What is Your Documentary Film’s Central Question?

I used to think of a film’s central question as a thematic, probing query, such as “How can humans stop war?” or “Why is jealousy a sanctioned emotion in monogamous relationships?”

But those kind of questions are far too existential for most character-driven documentary films.  Think more practically, as screenwriters do. Will Romeo and Juliet stay together?  Will the sheriff kill the shark?  Will the Jordan family save their farm?  The central question is always some variation of the question, “Will the protagonist reach his goal?”  A documentary’s inciting incident gives rise to the protagonist’s quest-alternately called the “hero’s journey” or “object of desire”-as well as formulating the film’s central question. After a long period of struggle in Act Two, this central question is finally answered for better or worse in Act Three, at or just following the film’s climax.

In Spellbound (2002), the central question that causes the viewer to hold his breath every time a child spells out a word is very specific:  which child will win the national spelling bee contest? Like narrative films, documentary films are at their best when the protagonist’s object of desire and the movie’s central question are concrete.  In Troublesome Creek, the family’s larger desire was to survive financially, but their concrete goal was to pay off their back loan and get off the Troubled Accounts list. In The Times of Harvey Milk (1984), the protagonist wants equality for gay people, but his quest is drawn into dramatic focus by his bid to get elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

For more strategies about how to shape your documentary film’s central question and narrative arc, you can check out my 6-part e-course, “Editing the Character-Driven Documentary.”

Go to https://newdocediting.com/land/editingdocumentaryecourse/