The document discusses different approaches and considerations for story design and structure in documentaries. It mentions that there are infinite approaches depending on the subject, audience, and filmmaker's perspective. It also discusses using archival footage, balancing passion and objectivity, and manipulating time through editing to focus on what is most important rather than being restricted to chronology or actual filmed time. The last line suggests that successful documentaries may break traditional rules or formulas if the end result is a great film.

1. Story Design Documentary Storytelling Ch. 4-6

2. Story Design Approach Structure Manipulating Time

3. Approach Infinite approaches per subject Consider audience, resources, personal emotions, specific stories, etc. Combinable

4. Approach: Archival Filmmaking Using stock or third-party footage & stills Tweaking the resource to suit your needs Easy to forget the story Sometimes costly to use

5. Approach: Science Films Easy to be too general in execution Successful examples use common documentary techniques Specific stories, narratives, interviews

6. Approach: Recreations vs Docudrama Recreations - vague, “objective” visual aids Docudrama - fictionalized elements using actors to interpret what actually happened

7. Approach: Documentary or Diatribe Balance passion and an open-mind Subtlety is powerful Contradictory evidence can strengthen your argument

8. Structure

9. Structure

10. Structure: Is There a Formula? Not everything fits in 3 acts chronological?

11. Time

12. Time: Choose What Is Important Chronology - apply your own beginning, middle, end not restricted to actual-time implied sequence of events? Filming in real time, but editing for film time

13. Time: Choose What Is Important Filming over time i.e. “follow-ups” Editing interviews manipulations

14. “ If the film’s great, who cares what ‘rules’ you broke?”