Create A Short And Simple Documentary For MinnMax's Doc Lightning 2025!

It's that magical time of year again, let's get your creative juices (ew) flowing. We're challenging/asking you all to create a short documentary as part of MinnMax's 3rd annual Doc Lightning film festival! No expertise is required, it's designed to be a learning experience. The documentary needs to be under three minutes and shooting it all with your phone is encouraged. The barrier is as small as possible, so please jump in and have some fun with us. You have until the end of May to submit your documentary.

Watch previous Doc Lightning submissions with our documentary film festival screening below...

Doc Lightning 2023 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz41AEMw3sU

Doc Lightning 2024 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQYDpqg7o4o

• We want first-timers, no expertise or experience required! Zero pressure on this thing. (Obviously you're still welcome to participate if you have video production experience as well, though.)

• All documentaries must be under 3 minutes. You can submit a one minute-long documentary, all are welcome.

• Document something other than yourself! No self-promotion, please. That's what the Wall of Heroes tier is for.

• You can record everything with your phone, no need for a fancy camera or mic. If you're recording on your phone, please use it horizontally... this ain't TikTok.

• DaVinci Resolve is free video editing software for you to use (but there's also iMovie for iPhone users and CapCut on Android), and YouTube is filled with tutorials on how to use it. No need for graphics or special effects, if you can cut a clip and arrange it on a timeline then you're good to go. Have you seen our travelogues? They're simple.

• If you choose to use music, don't use songs claimed by a copyright. Here's a free library of music from YouTube, we recommend filtering it by "Attribution Not Required" to make it even easier for you. youtube.com/audiolibrary

• There's now a channel in the Discord called Doc Lightning where you can talk about your project, share tips, and even collaborate directly if you want. You have access to the Discord if you're a Patreon supporter at any tier.

• Everybody who submits a short documentary will receive a Steam code

As for the big question: What should my documentary be about? Whatever you want. Record stories from your most interesting friend or family member, highlight a community event, document the building of a LEGO set, SURPRISE US. Show off some humanity. Just make sure you have verbal permission to record whoever is in your documentary. Also, don't create a mockumentary or just record yourself monologuing about a game. Get out there and document something. Don't reach out to folks on behalf of MinnMax (directly representing the outlet) for your documentary, but you're welcome to say it's for a MinnMax community event. Also, MinnMax retains zero ownership over your finished short documentary. It's yours.

You have until May 30th to submit your documentary. You can send me a message on Patreon with a Google Drive or YouTube link (unlisted is fine). Remember that it must be under 3 minutes! We'll be streaming a Doc Lightning Film Festival at the end of May and celebrating everybody's work. Let us know if you have any questions. This is going to be fun, all it takes is a willingness to try something new.

Doc Lightning art by Empty Maracas - https://www.instagram.com/emptymaracas