Researching in 2023

Working on a project due to be completed in couple months, I’ve been pondering the importance of research. We often discuss dramaturgy and techniques, but the content we convey to viewers with them is undoubtedly very important, if not paramount. Beginning authors and directors are often advised to work with what they know. At the American Film Institute (AFI Conservatory), they called this ‘working in your own backyard’. Like many beginners, I resisted this and tried to create something with a complex ‘world’ and so on. My attitude towards this viewpoint remains mixed.

However, the idea of ‘working in your own backyard’ underscores the importance of research. If you want to write about what you don’t know, try to understand it — bring it into your backyard, so to speak. In 2023, the opportunities for deep study of any topic are vast.

Previously, I would spend months looking for the necessary data about the world for my feature drama, SILVER, which is set in the USA in 1862. Now, with the help of AI, it is much easier to find necessary information or at least authors to read. But while it’s helpful, you shouldn’t blindly trust AI — you can simplify your task by focusing on a specific aspect of the topic, time, or profession.

If there is an opportunity to communicate with an expert in the field, it is invaluable. Even if not all of the conversation is useful, the professional bias of the respondent can offer insights, from their manner of speech to the way they pour tea. These details add authenticity to the world you want to describe.

It’s also very useful to analyze the characteristics of speech, dividing audio or video recordings into segments and translating them into text. Thanks to automation, transcribing has become much easier. Then, I highlight patterns, repeated words, pauses, and so on — it’s much easier in text than in video. Video reflects non-verbal communication, which is another part of the analysis.

And if you’re short on time, ChatGPT can help. Yes, the machine can analyze speech patterns and identify basic psychological profiles…

Lastly, many people prefer to conduct in-depth research before moving onto development. I like this approach, but haven’t had the experience of this being possible within set deadlines. Therefore, I tend to conduct research while developing. I can sketch out the basic structure at an amateur level in terms of understanding the world I’m writing about. The beauty of dramaturgy is that it always works, but it must be layered with authentic details to truly bring the world to life.

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