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Documentary Filmmaking

Documentary filmmaking requires collecting hours of film footage before the real writing begins in the editing room. Learn from the pros with our interviews of documentarians! 

STILL 3 Kelsey Peterson Co-Director MOVE ME Photo by Noah Forbes Courtesy of Submerged Film LLC
Screenwriter Interviews

Adaptive Documentary Filmmaking with 'Move Me' Filmmaker Kelsey Peterson

By Sadie DeanApr 6, 2022
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Documentary Filmmaking

Writing Effective, Unbiased Narration for Documentaries

By Paula HendricksonJul 1, 2021
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Documentary Filmmaking

Defining History 'No Ordinary Life' Interview With Documentary Filmmaker Heather O’Neill

By Susan KouguellJun 25, 2021
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Screenwriter Interviews

The Making of an Icon 'Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story'

By Susan KouguellJun 23, 2021
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Documentary Filmmaking

Documentaries Use Scripts, Too

By Paula HendricksonApr 21, 2021
3. Still Acasa, my Home (c) Manifest Film-600
Documentary Filmmaking

INTERVIEW: "Acasa, My Home" Documentary Filmmaker Radu Ciorniciuc

By Susan KouguellJan 29, 2021
"Donut King" Documentary Filmmaker Alice Gu
Documentary Filmmaking

INTERVIEW: "Donut King" Documentary Filmmaker Alice Gu

By Susan KouguellNov 3, 2020
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Documentary Filmmaking

INTERVIEW: Academy Award-Nominated Producer Rosalie Varda Discusses Her Documentary Film, "Varda by Agnès," Collaborating with Her Mother and Preserving Agnès Varda’s Legacy

By Susan KouguellNov 19, 2019
Michael Apted
Documentary Filmmaking

INTERVIEW: 63 UP Director Michael Apted

By Susan KouguellOct 17, 2019
Tania Cypriano and cinematographer Jeffrey Johnson
Screenwriter Interviews

INTERVIEW: Born to Be Documentary Director Tânia Cypriano

By Susan KouguellOct 2, 2019
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Screenwriter Blogs

Filmmaker Rodney Evans Discusses His New Documentary Vision Portraits

By Susan KouguellAug 6, 2019
Susan Kouguell speaks with filmmaker Sam Green about his new project "A Thousand Thoughts." Green performs a live narration on stage throughout the 85-minute piece alongside the Kronos Quartet.
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Speaks with Filmmaker Sam Green About His Live Documentary A Thousand Thoughts

By Susan KouguellDec 11, 2018
Director Margarethe von Trotta
Screenwriter Blogs

INTERVIEW: Searching for Ingmar Bergman Director Margarethe von Trotta

By Susan KouguellNov 6, 2018
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Screenwriter Blogs

INTERVIEW: Director of Monrovia, Indiana, Frederick Wiseman

By Susan KouguellOct 31, 2018
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

Producing Documentaries: A Conversation with Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Barbara Multer-Wellin

By Rona EdwardsOct 12, 2018
Film critic, filmmaker, and radio host Mike Sargent interviews award-winning writer Trey Ellis on his life-changing experiences of making the Martin Luther King HBO documentary, King in the Wilderness.
Screenwriting How-To Articles

INTERVIEW: Trey Ellis Shares Personal Insights Behind the HBO Martin Luther King Documentary, King in the Wilderness

By Mike SargentApr 6, 2018
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Screenwriter Interviews

Steve McQueen: American Icon... and Then Some

By Dan GoforthFeb 6, 2018
When a Harvard PhD student is suddenly stricken with a complicated illness, she turns to filmmaking to find answers. Jennifer Brea and Lindsey Dryden discuss the making of the award-winning Unrest documentary.
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Speaks with Unrest Documentary Director Jennifer Brea and Producer Lindsey Dryden

By Susan KouguellNov 30, 2017
Documentary filmmaker Joe Berlinger has never shied away from taking on controversial subjects. Berlinger’s new film Intent to Destroy is no exception.
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Speaks to Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Joe Berlinger About Intent to Destroy

By Susan KouguellNov 7, 2017
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

A Conversation with Actress Vanessa Redgrave on Her Debut Documentary Sea Sorrow at the New York Film Festival

By Susan KouguellOct 16, 2017
Courtesy of Cohen Media Group
Screenwriting How-To Articles

A Conversation with Faces Places Documentary Filmmakers Agnès Varda and JR at the New York Film Festival

By Susan KouguellOct 12, 2017
Susan Kouguell Talks with Motherland Documentary Filmmaker Ramona Diaz
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Talks with Motherland Documentary Filmmaker Ramona Diaz

By Susan KouguellSep 19, 2017
Big Sonia Film Awards
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Behind the Scenes of BIG SONIA: A Small Story Writ Large in Film

By Cheryl LaughlinJun 16, 2017
President Ronald Reagan signs the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, Rancho del Cielo, CA, 1981. Photo credit: Karl Schumacher. Photo courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. (Gravitas Ventures & CNN Films)
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Interviews 'The Reagan Show' Filmmaker Pacho Velez

By Susan KouguellJun 12, 2017
Susan Kouguell Interviews ‘No Man’s Land’ Director David Garrett Byars at the Tribeca Film FestivalDavid_Byars_HeadShot
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Interviews ‘No Man’s Land’ Director David Garrett Byars at the Tribeca Film Festival

By Susan KouguellMay 2, 2017
French Director Agnes Varda. Photo by Julien Hekimian/Getty Images
Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Speaks with Filmmaker Agnès Varda

By Susan KouguellApr 14, 2017
Susan Kouguell Interviews Director Jenny Gage about her Documentary ‘All This Panic’ | Script Magazine #scriptchat #screenwriting
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Susan Kouguell Interviews Director Jenny Gage on Documentary ‘All This Panic’

By Susan KouguellApr 4, 2017
Director Tyler Hubby
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Susan Kouguell Interviews Director Tyler Hubby about his Documentary 'Tony Conrad: Completely in the Present'

By Susan KouguellMar 30, 2017
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Screenwriter Blogs

Award-Winning Writer and Director Rosemary Rodriguez talks about her film 'Silver Skies' with Susan Kouguell

By Susan KouguellMar 28, 2017
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Screenwriter Blogs

Susan Kouguell Talks to Brian David Cange, Producer of "Take My Nose... Please!"

By Susan KouguellMar 17, 2017
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How to Sell a Script and Build a Screenwriting Career

SELLING YOUR SCREENPLAY: Documentary 'A Way to Forgiveness' Writer/Director/Producer Erin R. Dooley

By Ashley Scott MeyersFeb 13, 2017
Academy Award®-Nominated Documentary Filmmaker, Carl Deal, Talks 'Citizen Koch' & 'Michael Moore in TrumpLand' by Susan Kouguell | Script Magazine #scriptchat #screenwriting
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Academy Award®-Nominated Documentary Filmmaker, Carl Deal, Talks 'Citizen Koch' & 'Michael Moore in TrumpLand'

By Susan KouguellNov 8, 2016
juvenile-delinquents
Creating Characters

SHORT CIRCUIT: Documentary - Use Your Voice!

By Dan GoforthOct 13, 2016
Inspiring Storytelling and Insights from the Filmmakers at the Tribeca Film Festival's Documentary Shorts: 'New York Then' Program by Susan Kouguell #scriptchat #screenwriting
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Inspiring Storytelling and Insights from the Filmmakers at the Tribeca Film Festival's Documentary Shorts: 'New York Then' Program

By Susan KouguellMay 30, 2016
A Conversation with Sheila Nevins President HBO Documentary Films by Susan Kouguell | Script Magazine #screenwriting
Screenwriting How-To Articles

A Conversation with Sheila Nevins President HBO Documentary Films

By Susan KouguellMar 1, 2016
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Screenwriter Blogs

One-on-One @ The Writers Store: Q&A with Sadie Dean on Documentary Filmmaking

By The Writers StoreOct 13, 2015
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

Tips for Writing the Music Documentary Film

By Susan KouguellJul 16, 2015
Documentary Films
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Reenactments in Documentary Films: Is There an Authentic Truth in Documentary?

By Susan KouguellApr 17, 2015
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Screenwriter Blogs

Writing the Documentary

By Susan KouguellNov 18, 2014
Agnes Varda Writing a Documentary
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Writing a Documentary Film With No Rules

By Susan KouguellAug 19, 2014
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Screenwriting How-To Articles

Susan Kouguell Interviews: Academy Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Allie Light

By Susan KouguellFeb 26, 2014
nominations for documentary
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Going for the Oscar Gold: 2014 Nominations for Documentary Feature

By Script MagazineFeb 14, 2014
WritingDocumentaries
Identifying Theme, Premise, Plot of Your Story

Legally Speaking, It Depends – Writing Documentaries

By Christopher SchillerJan 7, 2014
'Vito' editor Philip Harrison (left) and producer-director Jeffrey Schwarz - Photo by Peter Hanson
Screenwriting How-To Articles

An Army of Lovers: Inside the Inspirational Documentary 'Vito'

By Peter HansonAug 2, 2012
Documentary Filmmaker Kevin Knoblock
Screenwriting How-To Articles

Writers on Writing: Documentary Filmmaker Kevin Knoblock

By Kevin KnoblockAug 3, 2011