Col Spector, 8 Rules For Shooting A Documentary
February 17 @ 7:45 pm – 10:00 pm
Session led by Col Spector
We’re delighted to welcome Col Spector to the club for a talk on something most of us only learn the hard way, how to shoot a documentary that actually turns into a film, not just a pile of interesting footage.
Col has worked across documentary, commercials and fiction, and he’s known for being both practical and refreshingly direct. This evening he’ll be sharing his “8 rules” for documentary making, the kind of rules that stop you drifting, keep you honest about what you’re trying to say, and give you a structure you can lean on when the shoot starts throwing surprises at you.
Col Spector set up documentary consultancy to help documentary filmmakers make emotionally engaging films that get seen and launch their careers. Using the principles/guidelines that he developed throughout his career as a documentary maker at the BBC, Col has worked with hundreds of early career directors helping them turn their ideas into films that have been commissioned and screened on the BBC, Netflix and many top tier film festivals. See some testimonials from filmmakers Col has helped and for more about how he can help you at www.thedocumentaryconsultant.com
This is not a technical talk about cameras, lenses, or kit. It’s about decisions, focus, and storytelling. The invisible stuff that makes the difference between a documentary that feels alive, and one that feels like it never quite gets going.
What You’ll Take Away
- A clearer way to start, so you’re not “finding the film” three months into the edit
- How to shape a documentary around an idea without strangling the real life out of it
- Why a documentary needs tension, development, and a dramatic arc, even when it’s truthful
- How to hold a critical point of view, without turning your film into a lecture
- A simple framework you can use on your next project, whether it’s 5 minutes or 50
Col will introduce the rules, unpack the thinking behind them, and share examples of how they show up in the real world of shooting and editing. You’ll come away with plenty to try, and probably a couple of uncomfortable realisations too, in a good way.
There’ll be time for questions at the end, so if you’ve got a documentary idea you’ve been circling for ages, or you’ve started one and hit the familiar “do I actually have a film here?” moment, bring that with you.
Non-members welcome for the evening (first two nights free as our guests) Here is how to find us
Date: Tuesday 17 February 2026
Time: 7:45 pm – 10:00 pm