# Documentary Series — Series Sub-Type

> Multi-episode non-fiction series. Real subjects. Investigative or observational.

## Defining elements

- Non-fiction subject
- Multiple episodes
- Real people / events
- Often investigative or observational
- Higher production value than single doc

## Examples

- Making a Murderer
- The Last Dance
- Tiger King
- Wild Wild Country
- Chef's Table
- Planet Earth
- Free Solo (limited)
- The Vow
- Exhibit A

## Sub-types

### True crime documentary
- Making a Murderer, Tiger King
- Investigation across episodes
- Twists, reveals

### Sports documentary
- The Last Dance, Drive to Survive
- Athletes / teams
- Personal + competitive

### Subject-deep dive
- Planet Earth (nature)
- Chef's Table (each episode = chef)
- Cosmos (science)

### Cult / religion documentary
- Wild Wild Country
- The Vow
- Going Clear

### Music documentary
- Get Back (Beatles)
- Miss Americana (Taylor Swift)

### Celebrity portrait
- Living with Yourself
- Various celebrity bio docs

## Structural conventions

### Episode arcs
Each episode has its own narrative within larger story.

### Character introductions
- People introduced gradually
- Audience gets to know subjects

### Reveals / Twists
- Information drips
- Audience surprises
- Build tension

### Multiple POVs
- Different perspectives
- "Truth" complicated
- Audience interprets

## Episode structure

```
COLD OPEN (3-5 min)
- Hook
- Often dramatic moment from later
- Question planted

ACT 1 (5-15 min)
- Setup
- Subjects introduced
- Series question continues

ACT 2 (15-40 min)
- Deeper investigation
- Multiple voices
- New information revealed

ACT 3 (40-50 min)
- Episode resolution (partial)
- Series question advances
- Cliffhanger for next episode

TAG (50-60 min)
- Quiet character beat
- Reflection
- Hook
```

## Length

- 45-75 min per episode typical
- 4-10 episodes per series
- Limited series (one season often)
- Or anthology (different subject each season)

## Voice / style

- Documentary cinematography
- Talking-head interviews
- B-roll
- Archive footage (if applicable)
- Original music or licensed
- Narrator (sometimes) or pure interview

## Production

Documentary series production:
- Long shoots (months to years)
- Hundreds of hours of footage
- Heavy editing
- Permissions and releases
- Subjects' cooperation

## When to write documentary series

- Real subject deserves multi-episode
- Investigation needs time
- Streaming hit potential
- Awards-friendly
- Director-driven project
- Cultural moment to capture

## Ethics

Documentary series have responsibilities:
- Truth-telling
- Subject consent
- Fair representation
- Accuracy
- Avoiding manipulation

## Common pitfalls

- Manipulation of subjects (selective edit)
- Sensationalism over substance
- Padding (could be shorter)
- Unfair to subjects
- Misrepresenting timeline
- Fictionalizing for drama

## Pairs with personas

Documentary directors:
- Errol Morris (interview-style)
- Werner Herzog (philosophical)
- Joshua Oppenheimer (immersive)
- Asif Kapadia (archive-only)

(See documentary personas for series application.)
