How to Film an Underwater Documentary

Documentaries can be difficult to film; everything from lugging around heavy equipment to securing interviews and editing the material makes documentary filmmaking a trying task for everyone involved. Imagine doing all of the aforementioned underwater. Filming underwater takes expensive equipment and an experienced crew. However, every aspiring documentary filmmaker can eliminate guesswork in underwater filming with some knowledge. Follow these straightforward steps to film an underwater documentary.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by determining what the focus of your documentary will be. Brainstorm different topics that need to be explored in your opinion and cross reference your brainstorming with research on what has already been documented.

    • 2

      Estimate the cost of your documentary and be generous with your estimates. Research the prices for underwater film equipment, and ensure that you include insurance costs, labor costs, travel fees and editing costs in your cursory budget.

    • 3

      Learn the basics of filming or documenting underwater, such as the concept of a limited color spectrum. Underwater landscapes filter red, so take this fact into consideration when filming. Also, the depth and type of water you will be filming in will greatly impact your film.

    • 4

      Be prepared to spend a good deal of your budget on the film equipment as you will need high quality digital imaging to get a crystal clear picture. For high quality filming, always choose the digital camera option. It is a bit more expensive but will provide a beautiful rendering of the underwater landscapes.

    • 5

      Find a crew with previous underwater experience. If you will be doing most of the filming yourself, then take some diving lessons to help you maneuver underwater as it is very different than filming on land.

    • 6

      Secure a location and obtain a permit if necessary at all the sites you plan to film. Check with local seaport authorities and other government agencies to ensure that you have permission to film in this region. Be prepared for some costs for permits, and you should factor these expenses into the initial budget.

    • 7

      Edit your film with a discerning eye for what will best capture the point you want to make with your documentary. You will have a lot of excess footage, so allow ample time from filming to final production phase to filter through all of your underwater footage.