How can you use emotional storytelling to inspire social change in documentary films?

Did Chat GPT write this? Of course the first step in starting any film, documentary or not, is to know what it is going to be about.

Though knowing your purpose and focus is important, what’s going to make or fail a documentary is its ability to make change happen. Which is why knowing what is the change the documentary wants to bring and who is it for is pivotal

I like idea of combining different genres to create your own style. That way you are not limited and can tell your story creatively without being stuck in one genre.

Humans have been telling stories for millennia. It's an integral part of who we are. By putting a human face on an otherwise abstract issue, it becomes instantly relatable to a far wider audience. The "Avatar" franchise, for example, has much to say about ecology. But in a subtle way. A simple presentation of facts would not have had nearly as much impact, nor would it have achieved such box office success.

Sometimes it’s the lack of a character arc that tells a story—like certain companies or industries that fight to retain practices that have been shown to damage the environment.

Make sure you are building genuine relationships with the participants of your film. Documentary filmmaking can have unintended negative consequences on people's lives. Enlist the help of a trauma informed practitioner or explore other community care resources if tackling certain topics.

I work for an NGO focused on providing surgery to those who would otherwise not have access; things like large benign tumors, which, untreated can become life-threatening. We have an ongoing series of short docs that serve as testimonials to the impact surgery has had on some of the patients. In one, we played with the aspect ratio of the video to further engage our audience. It opened with a super wide, cinematic ratio that mimicked anamorphic film, to grab the audience’s attention and set the tone of the film as a story with high stakes. When we finally introduced our protagonist, we dropped the aspect ratio to full 16 x 9 to reveal a large tumor on his face. It was a creative choice that brought home exactly what the story was about.

Emotion helps create a connection with people and makes a story memorable, while data adds credibility and supports the argument. Together, they create a powerful combination that can be particularly effective in persuading people to take action.

There are two enemies in storytelling: boredom and confusion. There must be enough action or character intrigue for the audience to stick with it. The audience also must be able to follow whatever is happening enough so they can engage in the suspension of disbelief. Once the broad parameters are set, the creator can start painting with a finer brush.