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Create a Mini Documentary on AI Startups: Classroom Project Using Public News Sources

UUnknown

2026-02-17

11 min read

Turn press coverage into a classroom mini documentary: a 2026 blueprint for researching AI startups, interviewing sources, and editing shareable short films.

Start a Mini Documentary Project on AI Startups — A Classroom Blueprint

Hook: Students and teachers: struggling to turn a stack of press clippings into a compelling, evidence-driven short documentary? This classroom project blueprint turns public news sources into a structured research process, crisp interview prompts, and a professional editing plan so media or business classes can produce meaningful mini documentaries about AI startups — fast, ethically, and with 2026’s latest tools.

Why this project matters in 2026

AI startups are at the center of economic, regulatory, and cultural shifts. In late 2025 and early 2026 we’ve seen startups like BigBear.ai restructure by eliminating debt and acquiring FedRAMP-approved platforms, and companies such as Holywater raise targeted rounds to scale AI-driven, vertical video products. These stories combine technical innovation, investor risk, regulatory friction, and media strategy — ideal material for classroom documentaries that teach research methods, critical thinking, and multimedia storytelling.

Learning outcomes (what students will gain)

Research literacy: Translate business and press coverage into verified, original reporting.
Interview skills: Conduct ethical, targeted interviews that reveal strategy, challenges, and human context.
Narrative craft: Construct a tight story arc for a 3–7 minute mini documentary.
Production workflow: Plan shoots, capture b-roll, and edit using AI-assisted tools available in 2026.
Media ethics and law: Navigate press-source use, permissions, and fair use.

Project overview — deliverables and timeline

Design this as a 3- to 5-week module for a semester class, or as a condensed 2-week intensive. The final deliverable is a 3–7 minute mini documentary published to a class channel or portfolio with a one-page research dossier and full transcript.

Suggested schedule (compressed 3-week model)

Week 1 — Research & Prep: Select startup, compile press sources, build research dossier, draft interview questions.
Week 2 — Production: Conduct interviews, capture b-roll, gather logos and public assets, collect release forms.
Week 3 — Post-production: Transcribe, edit, color grade, add captions, finalize credits, peer review, publish.

Team roles (class-sized casts)

Producer/Project Lead: Manages schedule, permissions, and final delivery.
Researcher(s): Source verification, dossier, and interview briefing notes.
Interviewer/Host: Conducts on-camera interviews with the startup and stakeholders.
Cinematographer: Shoots interviews and b-roll.
Editor/Audio Designer: Assembles the documentary and cleans audio.
Graphics/Writer: Writes the opening script, on-screen text, and captions.

Research methods — using press sources as primary research

Press articles are powerful entry points, but in 2026 students must treat them as starting evidence, not final authority. The goal is to verify, contextualize, and expand press narratives into interviewable claims.

Step-by-step research workflow

Collect primary press items: Start with authoritative sources — Forbes, Bloomberg, company press releases, local business journals. Example: the Jan 16, 2026 Forbes piece on Holywater (funding $22M) is a primary lead for a vertical-video startup case study. A market note about BigBear.ai removing debt and acquiring a FedRAMP-approved AI platform is another seed.
Triangulate facts: Cross-check funding amounts, dates, executive names, and product claims. Use filings (SEC EDGAR) for public companies like BigBear.ai, Crunchbase/Dealroom for funding rounds, LinkedIn for staff verification, and domain WHOIS or press releases for product launches.
Map stakeholders: Identify founders, CTOs, customers, investors (e.g., Fox backing Holywater), regulators, and competitors. Create a stakeholder table with contact info and likely interview angle.
Extract interview prompts from articles: Turn claims into open-ended questions. If an article says BigBear.ai eliminated debt and acquired a FedRAMP platform, ask: "What operational changes did you implement after the acquisition? How has FedRAMP changed your go‑to‑market with government clients?"
Build a research dossier: Include annotated articles, key quotes, verification notes, and 5–8 suggested interview questions per stakeholder. Save URLs and screenshots with dates for attribution.
Ethical verification: Especially for AI claims, check demo videos, patents, or code repos when available. Flag any potential green‑washing or overpromising language to probe in interviews.

Interview guide — from prompts to on-camera rapport

Interviews transform dry facts into human stories. Use press narratives as a scaffolding tool but always ask for examples and specifics.

Preparing for interviews

Send the research dossier and 3–5 planned topics before the interview so subjects can prepare.
Use a one-page consent form with media rights clearly explained (class publishes to learning channel vs public platform).
Plan a 30–45 minute slot: 10 minutes for rapport, 20–25 minutes for substantive Q&A, 5–10 minutes for closing and follow-ups.

Sample questions by stakeholder

Founders / CEOs

"Your recent press coverage mentioned [X]. Can you walk me through the decision and the outcome?"
"What problem were you solving when you founded the company, and how has that problem changed since 2024/2025?"
"How do you measure success today — revenue, user metrics, partnerships, regulatory milestones?"

Technical leads / Engineers

"Can you explain, in lay terms, what your AI model does and how you validate its outputs?"
"Do you have explainability or safety processes tied to product updates?"

Investors / Partners

"What attracted you to invest in this company at this stage?"
"Do you see regulatory or customer concentration risks (e.g., government clients for FedRAMP products)?"

Customers / Users

"How has using this product changed your workflow or outcomes?"
"Have you experienced any limits, biases, or unexpected results?"

Interview technique tips

Start with open-ended "how" and "why" prompts to get narrative answers.
Use follow-ups like "Can you give me a concrete example?" or "What evidence did you see?"
Record high-quality audio — in 2026, AI tools will clean audio, but original capture matters.
When someone uses a press quote, ask them to elaborate beyond it; push past PR language.

Crafting the story arc

A tight mini documentary needs a clear arc. Use the press-derived dossier to choose which narrative template fits best.

Three effective mini-documentary arcs

1. Problem → Innovation → Stakes

Best for companies like Holywater: show the shift to vertical video, the product innovation (AI-driven recommendations), then the stakes (competition, monetization, platform dependence).

2. Rise → Challenge → Pivot

Good for startups that have publicized tension points, like BigBear.ai’s debt elimination and platform acquisition. Begin with early promise, present the financial or regulatory challenge, and close with the pivot/resolution.

3. Human story framed by tech

Center founders or users and use the technology as context. Emphasize lived impact, not just metrics.

Structure for a 4-minute mini documentary

0:00–0:20 — Hook: a striking fact or soundbite from press (use with permission or voiceover). Strong visuals immediately.
0:20–1:00 — Set-up: introduce the startup, problem, and why it matters (use research dossier facts).
1:00–2:30 — Body: interviews cut with b-roll and data visuals; present conflicting perspectives and evidence.
2:30–3:30 — Turning point: company response, pivot, or unexplored risk revealed.
3:30–4:00 — Close: conclusion and takeaway. End with an open question or next steps for the viewer.

Editing plan and modern toolset (2026)

Students should learn a replicable editing workflow that integrates human decisions with AI acceleration.

Pre-editing

Transcribe interviews with an AI service (Descript, Otter, or integrated tool). Use transcripts to create a rough script and select soundbites.
Timecode and tag clips (e.g., "Key quote," "B-roll: office," "Visual: product demo").

Assembly

Lay down a host voiceover or opening quote, build the structure outlined above.
Insert b-roll: product shots, team at work, conference footage, press screenshots. Keep shots dynamic and varied.

Polishing with AI tools

Use AI audio repair for noise reduction and leveling.
Leverage AI-assisted editing (smart cuts, filler removal), but always review transitions manually for context accuracy.
Generate captions and multi-language subtitles automatically; verify accuracy for technical terms.
Use generative stills sparingly for illustrated moments (label them clearly to avoid misrepresenting reality).

Export & publish

Export a 16:9 version for classroom and portfolio, and a vertical 9:16 cut if the story benefits from social distribution (Holywater-style vertical-first examples are worth studying).
Attach the research dossier and full transcript as downloadable assets to the video post.

Using press sources responsibly

Students must learn to credit, contextualize, and verify press coverage before using it as evidence.

Practical source-use rules

Attribute quotes and facts: On-screen lower-thirds or voiceover should cite the original press outlet and date for any direct claim drawn from a news article.
Fair use and permissions: Short clips of news segments may be fair use for reporting, but screenshots of full articles or longer clips may require permission. When in doubt, link to the original and summarize instead of showing it verbatim.
Prefer primary documents: When possible, rely on SEC filings, company blogs, or official statements for facts about funding, acquisitions, or governance.
Flag potential bias: Investors or corporate press releases have promotional intent. Use balanced sources — independent reporting, academic analysis, or interviews with neutral experts.

"Use the press to find leads, not final answers. Press coverage tells you what to ask; your interviews and verification provide the evidence."

Assessment and rubric

Grading should evaluate both journalistic rigor and production quality.

Sample rubric (100 points)

Research quality (30): Depth of dossier, accuracy, triangulation of claims.
Interview rigor (20): Quality of questions, depth of answers, permissions obtained.
Story & structure (20): Clear arc, engaging hook, logical pacing.
Technical execution (20): Audio/video quality, editing, captions, delivery format(s).
Ethics and citation (10): Proper attribution, fair use understanding, consent forms filed.

Classroom exercises & assessment ideas

Source verification lab: Give students a short news item and ask them to find three primary sources to confirm or refute the claim.
Mock interview: Role-play a PR rep and a skeptical journalist to practice follow-ups.
Pitch day: Teams pitch their documentary concept in 3 minutes, including their leading press source and why it matters.
Peer review: Use a double-blind peer-review form evaluating accuracy, storytelling, and production values.

Legal and ethical checklist

Obtain signed release forms for interviewees.
Document permission for any third-party clips or music (or use royalty-free licensed music).
Label AI-generated elements clearly to avoid misleading viewers.
When using company logos or product screens, follow trademark fair use standards (do not imply endorsement).
Preserve interview raw files in a secure folder for verification if grading or publication requires it.

Example mini documentary angles using BigBear.ai and Holywater

Below are two short case templates that instructors can drop into a syllabus and adapt.

Case A — BigBear.ai: Restructure and Risk

Press lead: Public filings and market notes reporting debt elimination and FedRAMP platform acquisition.
Research focus: How does a FedRAMP authorization change a commercial AI firm’s business model? What revenue or government-client concentration risks exist?
Key interviews: CFO or business lead, government procurement expert, an industry analyst, one customer with government contracts.
Story arc: Rise — financial pressure — strategic purchase — question of sustainability.

Case B — Holywater: Vertical Video, AI, and Scale

Press lead: Forbes coverage of $22M raise and Fox backing, positioning Holywater as a mobile-first vertical streaming platform.
Research focus: How AI powers vertical episodic discovery and what product-market fit looks like in a crowded short-form space.
Key interviews: CEO/founder, head of content, a user/test viewer, and an investor (Fox or associated VC).
Story arc: Market shift to mobile — product innovation — growth strategy and monetization challenges.

Advanced strategies and future predictions (2026+)

Instructors should prepare students for immediate and near-term shifts:

AI-first editing becomes standard: Automated rough cuts, script generation from transcripts, and semantic search of footage will shorten post-production time but raise editorial-judgment questions. Learn more about creator tooling and predictions from the field here.
Vertical-native documentary formats: Expect micro-docs designed for mobile-first consumption to become more accepted for serious storytelling (learn from vertical-first examples and compact creator kits linked below).
Regulatory context grows: Government procurement (FedRAMP) and AI regulation will be central topics in startup narratives, not side notes.
Verification pressure increases: With deepfakes and synthetic media more accessible, journalists and students must adopt multi-modal verification workflows.

Actionable takeaway checklist (printable)

Choose a startup story anchored in a recent press lead (date-stamped).
Create a one-page dossier with 5 verified facts and three stakeholders to interview.
Draft a 4-minute story arc and pick a primary narrative template.
Schedule 2–3 interviews and secure release forms before shooting.
One-page release form template (digital signature enabled).
Transcribe and tag all interviews; assemble a rough cut using AI tools, then refine manually.
Publish video with transcript, dossier, and source list; label any AI-generated content.

Classroom-ready materials to prepare now

One-page release form template (digital signature enabled)
Research dossier template (source list, verification notes)
Interview consent & question bank
Editing checklist for vertical and horizontal edits

Closing: Bring press stories to life — responsibly

Mini documentaries about AI startups make excellent classroom projects because they combine current events, business literacy, and storytelling. By using public news sources like the coverage of BigBear.ai and Holywater as rigorous starting points — not unquestioned endings — students learn to research, verify, and craft narratives that reflect complex realities in 2026.

Call to action: Ready to run this in your class? Use this blueprint to build a lesson plan, download the checklist and rubric, and pilot a 4-minute mini documentary in your next module. Share your results with the learning community so other teachers can adapt and improve — and help students build real-world portfolios that matter.

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