Directing an Award-Winning Documentary
What does it take to produce and direct an award-winning documentary?
In this month’s blog, I share my mindset behind my short documentary Ruth.
Ruth (2023) was nominated out of 130 other films for Best Film, Best Edit, and Best Cinematography at the Art of Documentary fall 2023 One Day Documentary competition.
It was the first time Toronto-based Directors Mark Bone and Michael Del Monte nominated a film in all the categories.
Ruth won best cinematography, screened at Yale University, and streamed on The Flamingo Channel on ROKU before finding a home on the Art of Documentary YouTube channel.
Since 1998, I’ve watched friends win notable competitions and produce award-winning works.
I’ve written scripts, entered short film competitions, and rallied for lead acting roles. Occasionally, I would strike lucky. Most of the time, I was left wondering what I was missing.
Entering a contest or working diligently does not guarantee a win or even a valuable opportunity, especially given the many exceptionally talented competitors. However, it’s only natural for us to hope for recognition when we bravely take creative risks and step outside our comfort zones.
Why do some people come up with fabulously creative ideas that strike a chord with an audience? What’s the secret to making something noteworthy?
Here are three things I did to create an award-winning documentary.
There were no tomatoes or complaints involved. Both give me heartburn.
#1. Failure is the Perfect Time To Sow The Seeds of Success
My success came on the heels of failure.
Before meeting Ruth, I was formulating a feature-length documentary about an interesting person. After several discussions and hours of research, I realized their story wasn’t mine to tell. My heart wasn’t in it.
A friend and award-winning editor posed this question, “Is this a project you want to wake up to, one, two, or five years from now?”
When I listened to the tiny voice within, the answer was unequivocally, no.
All was not lost though – a person linked to the first project introduced me to Ruth.
Before our first conversation, I decided to set aside my past frustrations. I would view Ruth’s story with a fresh perspective and new excitement.
We chatted on the phone and I learned we shared similar viewpoints and had important bonds with the same people.
When we met face-to-face, I was relaxed and open, without any expectations. We could find common interests, create something lovely, or just enjoy a good conversation and wish each other well.
Entering the meeting with doubt would have prevented me from being my best self. I wouldn’t have fully listened to Ruth to understand her story and develop a vision for her film or expressed that vision in a way she could value.
Don’t let your past failures rule your next opportunity.
Look inward and be honest about what kind of art you want to make. Maybe an opportunity lands in your lap but something feels off or the content doesn’t align with your values.
If you’re dissatisfied with the opportunities you’re getting, ask yourself these questions:
How do I communicate and make decisions? Do I dwell on past failures? Am I a good listener or do I interrupt? Am I defensive, dishonest, kind, patient, or friendly?
Failure is a great teacher when we learn from it.
Our versions of success will come when we’re honest with ourselves about the kind of art we want to make, show up as thoughtful professionals, and work hard.
#2. Don’t leave Your Success to Chance- Formulate a Detailed Plan with Precision
Bad customer service bothers me, so I approach my meetings with care, openness, and professionalism. I take notes, repeat what people say, and ask questions to clarify what I’m hearing.
I'm envisioning the film with colors, shot lists, and characters. However, being a documentary, I can only control so much. I prepare as much as possible to understand the film's foundation and do my best.
There’s joy and success in the satisfaction of doing something well.
I spent 3 months getting ready to film ‘Ruth’ with a talented team. I talked with my director of photography about the film’s tone, my character’s goals, and the locations.
I focused on planning and preparing for each step of the project, just like Anna Wintour would.
I had to trust my instincts and my crew. However, the vision I imagined turned out differently on screen, and that’s to be expected.
#3. Celebrate the Process for Your Future Self
Your future is shaped by your repeated thoughts, beliefs, and actions. When we put love, effort, and skill into our work, no matter the result, we are planting seeds for future success and growth.
As we chase our dreams and join competitions, we're gaining new skills, learning how to work with different personalities, and growing as individuals.
Essentially, we're discovering how to exceed our limitations.
In time, we become skilled in our art and in the art of being a caring human.