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Hi everyone!
So happy to join this group! I found out about it through IDA.
I'm a former producer at PBS and now produce indie docs. I wrote, produced, directed and edited "Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard" about the controversial founder of est. It was picked up for distribution by Screen Media Films. I learned a lot going through that experience. I've done a few others as well and have been hired by producers to help with structure of the films.
I've just returned from Timbuktu (yes a real place in Mali, Africa) doing a film about the nomadic Tuaregs – an ancient culture on the verge of extinction. We followed the son of a Tuareg chief who is also a music promoter on a mission to save this people and his culture. I'm editing and looking for grants and possibly co-pro arrangements. Heading out to LA next week- becoming bi-coastal to work on projects.

Thanks so much Doug for creating this fabulous site. I'll try to visit often. Robyn

Welcome, Robyn. Totally intrigued by your Werner doc, having done several Landmark courses. It's funny because every time I've ever brought Landmark up here the membership goes completely bonkers and dredges up the Werner Erhard connection, as if he's the devil himself. Even when I patiently explain that The D-Word would not exist but for Landmark (nor Landmark but for Erhard), I all but get burned at the stake. Pretty amusing, but then again no one said transformation was easy.

I know how you feel Doug. I've faced a firing squad of journalists for doing the film- giving Werner the opportunity to present his story while not shying away from controversy. He really is a very charismatic caring man who is committed to people living powerfully. He just loves to push people's buttons and some people don't understand that.
I believe the film is available on hulu if you want to see it for free. ( Lesson learned from selling all rights to Screen Media).
I'm redoing the website now and getting ready to launch a PPV series with the raw footage from our interviews. I recommend Landmark for anyone as a course on how to stop carrying baggage around from your past and live your passion. Live a more conscious life. Some people are afraid to rock the boat. :)

The film website is www.transformationfilm.com

Hello Everyone!

I am an American documentary filmmaker based in Morocco where I have been for the last few years.

I moved here after Smith on a Fulbright and never left and I still get lots of people asking when I intend to go back to New York and I simply say, when I am no longer inspired to make films here. Which hasn't happened as of yet.

I just finished a documentary called ALL I WANNA DO about a Casablanca parking guard and his 17-year-old son who form a hip hop group. The duo set out and meet their heroes, enter studios and radio stations for the first time in a journey through the music industry of Casablanca.

They represent some of the poorest residents of a very wealthy city and it's more common for them to hear people ask why they even try to aim higher than people encouraging growth and development. There is a lot of frustration and loss of human talent which I feel is at the heart of a lot of the protests here.

It's been a big hit in Morocco especially because it's an intimate portrayal as opposed to watching a film about "The People Of Morocco".

So far it's been official selected at over 22 festivals and has won "Best Documentary" at Da Vinci Film Festival, "Best Director" at WMIFF, "Third Prize" at Athens International and "Best Foreign Documentary" at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival this week.

I could use a lot of advice as I have a lot to learn.

I would love to find a mentor and if anyone would like to send me advice or comments or suggestions I would appreciate it and welcome that very much. mmariesnow@yahoo.com

Here is a link to the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy2B2Qq9_l0

Thanks a lot and look forward to hearing from you!

www.michellemedinafilm.com

Lots of good energy there, Michelle – looks like you're doing a pretty good job mentoring yourself already. A warm welcome to The D-Word, leap right in.

HI – my wife, Kim Shelton, who is an established filmmaker, and I are in the festival stages of getting our film, The Welcome, out into the world. Its a doc about an intense and unusual five day retreat for veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam, along with family members, who create poetry about their experiences in war and return. It is doing well in festivals (a couple of awards so far) and my job is now to distribute the sucker. I'm working with another woman to connect with organizations around the country for local screening partners and I'm looking for any input/advice about both this particular strategy and about educational distribution as well. I've been a therapist for the past 20 years and this is new to me, but I'm having a great time so far. Any advice most welcome.

Welcome Bill. Waste no time in catching up with our week long special topic Selling Your Film where you can learn a ton of useful information to help get you started.

Hello,
I am a New York based photographer who is working on a shoot in Houston, Texas on October 15th. I am looking for someone in the Houston area who has experience recording audio that will consist of some recorded interviews as well as ambient sound. You should have your own equipment. This is a paid job, Please send me an email at LaurenJoyFleishman@Gmail.com Thank you.

So good to find such a wonderful forum of documentary filmmakers around the world. I am Judith Dancoff, founder and director of NewFilmMarketing.com, a breakthrough marketing service to help filmmakers sell their films to the academic and library marketings BY THEMSELVES!! Yes I take money, but only enough to coach you. After a career in doc films, I transited into writing, and then into the academic world itself. When it came time to distribute an old film I'd made, I was appalled by the ridiculous percentages of so-called distributors, and so taught myself the basics of distribution from scratch. Check out my blog at http://www.newfilmmarketing.com for a little of what I've been up to, and I will post frequently here. The important take-aways are that academic diy is not rocket science, there's money to be made here, and under no circumstances, ever give it away!

Welcome to The D-Word, Judith. Important work you're doing, great to learn about it!

Hello to d-word,

I am glad to be a part of your forum!

I have done extensive music production, and film-scoring most recently on a doc. called
"Persistance of Vision" yet to be released on the topic of the creative process.

It would be fantastic for anyone needing music to make their way to my site:
www.AnnePollackProductions.com

Many thanks!
Anne

Good Morning Filmmakers!
Glad to be part of the D-Word.
I'm based out of LA.
Is anyone else participating in the current ArcLight Doc festival in which they will be screening the top 10 most voted docs---
My film, Eloy Take Two is part of this....
And, let me tell you...It's tough to get votes.
It would be an awesome experience to screen there since they have
the state of the art screening technology and pretty awesome theater in general with delicious popcorn!!

If any of you have time on your hands and want to see my trailer and vote on it...

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnIINtW5tdQ&list=LLb9VJ2REqJVm0DnBfoDw8Pw&index=1

---To vote--All you have to do is "like" the trailer on the YouTube page---
If you Vote on it....Thank you so much!!
And Please feel free to share this info on any of the social Media outlets....

Thank you!! and it's a great pleasure to meet you!!
Hope we have an opportunity to meet at the next doc screening!!

Have a Great Day!!
rso

Welcome, Anne and Roberto.

Cool stuff, Roberto! I love it.

Hi,

My name is Andrew Shemin, an American filmmaker based in Paris. I have worked in mostly short films and music videos, while taking the occasional job as line producer or camera on documentaries in Paris. I am now directing my first feature documentary, Postcards from Paris, an experimental form that offers a kind of tour of Paris through images, or moving postcards, as I imagine them. Each fixed shot offering its own atmsophere and story to share about life in Paris. I would describe it as a mix of a Lumière Brothers actualité film, a Frederick Wiseman documentary, and a "city symphony" documentary.

You can see a trailer on the Kickstarter page I just made to try to fund the composition of an original score for the movie. http://kck.st/mYBZLE

I've enjoyed making a documentary in this way, and hope to do more like this in other locations.

If anybody ever needs assistance in Paris, I can help!

Cheers,
Andrew

Welcome, Andrew. Good to have you with us here.

Hi everyone!

I'm Ben, a communications student at Northwestern University, and am currently producing my first documentary. I am so excited to meet and learn from filmmakers of all different experience levels. I have never felt so passionate about any project before, so I feel that this community full of passionate artists is the right place for me. Looking forward to getting to know more of you as time goes on!

All the best,
Ben

Oh my God, a student snuck in here! :-) That's ok, we can use a youth infusion. Welcome to The D-Word, Ben.

Hello
I'm new here and was hoping to talk to some veteran documentarians who've already been through some festivals and distribution. I'm working on my first documentary about a boxer who fought for the world heavyweight championship in 1958. I was hoping there was some Texas natives on here that I could meet up with and get advise. Thanks

Welcome aboard, Josh. You might want to check out the back posts on the distribution and festivals topics here and get a feel for what's been discussed. Plenty of solid info and advice there.

Hello friends and colleagues
I'm Claudia, filmmaker, writer, radio woman, activist. Maybe sounds strange, but in these times I feel it's important to insist on political dreams and a standpoint.
I covered 16 years ago in USA and Europe the fight for Mumia Abu Jamal's life when he was facing execution in 1995 by organizing a radio campain, later started writing scripts, made my first documentary between 2006 and 2010 about Kryzysztof Komeda, Polish jazz musician and composer, also for films
In the end , I produced the film score by fundraising the money for my composers...
I'm interested in producing and sharing thoughts but I joined the site also to discuss the Iranian topic (arrest of our colleagues), as we, 7 Polish films and their makers, have withdrawn our films form Teheran festival yesterday to clarify our POV. Thank you, Claudia

Hello Claudia, dive right in. Welcome to The D-Word.

Hello All,

I'm a fairly new filmmaker and producer currently in pre-production for a doc set to film Jan/Feb. I have so many questions I don't even know where to start, but I'm very excited to be apart of this community and look forward to gleaning and giving back as much as possible.

Cheers!

Matt

Welcome to The D-Word, Matt!