The Doc Fix

STORY • STRUCTURE • MEANING

The Doc Fix

Master the essential steps to quickly analyse and perfect stories in Factual TV and Film, whatever the format, genre or subject matter

Seminars : Courses : Mentoring



Story is complex, mysterious and endlessly fascinating - but also frustrating. There are so many hard-won elements in a factual TV programme or film - a hook or unique take on the material, special access, amazing characters, cinematography, music and sound design.

But even with all that effort, it can be painful to find you have a story that is failing.

The reason you are struggling is often due to problems at a deep level of structure. Like a building with weak foundations, a programme without a solid structure is always close to collapse. Whether a fly-on-the-wall observational documentary, presenter-led history programme, on-line short or arthouse feature documentary, if you get these right, your programmes will fly.

With accuracy and speed, you will be able to understand and answer problems such as:

  • What the story is struggling to say, and how to focus the theme and meaning.
  • Why does the story run out of steam?
  • Why do we have to remake the opening over and over again?
  • How can we produce a satisfying ending?
  • Why does it seem like a list and not a story?
  • How can we make this story work at feature length - and what exactly is missing?
  • What does it mean when the chronology of events doesn’t seem to match the story you are trying to tell?
  • Why does this just feel wrong?

Whether in the edit or on paper, mastering these challenges is the key to producing a successful TV programme - in every genre.


Are you struggling to turn your idea into a perfectly structured documentary?

Before you apply let us send you a complimentary case study where we'll show you the story secrets that turned documentaries for Netflix, Discovery Channel, the BBC, along with numerous feature documentaries, into global TV hits

Nigel Levy

Nigel is an award winning writer and director who has worked both in Hollywood - directing stars such as Sharon Stone, Mia Sorvino and Christina Ricci - while also creating and producing hugely successful Specialist Factual series for US TV and Emmy nominated drama-documentary.

Most recently his skills have turned him into one of the most in-demand factual story doctors and consultants, working with Oscar and BAFTA award-winning production companies. From story development to help in the edit Nigel has worked on high profile documentaries in the genres of history, science, natural history and the arts, for BBC2, BBC4, Channel 4, Netflix (on the global hit F1: Drive to Survive) and multiple global broadcasters.

He has taken programmes from un-broadcastable to becoming RTS nominated, multiple award-winning, and critic’s choice in national newspapers in a matter of weeks.

Click the link to receive your complimentary case study.

“Nigel has the remarkable ability to look at a film and pinpoint exactly why it isn’t quite working. His insight is generally sought when others are at the point of despair but his intervention is never demoralising. Quite the opposite; with his deep understanding of story structure he optimistically offers simple changes that can turn a struggling film into an award-winning one”.

Caroline Hawkins
Exec. Producer : Meerkat Manor, Fatal Attractions, Pandas 3D IMAX
“I will start by saying bravo once more - what you've presented us is such an artistic and storytelling achievement and we understand that it was quite an undertaking. We love the acting, direction, shooting, writing and editing. You've created something so special”.

Erin Wanner
VP Production, Animal Planet
Fatal Attractions
“Having worked with Nigel in both his capacity of Series Producer and Director it’s clear that as a film maker his impressive visual style is augmented by an exemplary knowledge of story telling and the science behind it”

Colin Goudie
Editor ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’, ‘Monsters’
"Working with Nigel helped me become a better writer. He always has ideas, persistently studies and probes, and offers many alternative views from different angles and he consistently finds an answer to all story problems."

Gary Mitchell
Award-winning playwright and screenwriter ; “The Force of Change”, “As The Beast Sleeps”, “Trust”
National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, The Donmar Theatre, The Abbey
“Nigel has real experience of story, character and dramatic structure. If you want to know why a programme isn’t working, then he’s the person to go to. He comes up with solutions which are simple to put into action but where the underlying complexities have been really thought through”.

Jeremy Bradshaw - founder Tigress Productions
Executive Producer : Meerkats: Secrets of an Animal Superstar - with David Attenborough (BBC2), How to Win the Grand National (Ch 4), Chairman of Wildscreen Award Jury
“Nigel’s innate and methodical approach to story telling really turned our film around. Understanding these sign-posts in the narrative has changed my approach to film-making for the better.”

Peter Collins, former Head, Specialist Factual, STV
Executive Producer : “Lucy Worsley’s Fireworks for a Tudor Queen” BBC 4
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Courses

Day long seminars, coaching and mentoring (both live and virtual)