Purpose-Driven Documentaries: A Field Guide to Creating Impact

This book is a field guide for students and storytellers interested in the realm of social impact documentary. It explores best practices and processes for interacting with the documentary subject and framing the story of the subject in a way they find accommodating and aligned with their interests.

This text will guide readers from step one of the documentary filmmaking process through to the completion of their short documentary film in an easy-to-understand, very repeatable process they can use and build on for the rest of their career. Beginning with the best practices for conducting comprehensive research and carrying out pre-production, the benefits of interacting with and getting to know your subject are then explored through multiple perspectives. This leads into a step-by-step framework for telling the subject’s story, paired with real-life examples from film student projects overseen by the author, as well as example work such as Character Profiles, Purpose Statements, Interview Questions, and other references.

This is an essential resource for students and documentary filmmakers who want to get a clear and concise understanding of how to approach social impact documentaries.

Robin Canfield is an accomplished storyteller, photographer, and documentary filmmaker. He co-founded Actuality Abroad and leads documentary workshops around the world, producing films that highlight the efforts of local changemakers. A regular speaker at festivals and educational conferences, Robin continues to advocate for a shift toward a more collaborative and cooperative approach in telling stories about real life.