Film Brainstorming Template

The Brainstorming template contains empty notes for your ideas and themes, placeholders for images, video and links.

What's the idea or concept for your film? This is your starting point. It might be just a rough idea at the moment or a topic that you want to explore, but this process will help you see how far you can take it. Add a note that describes the film in 1 to 2 sentences to get started.

Next, write out the themes related to your idea. Some starting themes could be characters, costumes, locations, history, or aesthetics but there are no rules about how you do it.

Now it's time to get creative. Start adding any ideas that relate to your initial concept or themes. Don't worry about evaluating your ideas yet, that will come later. Just add as many as you can. Setting a timer for 5 minutes is a great way to create a sense of urgency and prevent people from judging their thoughts.

Sometimes it's easier to communicate an idea with an image or video, especially if it's a mood or style you're trying to express. Gather reference imagery, videos and sound and add them into the mix. These can become the foundation for a moodboard as your film project evolves.

While research is the foundation of documentaries, it's also a great way to uncover ideas for fictional films. Think about how you could take an event from the past and weave it into your story, providing a fresh perspective on it. The more you know about the topic the more immersive and believable the story becomes.

Now’s the time for critique. Run through the ideas again, this time critically evaluating them against the original concept.

Ask each person to choose their favourite ideas and explain why. Be prepared to share your thinking and welcome suggestions and improvements. Encourage constructive debate. If an idea isn't dramatically improving the story, put it aside. You can always return to it later.