10 Most Underrated Documentary Filmmaking Tips

Great documentaries aren't made by following trends — they're made by mastering the filmmaking foundations that often fly under the radar. Here are 10 underrated documentary filmmaking practices that can elevate your work, even if they don’t get the same hype as the latest gear or flashy techniques.

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WHO AM I?
If we haven’t met yet before - Hey 👋 I'm Austin Meyer and I am a documentary filmmaker based in Berkeley, California. I'm a National Geographic Explorer and my work has been featured by HBO, Hulu, Apple TV, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and PBS among others. Through my videos here on this channel, and my podcast called The Austin Meyer Podcast, I share skills, mindsets, and lessons to help you become a better documentary filmmaker and build the life full of creativity that you aspire towards.

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⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:29 - Why Fundamentals Matter
1:42 - Get Unique Access
4:34 - Cast The Right Character
6:32 - Build Trust
8:38 - Do Your Research
9:31 - Reflect Story Theme
11:14 - Listen While You Film
12:03 - Schedule Deep Work
13:06 - Invest In A Badass Computer
13:57 - Create Feedback Loops
14:55 - Share Your Work Publicly
16:06 - Final Thoughts

#documentaryfilmmaking #documentary #filmmaking