The best moments in film are the ones that don’t go according to plan. The unscripted banter, emotional moments, and spontaneous discoveries are what transform a film from good, to exceptional. So, how do you let them happen? Planning for the spontaneous is not as impossible as you might think. As documentary filmmakers, there is a lot we can do to allow the unexpected to spark our creativity. As a video production company, Early Light Media has seen firsthand the benefits of allowing unplanned moments to change the course of a film. Here’s our advice for letting those happen. 1. Create Space For Surprises
We met Albert Miller while working on a documentary for Healthcare for the Homeless. Albert, who was formerly unhoused and incarcerated, now serves as a Board member for the organization. He shared the transformative impact of Healthcare for the Homeless on his transition out of homelessness. Our film crew shadowed Albert through his volunteer work when we witnessed this interaction with someone he volunteers with. The two shared profound reflections on life, community, and service as we filmed. Their conversation ended up being one of the most powerful moments of the film. This time following Albert created the space for the unexpected. We didn’t know what we’d shoot when we blocked out time on our production schedule to follow him. We just prepared ourselves to film whatever came our way. The moments of spontaneity that came after our preparations resulted in a more impactful, authentic documentary than a rigid plan ever could on its own. 2. Put Yourself In Your Subject’s Shoes 
As you plan to film, view everything from the perspective of the subject you are following. This will help you decide how to best set yourself up for successful spontaneous moments, like we did when filming RAW Tuba. RAW Tuba tells the story of Richard Antoine White, who went from surviving homelessness as a child in Baltimore to becoming a world-class symphony musician and professor. To show the viewer Richard’s journey, planned to follow him around the three-block radius where he spent time when he was unhoused, to see that part of the city through his eyes. We did not plan for the fountain we passed to suddenly turn on as we were filming, or for Richard to remember that was where he used to bathe. We chose that filming location by putting ourselves in Richard’s shoes. We knew that neighborhood would hold a lot of memory and emotion for him, and we prepared to capture that. The result was a meaningful, authentic moment that gave the viewer an intimate look at what Richard had been through — making his success story even more impactful. 3. Don’t Be Afraid to Change Plans 
While it’s important to have a well-thought plan in place before filming, it’s also important to change those plans if the moment calls for it. We experienced this first hand while shooting an episode of ‘Pati’s Mexican Table.’ Our plan was to spend the day shadowing Chef Wilson Alonzo in the town of Helachó, when we learned that many of his family members worked at the local market we visited in the morning. One of them was Abuela Raquel. She was so charismatic, we decided to invite her to cook with Wilson and Pati in the afternoon — and she stole the show! She’d pop in to give Wilson orders, and at one point stopped everyone to make Pati put on her apron properly. Instead of cutting during these spontaneous moments, we kept filming. The result is an endearing episode that shows themes of family in a compelling way. It’s why we called the show “A Family Affair.” ELM Co-Founder Darren Durlach said: “The lesson that I’ve learned throughout my filmmaking career has been to not only embrace the unexpected, but to leave space for it to arrive, and actually beckon it. Keep rolling and turn your ‘problem’ into the best part of your film.”
