Documentary Discussion Questions (2024)

FAQs

What are good discussion questions for documentaries? ›

What did you learn from this film that you wish everyone knew? What would change if everyone knew it? If you could require one person (or one group) to view this film, who would it be? What do you hope their main takeaway would be?

A good idea for a documentary resonates profoundly with both the filmmaker and the audience, offering a unique perspective or insight into a subject. The ideal topic should be engaging, informative, and capable of sparking curiosity or emotional response.

To be effective, a good documentary film should be thoroughly researched, presenting a fair and balanced view of the subject matter. It should also be engaging, telling a story that will capture the viewer's attention and keep them engaged throughout.

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.

Some popular subjects for documentary filmmaking include current events, social issues, historical events, biographies, science and technology, and the environment.

To do this, they employ the following key elements of a documentary: interviews, cutaways, archival footage, cinema verité and process footage.

Documentaries educate, raise awareness and change opinions on many different issues. Foundations work to transform various problems in our communities. The biggest barriers for change are people's attitudes. Documentary films tell the stories of real people and common situations, not stereotypes.

What is the most important part of a documentary? ›

The Story. The first element that should be included in every documentary or docuseries is an engaging story. It's important to capture viewers' attention right away, so make sure to start with something that will draw people in.

An engaging documentary not only evokes emotion, but also allows viewers to relate in that it spreads an inspiring story and message that people resonate with in some way.

Good stories not only explore nuanced themes and make good use of literary devices, but they also feel natural and organic to the reader, so that every plot point and character choice feels like an inevitable result of the events and choices that have come before.

The MDQ, or major dramatic question, is the central thematic idea on which all plays are founded. It is the 'why' behind your story, and the source of relevance and connection for your audience. “Can love survive the rashness of passion—whether it be lust or hate? ( Romeo & Juliet)

To put it simply, the thesis statement can be thought of as the main message of any film, which is communicated through the plot and characters. Similar to how a director has a vision, the author(s) in this case has an opinion on the subject that they wish to portray in their research report.

According to Roney and Kowarsky, “Documentaries offer a unique and immersive learning experience for students and educators alike. They present real-life scenarios, perspectives, and authentic voices that engage learners on an emotional and intellectual level.

So the purpose would be to educate. Perhaps the filmmaker was fascinated with their family life and wanted to share the quirkiness of their family's story. So the purpose may be to reveal some truth about society through their family's story -- not necessarily to change society, but rather to reveal and enlighten.