What are the key steps to writing a documentary or biopic script?

When writing a biopic, it is critical that you're doing more than just taking a character from A-Z. You have to have something to say. What about that person's journey echoes through time and applies to today? Why is it necessary to tell this person's story and why now? As with any story, the audience needs to see him or herself in that character... so ask yourself what is inherently human about him/her? Next and more critically, you need to research. Research, research and research. Leave no stone unturned. Often, in early drafts, I will stay very close to the historical timeline of events, but as the drafts evolve, you have to develop a sense of what to cut, when to compress time/characters and how to more effectively tell your story.

As the director/producer and star of the biopic feature poe last days of the raven i would encourage writers who want to do a biopic to research articles about your subject to dig up something unique, something quirky that the main media never did. making a connection to the person's art or contribution and the creative muse that inspired their contribution will always of interest to audience who want to know what inspired them.. i.e. what was going on in Poe's life when he write the raven and maybe even incorporate the literary works partially into the film if it is about a literary character.

Be true to the character's actual story. Research, feel and find those beats. Avoid over-dramatizing selective pieces of their life.

One must be cautious not to only look at the documentary subject (person, thing, “individual”, etc) but also the place, time, attitudes and ideologies surrounding that individual. Comparing and contrasting with current themes can bring a host of insights.

A biopic classically is considered a film that tells the story of the life of a real person, often a well-known monarch, political leader, or artist. A biographical documentary can be a film about anybody with an interesting life story to tell. My first two feature films, Home - the country of illusion and I'm Cris from Tierra Bomba, are documentaries where the life of one person is at center stage as an excuse to talk about a certain subject. In my case I focus on the subject of identity. In Home, my mother's life story allow a reflection about migration, uprooting and the sense of belonging. In I'm Cris, Cristian's story lets the audience delve deep into who we pretend to be, who we really are and if we can live our identity freely.

Writing a documentary or biopic script requires careful planning, research, and storytelling skills. Here are the key steps to help you create a compelling and engaging script: Choose Your Subject: Select a subject that is interesting, relevant, and has a compelling story to tell. For a biopic, this would be a person's life or a specific period in their life. For a documentary, it could be a historical event, a social issue, a scientific discovery, etc.

Research is key especially if you're looking historically or are writing a script about something that needs factual input. But even if it's focused on a person, you need to research their history and background to influence what you want to focus on about them.

I believe you only "find the story" at the final stage of the process. A documentary is a journey into the unknown. Only after you have some material recorded, you can remove yourself from your preconceptions and ask: what story is this telling me?

Structure is the first and most important step for me. Documentaries are very dynamic and have a life of their own, if you don't think about structure in the beginning you will have problems finishing your film.

In my experience the structure of your film really depends on your subject and what type of film you are doing. Is it a more classical TV style documentary that uses a lot of talking heads, like 20 Feet of Stardom, or is it something more experimental with an open ending like I'm Cris from Tierra Bomba? In any case, finding a narrative structure that fits your particular case is important, and I always recommend working with respected script advisors that can guide you through the process.

Even if you have an outline, let a little room to improvisation. In fact, interviews can lead you to other subjects or connect your items in a different way. And it is very interesting.

Writing is rewriting, as they say. As important as it is to get a first draft out, it will ultimately be more of a map and a guide than a finished product. By following that guide but ruthlessly improving all that’s lacking, you will turn a mere flight of fancy, comprehensible only to you, into something that can move people.

In my opinion, there are documentaries that are very faithful to their original script, and other that live with their characters as their real life goes on. The question always is how open you are to include those changes into your original idea.

It's important to be passionate about your subject matter. Don't create projects that don't truly resonate with you. Months, or years of development and production will bring you incredible satisfaction if you're invested personally in your topic. If you don't love the content, your audience won't either. That doesn't necessarily mean, writing what you know about. One of my favorite biopics is from Limpopo, South Africa. I've never been there but I did extensive research and immersed myself in the material.

Divine inspiration, that’s where genius works come from. You’re minding your business and the idea comes. That’s how classics are made. ??

I've found that the script for a documentary is going to change with production, the story is going to develop as you learn, interview, and follow along. Understanding that will help you. Also the more passion you have for the subject or topic will help you delve into the story and find the core of it.