Episode #4 of The Art of Documentary Storytelling is here! Listen in on an actual story consultation I did with film director Shannon Cohn.
Episode #4 Verite Story Structure – “Below the Belt”
“Below the Belt” is a well-directed, verite-style documentary. It follows four women seeking treatment for endometriosis, a painful chronic condition. Executive produced by Hillary Clinton, the film was discussed on “The View”.
Episode 4 Takeaways:
- Three ways to mitigate “viewer fatigue”
- How to cull information overload
- Bring clarity to confusing sections
- Use title cards to set the stakes – What’s to win? What’s to lose?
- Importance of solution-oriented endings
“Ideally the film’s intro gives viewers a birds-eye glimpse of the journey they’re about to take.”