Written by Documentary style advertising is an important way to foster authenticity, trust and emotional connections with audiences. By focusing on testimonials, touching real-life stories, and getting to know the people behind the brand, companies will humanize their message by taking advantage of this impactful storytelling method.
As modern marketing techniques shift and adapt to our cultural moment, we are learning that people don’t like being sold to. In contrast, a documentary style approach stands out in a world that is saturated by traditional commercials. One of the best advantages of documentary style-ads is that they don’t feel like ads. They feel like a story being told, a voice being heard, or an adventure being shared. They resonate with our desire to understand and be understood by others.
These are the stories that people remember.
So, what are documentary style videos and how can any brand benefit from them?
- Conversational: Information is presented in a more relatable and engaging manner, similar to a conversation. While videos remain scripted and planned out, interviewees are responding in a more authentic and natural way.
- Atypical: Unlike traditional video productions that involve many scene takes, documentary-style shoots feature a subject sharing an honest depiction of their thoughts, right then and there. Doc-style videos are also typically longer, since the story typically goes more in-depth and captivates the audience.
To incorporate doc-style videos into your brand, consider these action items:
- Identify Compelling Stories: Seek out authentic stories, featuring real people and their experiences, whether from customers, employees, or the community.
- Show Behind-the-Scenes: Share a glimpse of the inner workings of your company, showcasing the people and processes that make you unique.
- Utilize Testimonials: Incorporate genuine testimonials from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility.
- Invest in Quality Production: Ensure high production quality to enhance the storytelling experience.
Here’s our most recent Documentary Video work, featuring a handful of gems that we’ve discovered during our Production days, through the doc-style production process:
Video production companies are playing a vital role in bringing real-world narratives to life through story-development, skilled cinematography, and creative editing, so that these stories will be told in a way that inspires and leaves a lasting mark on its audience.
At Midnight Zone Productions, we choose to focus on the human experience around a product or service, rather than just the product itself. We recognize the significance of connectivity and shared empathy, so we are crafting stories that do just that. They bring a sense of community and of unity with each other.
If you’re still unsure if doc-style is for you or your business, check out a few of our featured doc-style projects that we’ve produced for clients:
- Gwinnett Technical College Scholarship Celebration Video – This story is about three scholarship recipients who share how the scholarships have personally affected them and their futures. It’s told from the viewpoint of both the students and the donors who supported the program that changed the students’ lives. The video focuses on one person greatly impacted, and it was showcased at their yearly awards event to highlight the impact and celebrate.
- Stories of Kolwezi DRC Short Documentary – Set in Kolwezi, a mining town in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this narrative unfolds various accounts and testimonies of divine interventions in the lives of individuals touched by God during an evangelistic gathering in the city. It portrays the faith that has been planted in the residents’ hearts, carrying a promise of hope for generations to follow.
Ready to get started? Contact our team today to learn more about how we can help create your next doc-style video!