Australian story is successful because it engages audiences by “seek[ing] out unique stories that feature fascinating characters and original storylines with unexpected ‘twists and turns’ and compelling visuals”.

How do they convey these stories so its entertaining?

In the reading this week ‘Directing the Documentary’, multiple techniques are discussed on how to create an engaging documentary. Each story needs change and development to avoid “non-event” narrative . Comparing past to present is important to assert that growth and change is possible.

The term ‘beat’ is a moment of incontrovertible change that forces a protagonist or character to take a different course of action. The complication raises the stakes and a strategy must be developed. It either works or doesn’t, making the beat a success or failure. Beats are endless even after a success.

beats hike dramatic tensions which in traditional forms of documentary, leads to a final climax and resolution.

The directors and producers of  Australian story succeed in documentary production because they understand the importance of beats and character development and reflection. Even the a story classified as a non-event, can be improved and re-imagined through the editing process