Assistant Producer: My experience and role working on a documentary commissioned by the Government of Karnataka, airing on Discovery Channel

To be honest, working on a government project was nerve-racking at first. I was coordinating with policy officials, interviewing the Minister of Women and Child Development, and trying to turn years of research into questions that felt relevant to mothers, children, and Anganwadi workers in rural communities. It ended up being one of the most educational experiences I have had.

In the rest of this article, I want to break down the process I followed while working on the documentary.

1. Starting with the research

I began by researching the history of the Anganwadi policy and how it had developed over five decades. I looked at its impact on immunization, malnutrition, infant mortality, maternal and child health, and early-childhood education. I also reviewed statistics showing how these indicators had changed in Karnataka since the program was introduced.

2. Preparing for the fieldwork

Before the shoot, I organized the main research points and developed interview questions for the four locations we were visiting: Udupi, Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Ballari.

On the ground, I helped conduct interviews with mothers, children, Anganwadi workers, and government officials. I also organized their statements and collected the release forms required for the documentary’s legal and broadcast process.

3. Building the documentary’s story

After the shoot, I worked on scripting the documentary and transcribing the interviews. This involved deciding the chronological order of the locations, selecting the interviews and moments that best supported the story, and creating multiple versions of the script for different cuts of the documentary.

4. Assisting with post-production

I worked alongside the editing team to organize footage, choose relevant shots and sound bites, and review how the interviews, visuals, music, and effects came together. This part of the process showed me how much a story can change in the edit, and how important it is to stay accurate while still keeping the audience engaged.

5. Completing the final paperwork

The last stage involved helping complete the legal and technical paperwork required for the documentary’s official release. This included release forms, interview documentation, and details related to mixing, mastering, and delivery.

Working on this project allowed me to be involved in almost every stage of documentary production; from policy research and field interviews to scripting, editing, and final delivery. More importantly, it taught me how to bring together data, policy, and lived experiences without losing sight of the people at the center of the story.