This Is The Story Of…

I’m just back from West Doc, where I was inspired by filmmaker Ondi Timoner, two-time winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, to answer this question: “How can you quickly orient your film’s viewer with a so-called structural roadmap?”

But first…our New Doc Inner Circle 7.0 has sold out. If you are interested in being on the waiting list for our next Inner Circle 8.0 in January, please let me know.

Your film’s introduction ideally achieves three things quickly. First, impress your viewer with the film’s production values. Second, emotionally hook your viewer. And third, give your viewer a sense of what’s in store. Give them a structural roadmap.

Roadmaps come in many forms, from graphics to narration to an inciting incident. Here’s one classic, easy way to give your viewer a preview of what’s ahead.

Use a simple line of text or narration that finishes this sentence, “This is the story of…”

In her film “We Live In Public”, director Ondi Timoner opens with a line of text: “This is the story of the greatest internet pioneer you’ve never heard of”.

Immediately the viewer gets a sense that this is a film about a person, an overlooked tech innovator. That’s a roadmap. And the superlative “greatest” also begins to hook the viewer.

“Long Night’s Journey Into Day” (which also won a Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2000) uses this simple technique to announce to viewers that they are about to see four stories about South Africans facing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

And in “Something Ventured,” directed by Emmy Award winners Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine, the “this is the story of” technique is delivered through voiceover narration rather than text on screen:

“Fifty years ago they were just young guys from modest means, who thought they could help build innovative companies. This is the story of a handful of men who stirred up a revolution in finance and technology because they saw opportunity where others only saw risk.”

If you are making a character–driven documentary, consider using this simple technique to orient your viewer to your film’s structure.