A supernatural documentary script typically runs 35-70 pages and is defined by documentaries investigating paranormal phenomena, unexplained events, haunted locations, and the people who believe in — or debunk — the supernatural.
Supernatural documentaries should present believers and skeptics with equal respect. Investigation sequences in reportedly haunted or active locations need detailed technical descriptions (night vision, audio recorders, thermal cameras). Expert interviews should include both paranormal investigators and scientists. The documentary should let the audience decide — present evidence and interpretation without forcing a conclusion. Personal testimonies from witnesses should be treated seriously. Historical research into locations and events adds credibility. The filmmaker's own experience during investigation can be part of the narrative. Atmospheric location footage is essential.
Open with the most compelling piece of evidence or testimony (3-5 pages). Establish the history and the claims (10-15 pages). Conduct the investigation through multiple methods and perspectives (15-25 pages). Present the evidence for and against (5-10 pages). Conclude with where the investigation stands — resolved or open (3-5 pages). Total: 35-70 pages.
Define the rules of the supernatural in your world — what's possible, what's forbidden, and what the cost of contact is.
Connect the supernatural element to the protagonist's emotional wound. The haunting should be literal and metaphorical.
Build from subtle wrongness to full manifestation. The audience should start uncertain and end overwhelmed.
Write one scene of absolute normalcy before the supernatural intrudes. The contrast is where the power lives.
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