Free Documentary Script Template

A documentary script is a written blueprint that organises your film's narrative structure, interviews, narration, and visual elements. Unlike fiction scripts, documentary scripts often evolve during production as new interviews and footage are captured. The two-column A/V format separates visuals (left column) from audio (right column), making it easy to plan B-roll coverage alongside talking heads and voiceover.

Interview-led documentaries build their narrative primarily through subject interviews, with B-roll footage supporting the speakers' stories. Narration-led documentaries use a scripted voiceover to guide viewers through the visual story, with interviews playing a supporting role. Our template supports both approaches—choose the structure that fits your project, or combine elements of each.

Use the visual column of your A/V script to list specific B-roll shots needed for each section. Think about what footage will illustrate your subject's words—locations, actions, archival material, or graphics. Planning B-roll in your script helps you create a comprehensive shot list and ensures you capture everything during production, reducing the need for costly pickup shoots.

Absolutely. Branded documentaries and corporate documentary content follow the same structural principles as traditional docs. Our template works for brand films, company histories, customer success stories, and educational content. The A/V format helps stakeholders review the narrative alongside planned visuals, speeding up approvals.

Documentary length varies by format: short-form docs run 5-15 minutes, branded content typically 3-10 minutes, and feature documentaries 60-120 minutes. As a rough guide, one page of A/V script equals about one minute of screen time. Our template shows real-time word count and estimated duration as you write, helping you hit your target length.