Documentary Storytelling

by Sheila Curran Bernard

For nearly two decades, Documentary Storytelling has reached filmmakers and filmgoers worldwide with its unique focus on the key ingredient for success in the global documentary storytelling. As this revised, updated fifth edition makes clear, nonfiction storytelling is not limited to character-driven journeys, but instead encompasses the diverse ways in which today’s top documentarians reach audiences with content that is creative, original, and often inspirational, all without sacrificing the integrity that gives documentary its power. This book is filled with practical advice for writers, producers, directors, editors, cinematographers, and others committed to reality-based filmmaking that seeks to reach audiences, raise awareness, address social issues, illuminate the human condition, and even entertain. In this new edition, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and author Sheila Curran Bernard Please visit the book’s website, available at www.documentarystorytelling.com, for further information, related articles, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Documentaries, Writing, Academic, Film

394 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2010

About the author

Bernard, Sheila Curran (alphabetized under B)

Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, author, and educator, with expertise in nonfiction narrative. Most recent book, "Bring Judgment Day: Reclaiming Lead Belly's Truths from Jim Crow's Lies” (Cambridge University Press, July 2024).

Previous books include "Documentary Storytelling: Creative Nonfiction on Screen," now in its 5th edition (2022) and available in seven languages; and, with Kenn Rabin, "Archival Storytelling: Finding, Using, and Licensing Third-Party Visuals and Music," now in its 2nd edition (2020).

Films include "Slavery by Another Name" and the series "I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African American Arts" and "Eyes on the Prize II: America at the Racial Crossroads," all broadcast nationally on PBS.

Reviews

[إيمان الشريف · Rating 3 out of 5]

منذ زمن طويل وأنا أحب مشاهدة الأفلام الوثائقية، ويتملكني الحماس عند رؤية تريلر خاص بفيلم فأقرر مشاهدته. لكن في بعض الأحيان يتملكني الملل فلا أكمل المشاهدة دون أن أستطيع تحديد سبب النقص، ناهيك عن أن أتمكن من كتابة مقال نقدي عن الفيلم.

هذا الكتاب ساعدني في فهم كيفية صناعة الفيلم الوثائقي، وعليه أصبح بإمكاني كمشاهدة تحديد مواطن القوة و الضعف من وجهة نظري، أو الكتابة عنها.

الترجمة جيدة جداً لكنها ليست ممتازة.

أنقصت نجمتين: واحدة بسبب الترجمة، والثانية بسبب حوار في القسم الثالث من الكتاب مع إحدى المُخرجات. شعرت أن الأسئلة في واد وإجاباتها في واد آخر، ومعظم كلامها فلسفي عصي على الفهم.

[Janna Brancolini · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally read this book to learn the fundamentals of nonfiction film making, including writing documentary film treatments, but it turns out it's also a fantastic read for literary nonfiction writers in general. Highly recommend for anyone interested in learning to think visually and nail story structure, regardless of genre.

[Fee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have doubts about this book. It gives good, solid information and it describes many, many documentaries and uses them as great examples. But it just doesn't work for me. Reading bits and pieces about documentaries doesn't work. It doesn't grab me. It actually bores me too often. I think this would have been better as a video lecture. Or as a documentary.

[Victor Herrera Guzmán · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, for people who don't have any knowledge regarding investigation and film making. People with fundamentals on investigation, might be a little boring; the plus, are the films covered and the different points of view.

[Dillon McElhinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't read anything else, read the interview with Ric Burns in chapter 17. It makes the book worth buying.