Screenwriting : Feature styled as a doc - Need your input by Mel Barrett

The big question here is, who's not getting it? As you say, you're getting this vibe from people with no production experience and I feel it would be foolish to be led by those who are outside the business. If it were actual working producers and execs getting confused, I'd be more concerned.

This all said, I personally have no issue with notes going into a script, especially brief notes that help clarify anything that may be confusing.

Thanks for the feedback, CJ Walley Yeah, that's the thing, it's mostly coming from unproduced screenwriting folks. The industry feedback I've received gets it. Some of them love it even, but I feel like I also need a layperson's perspective on story. Maybe I'm wrong about that one. I feel it's important to know what's hitting with an experienced reader as well as a novice.

I think you're falling into the trap a lot of us fall into. A layperson's perspective can actually hold you back.

CJ Walley Yeah, you're probably right.

The way I see it is, you lose nothing for adding a little note. That's a great solution and solves all the worry. The fact the right demographic gets it and the wrong one doesn't should only give you encouragement to move forward. I appreciate that may be hard to do if you are a perfectionist or someone who lets criticism get under your skin.

CJ Walley That's how I'm leaning. I love good, constructive feedback/criticism, but I'm also a bit type A. I already feel better tagging a note on the page.

Awesome. Stand by your vision.

screenshot your pages and let's see your formatting. The first goal is the reading experience - for readers, cast & crew.

Back in my postproduction days, we sometimes get "CCSL" scripts, which basically has a timecode stamp of the entire movie/tv show, with breakdowns of every camera shot. You're not doing that?

Makes me think of I'm Still Here - With Joaquin Phoenix, this was filmed and even hyped as a documentary. I am working on something similar - in that it is filmed as a doc, but is a feature. I think the note is a good idea, but also it's most important that people who can get the film made get it.

In mine, I am using setting and scene action to make it obvious that it look's like a documentary. Also one of the main roles is a Doc film maker so it's a bit easier to get it across.

Hi, Mel. As an avid and informed enthusiast of true crime documentaries and film overall, several forms of "doc" come to mind. But you are implying a grounded, up close, rugged, cinematic style of filming, not necessarily common forms of a documentary film, say, with interviews, news footage, stills, etc., right? Nor "found footage" style either, correct? My two cents, why include that at the logline? How it could be filmed could be included in other materials for the project. A note at the beginning of the script, perhaps, would be better, no? For example, please search and view Robert Eggers' shooting script for The Witch; the page upfront has a two-paragraph note "TO THE READER:" which communicates his film's vision. Please do not confuse audience/reader confusion for criticism or ignorance as a creative restriction. This isn't about "rules." It's about clarity and communicating your vision. The logline is for everyone, right? General audiences need to know what the film is about narratively. The script and notes about its production are for people interested in or who will be working on your film. If your film's story is fictional but is framed and structured like a documentary, then the term "mockumentary" may work. That term is commonly understood. A mockumentary can be satire or comedic, What We Do in the Shadows, or a dramatic horror/thriller, Lake Mungo. Also, "fictional documentary" works too. If that is the case, then perhaps use one of those terms when describing the premise and style to interested parties. Keep the logline about the narrative. ;) Hope that helps!

Barry John Terblanche in the context I used it - one of my characters in my script is a doc (Documentary) film maker. So he makes Documentaries.

The style that you are using is a satirical technique known as "mockumentary". It's a very common style for independent features. "True Crime Documentary" would refer to the genre of mockumentary. This is becoming a pretty interesting "go to" since the pandemic stifled a lot of productions. John & I worked a writer's services contract over the holidays into the new year on one that was technically a horror movie/thriller but presented as a documentary. Even with that one, what we were doing was part "retro-scripting" and part writing services. The producer had some footage they had ordered from a script similar to what you are describing. We then wrote narration and the missing pieces of the transition scenes, etc. When it all comes together, it looks like it will be billed as a "true story" with some sort of legal caveat. The final document we presented was not quite as literal as you are describing but it was a ninety plus page screenplay (with a legal disclaimer) in spite of the fact that by the time we had finished "writing" it, it had already been assembled into a rough cut.

Hey, Joe. Thanks for the suggestions. My MC is also a doc filmmaker.

Hi Beth Fox Heisinger, this is a perfect answer to my question. Thank you. I hated myself for feeling like I needed to put it in the logline. I toyed with "mockumentary" as that's exactly what is, but mockumentary always makes me think of comedy, a THIS IS SPINAL TAP or WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, when the subject matter is a pretty serious double-murder in a small town that a group of women have been blamed for. It IS a more common form of doc with interviews, etc. Think the Netflix AMANDA KNOX, I'LL BE GONE IN THE DARK, or the JINX. Actually a combo of these three perfectly encapsulates the script.

Thanks again. This solidified my unease with the logline. I really appreciate it.

Nick Assunto - Stage 32 Script Services Coordinator, I'm so starting to recognize this. I'm working on ancient history here when I was a young screenwriter on Zoetrope back in the day and there were so many industry folks willing to give feedback on scripts, so I just assumed it would be the same when I submitted for peer reviews now. It is most definitely not.

Though I have gotten some interesting and well-thought out feedback from amateurs and some very in-depth, positive evaluations from Stage 32, the Black List and Blue Cat, as well a couple screenwriter friends.

Thanks so much for your input.