locations look similar to each other. I've seen some films where this isn't done well and green grass contrasts with dead grass or dirt and you can tell it's different.
Excellent tips and useful information on producing Nature Documentary.Thanks for sharing. I am working on documentary in India since I am from there but settled in Chicago.Is it true that we need to create a small promo.or teaser/ trailer before we market and sell the actual find to attach the top distributors ?.Thanks and all the best.Yash.
Thanks for the wonderful question Yash! A promo/teaser is definitely very helpful to show the quality and vision of the film if it isn't completed yet, especially if it captures the essence of the story. Showing them you have a good story and are capable of telling the story is a great way to increase your chances of getting your film sold. Something I didn't cover, but that also is equally important is a written treatment that captures the story in written form. They often will ask for both a treatment and a teaser/promo if you don't have it finished. :)
Script writing is certainly not one of my more favorite things, but it definitely helps in terms of knowing what to look for when you shoot, following having spent time on a script etc.
Thank you! I am working on putting a few other series like this out there, only a bit more focused and a bit shorter as well so people can dive through them as they choose. :)
I’ve loved nature ever since I can remember. I watched so many nature documentaries, it’s ridiculous. It’s only now at the age of 23 that I finally see that I want to do something that makes me happy and fulfilled. I hope that I can one day make nature documentaries and spend my days sharing the beauty and wonder of the world with others. I’ve only just started learning on my own but I will keep your tips and knowledge in mind as I practice. Thank you for the video!
You are so welcome! Keep at it! The biggest thing to keep in mind, is to just get out and do it! Don't let the feeling of "I dont know much about it" keep you from starting. We all start somewhere so just get out there and start filming, even if it's an iPhone!
What a great informative video! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful and that you enjoyed it!
Wildlife documentaries such a mind therapy
Thank you!
Could you please make a video on how to write a script for a wildlife documentary!?
That is a great idea, I'll add this to my list of videos to make! Thanks Naman!
Hey. This is super helpful. It's my plan to do a documentary on Behr's Hairstreak butterfly this year. I am struggling with where to start! Thanks for the assistance.
Of course! I'm glad you've found this helpful! If you're struggling from a story perspective, consider the biology and natural history of the species, what are the stages of its life? Or maybe there are specific environmental challenges it has to face and overcome etc. Things to consider: will it be only natural footage or will it also include scientists/entomologist etc? Keep me posted how it comes along!
@@FilmingTheWild Will do! I'm hoping to have a few local conservation biologists do some interviews. It's an endangered species, so I want to focus on mortality rate, and risks. Its my first film ever so I'm going to shoot for 15 minutes.
Your welcome to uganda 🇺🇬
Make it a point to pay a vist and document the great wildstories around
Someday I plan to travel there and definitely will do so!
Hi there, kind greetings. I am currently writing a script that has students filming wild life in my script. But I would like to know if your documentary is supposedly on 1 location or you can have multiple locations on 1 documentary. I will so grateful for your helpful reply. Thank U.
If you are writing a script, you can make it however you want to tell your story. A lot of wildlife films will use multiple different locations and different animals of the same species to stitch together one sequence for their story. This is actually common practice. If you can get the story from one location, that's the best way of course, but if you need to film behavior from one location, and different behavior from another location, it's important to make sure the locations look similar to each other. I've seen some films where this isn't done well and green grass contrasts with dead grass or dirt and you can tell it's different.
@@FilmingTheWild Thank you so much. Will remember the advice!
Excellent tips and useful information on producing Nature Documentary.Thanks for sharing.
I am working on documentary in India since I am from there but settled in Chicago.Is it true that we need to create a small promo.or teaser/ trailer before we market and sell the actual find to attach the top distributors ?.Thanks and all the best.Yash.
Thanks for the wonderful question Yash! A promo/teaser is definitely very helpful to show the quality and vision of the film if it isn't completed yet, especially if it captures the essence of the story. Showing them you have a good story and are capable of telling the story is a great way to increase your chances of getting your film sold. Something I didn't cover, but that also is equally important is a written treatment that captures the story in written form. They often will ask for both a treatment and a teaser/promo if you don't have it finished. :)
Thanks man. I love taking my camera out for wildlife vids, I just hate script writing.
Script writing is certainly not one of my more favorite things, but it definitely helps in terms of knowing what to look for when you shoot, following having spent time on a script etc.
Lovely & Informative - great tips on getting started will surely put into practice
I'm glad you found them helpful! Thanks for the comment, I've a few more like this planned too!
I love the tips they are really great 👍
Thank you! I'm glad they have helped!
Really great presentation Alan, well done! 👍
Thank you! I am working on putting a few other series like this out there, only a bit more focused and a bit shorter as well so people can dive through them as they choose. :)
@@FilmingTheWild Sounds great!
Merci beaucoup. This is very helpful. 👍🏽
You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it has helped you!
I creating a wildlife documentary channel 😢
Congrats!
Thank you so so much for this. Was so very insightful. Is there any chance you could help us with what a template of a shot list would look like?
Thank you for your feedback, that's a great suggestion. I'll put that in the queue for a video soon!
What kind of questions do you have about what it takes to make a wildlife documentary?
I’m making a Minecraft lion documentary and using this kind of will help make it look like a real documentary but it’s in Minecraft
I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
You have a lot experience that helped me
Annoying that you keep repeating and drinking during filming. Needs improvement ☹️
Thanks for the tip, I always take advice from people who pirate wildlife clips from shows on their tv and then upload them to UA-cam for views.
Great info but please stop drinking your coffee...we don’t need to see that...it is annoying and distracting.
Thanks Ron! I Appreciate the feedback!