Filmmaking for Social Change
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Types of Film Projects
Fiction
Directly or indirectly addresses a social cause by engaging and/or entertaining the audience through a made-up story.
Example: Vanishing Act
Topic: Environment
Angle: Our trash impacts the environment even when it’s out of sight
Hook: What if a kid asks a magician to make plastic waste disappear?
Other examples: Selma, Still Human, Crazy Rich Asians
Documentary
Directly shows and/or examines a social cause from a personal or impersonal perspective based in reality.
Example: Dear Moms,
Topic: Mental health
Angle: Children mental health from their parent's perspective
Hook: Although it is her son who is struggling with his mental health, what does his helpless mother feel watching him battle these demons?
Other examples: Super Size Me, Blackfish, Our Planet
Explainer
Directly educates the viewer about a specific topic through the straightforward presentation of relevant facts and/or statistics.
Example: What is Hydropower?
Topic: Sustainability
Angle: We need more sustainable energy sources
Hook: Will hydropower be the renewable energy source that replaces fossil fuels?
Other examples: Vox, TED-Ed, The School of Life
Workshop your own film project
Topic: Covid-19
Project Type: Fiction, documentary, explainer
Audience: Who are the intended viewers of your film? What do they care about?
Angle: What’s your project’s unique perspective on the topic? What do you hope audiences will take away?
Hook: What is the key question your film raises and perhaps answers?
Logline: A 1-sentence taster of your film project that creates intrigue.
Submit your responses here.