Colorado Documentary Film Production Services

Based in Denver, we offer documentary film production for non profits, agencies, organizations, businesses and independent filmmakers.

We make films for VOD (video on demand), television, web and film festivals.

While we are based in Colorado we serve all of the United States and beyond. We have traveled the world capturing stories.

Select Work Samples

NASA x Mission Workshop | Closer to Red

4:30 minutes | Trailer for Documentary Series

ESPN | “Being - Kelly Sildaru”

10:00 minutes | ESPN / ABC Television

Services

Documentary Cinematography

Cinematography, the art that breathes life into the visual storytelling of films can be a defining characteristic in documentary productions. Due to the fast paced nature of documentary sets there are instances when execution of cinematic images can be pushed to the back burner. Our videographers have experience moving quickly, creating atmosphere and mood even when working on the fly.

Documentary Post-production

Post-production is a crucial and intricate phase that follows the completion of principal photography of a documentary. It is during this stage that the raw footage is transformed into a cohesive and polished cinematic experience. Documentaries are unique compared to fictional or narrative films, because storyline may be partially defined and the film editing process a time when storyline discovery is unfolding.

Documentary Planning & Budgeting

The scope and scale of a documentary project can vary widely and be affected by length or run time but also be largely affected by the availability of archival footage or photographs and the quantity of present day or future principal cinematography work. We have extensive experience on concept and scope of documentary projects.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about documentary video and film production.

  • While the timing may vary significantly based on the complexity of the project, generally expect about 4 weeks of pre-production planning before any principal cinematography begins, especially if there is budget for multiple shoots. If no followup shooting is possible due to budget, then the pre-production period may be longer to ensure the most efficiency on the limited capture days allowed by the budget.

  • The average crew size for a documentary set is six people. This includes director of photography (DP), second camera operator, gaffer, location sound mixer, producer and a production assistant. However, many factors contribute to this number especially with documentary subject matter that requires a smaller foot print due to sensitive locations, subjects or budgets.

  • Expect at minimum 4 weeks after completed cinematography and up to 1 year for documentary post production. The length of editing or post production varies largely based on a mixture of things including quantity of footage, length of overall finished piece and whether there is a narrator involved in the film.

  • Documentary productions usually do not have a script similar to narrative films. While other films rely heavily on screenwriting as a first step, documentaries use outline formats and topic research during pre-production.

    The storyline is then dictated by the results of research, interviews and the fruits of principal cinematography. Key characters may reveal new information and concepts during interviews while subject matter research may sculpt the storyline as both capture and editing unfolds.

    This also means that editors can take on a far more integral role in sculpting the story when working with directors and producers to pull out narratives from the footage at hand.

  • Our headquarters is based in Denver, Colorado and we frequently serve the Front Metro Range Area, Colorado at large as well as the neighboring states of Nebraska, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. We also will travel beyond that and source equipment in other states as needed if the project or story requires it.