Michael Moore's Top 5 Rules For Making Documentary Films

Top tips from one of the most famous documentary filmmakers in North America.

Sound is more important than picture.

Via indiewire.com

You've been in a movie theater where it's been out of focus just a little bit or maybe the frame is spilling over onto the curtain. Nobody gets up, nobody says anything, nobody goes and tells the projectionist. But if the sound goes out, there is a riot in the theater (...)

Don't tell me things I already know.

Via indiewire.com

I don't go to those kinds of documentaries, the ones that think I'm ignorant. Don't tell me that nuclear power is bad. I know it's bad. I'm not going to give up two hours of my life to have you tell me it's bad. All right? Seriously, I don't want to hear anything I already know (...)

As much as possible, try to film only the people who disagree with you.

Via indiewire.com

We learn so much more by you training your camera on the guy from Exxon or General Motors and getting him to just blab on. Talk to that person who disagrees with you (...)

While you are filming a scene for your documentary, are you getting mad at what you are seeing?

Via indiewire.com

Are you crying? Are you cracking up so much that you are afraid that the microphone is going to pick it up? If that is happening while you are filming it, then there is a very good chance that's how the audience is going to respond, too (...)

Less is more. You already know that one.

Via indiewire.com

Edit. Cut. Make it shorter. Say it with fewer words. Fewer scenes. Don't think your shit smells like perfume. It doesn't. (...)

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