PRINCIPAl
A feature Documentary
LOGLINE
An intimate, yearlong exploration of three high school principals as they navigate the triumphs and challenges of leading their schools, Principal reveals the heart and complexity of modern educational leadership.
synopsis
High school principals are the unsung heroes of education, balancing the demands of students, staff, parents, and district mandates while striving to foster environments where young people can thrive. Over the course of an academic year, Principals follows three leaders from distinctly different schools: a rural high school battling resource scarcity, an urban school addressing overcrowding and community struggles, and a suburban school pursuing academic excellence amidst rising pressures. Through their journeys, the film uncovers the human stories behind the title, spotlighting their resilience, creativity, and the profound impact they have on their communities.
STYLE + TONE
Principal will adopt a cinematic vérité style, allowing moments to unfold naturally without narration or commentary. The tone will be intimate and observational—serious and grounded, but with space for warmth, humor, and humanity. Each principal's story will be told through immersive, emotionally honest scenes that show rather than tell: a contentious school board meeting, a tense conversation with a struggling teacher, or a quiet walk through an empty hallway after a long day.
The visual language will rely on:
Handheld camera work to heighten immediacy and emotional proximity.
Long, uninterrupted takes that let interactions breathe and evolve.
Natural lighting to retain a sense of authenticity and rawness.
Strategic wide shots and aerials to situate each school within its broader social and geographic context.
Sound design focused on ambient noise—the clang of lockers, murmur of classrooms, and silence of after-hours offices—to draw viewers deeper into the principals' worlds.
The result is a portrait that feels lived-in and unvarnished, mirroring the stakes and weight these leaders carry daily. While grounded in real-life challenges, the tone will ultimately be hopeful, driven by the principals’ enduring belief in the transformative power of education.
Story
The narrative follows the rhythm of the academic year, unfolding in three acts aligned with key moments on the school calendar:
Fall: Setting the Tone
The anticipation and optimism of the first day of school—welcoming students, introducing staff, and setting the culture.
Staff meetings where new policies and expectations are rolled out.
Navigating early challenges: schedule conflicts, classroom shortages, and late enrollments.
Scenes to capture: a principal greeting students at the front door, resolving parent complaints, and mentoring new teachers.
Winter: Navigating the Storm
The realities of burnout and pressure as the school year hits its midpoint.
Managing teacher evaluations, state testing preparation, and mid-year budget meetings.
Addressing student discipline and behavioral issues.
Tackling crises: a school lockdown, a mental health emergency, or a family tragedy.
Scenes to capture: a one-on-one meeting with a struggling student, a community town hall on school safety, a faculty member breaking down behind closed doors.
Spring: Culmination and Reflection
The emotional highs and lows as students prepare for graduation and principals reflect on the year.
Prom night supervision, end-of-year awards, and navigating senior pranks.
Budget cuts for the following year force difficult staffing decisions.
Final staff meeting and graduation speeches.
Scenes to capture: a heartfelt conversation with a graduating senior, a parent thanking the principal, the quiet moment after the last student leaves the building.
Throughout all three acts, cross-cutting between the schools will highlight contrasting realities—an affluent school with ample resources vs. an underfunded one scraping by; a principal celebrating a national award vs. one fielding angry calls from parents. These juxtapositions will reinforce the inequities baked into the system, while also celebrating the perseverance and leadership that persist across all contexts.
INSPIRATION
From Teacher to Principal
Our award-winning documentary Teacher—which premiered at SXSW EDU in 2023—immersed audiences in the lives of two teachers working in an underserved Chicago school. Filmed over the course of an academic year, Teacher explored the systemic barriers educators face and highlighted the urgent need for equity in education.
That experience shaped our belief in the power of long-form, character-driven storytelling set within the school year cycle. It also revealed the untapped potential in elevating voices behind the scenes—those who guide not just classrooms, but entire communities.
Principals builds on that foundation, expanding our lens to the leaders at the helm. Just as Teacher helped viewers understand the lived experience of educators, Principals will offer a rare and humanizing look at the role of school leaders, capturing the stakes, the stress, and the significance of their work.