Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

wow- i should have looked around more. This is place is excellent!!
Thanks

well, we think so ;-)

hello,

my name is robert, i have made a couple shorter documentaries, combining
elements of docs and experimental film. i am in the VERY early stages of
a (hopefully) feature length doc, and i am writing a script which i
would like to shoot in the documentary style, because not only is that
stylistically appealing to me, but i find that it is the best
environment for everyone involved in the film to truly be at their most
creative, but i could write a novel on my theories about that, so i will
just stop right there. this place looks like a wonderful community.

Welcome, RObert. Sounds like you have big plans.

I'm Michael Lieberman, from Binghamton, NY and recent college
graduate.

Currently working on a documentary about an Iraq war veteran,
who's now speaking out against the war.

I enjoy the process immensely, as if every day shooting is an
education in life skills and cinema, which is more than I ever
got in college, believe me.

This is the best forum I've seen on documentary filmmaking and I
look forward to spending time here.

Welcome, Michael. Go Binghamton Mets! Yeah, there's a limit to what
a college, even a film school, teaches you about making a film. The
rest is here on D-Word.

Welcome, Robert and Michael. Wishing you both good luck on your
projects.

Hello! My name is Mechelle Martz. I am currently working on a
Master's Degree at Colorado State University. I have been working
in media for 10 years and have some ideas for some doumentary films
that I would like to create. However, within those ideas my main
focus has become the effectiveness of documentary film to distribute
a message or information. I am currently working on a thesis to
study the social effects of documentary film and if there is a way
to determine if documentary films are able to motivate communities,
governments, and social groups to action.
I have found a ton of information on production and astethic
evaluation of documentary films but very little on follow up
assesment or study on if the film had been effective in
communicating it's message to an audience. How many people see your
documentary? Has the documentary started social movements, changed
government policies? Does anyone evaluate the after effects of
thier documentary film? Do they care?
I hope by joining this forum I may gain some insight into these
areas. Maybe some of you may have more information or ideas of
where I can find possible studies in this area.
Maybe I can give some PR/Marketing expertise to those who need it.
Either way I'm looking forward to getting some tips as well.
Thanks,

Mechelle Martz
mechellem@gmail.com

Welcome, Mechelle! You're working on a fascinating study. Tough to
nail down some of that stuff, how big an effect a film has. You
might start by reading Sandi Dubowski's archived online conference
on outreach. Scroll down on the front page.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will take a look!

Mechelle, even though it didn't change the administration, Fahrenheit
911 has an enormous impact on the discourse of last year's elections
and Michael Moore was able through his site and through partnerships
with other organizations to promote grassroots mobilization for
progressive causes.

Also do some research on Erroll Morris' Thin Blue Line which impacted
the outcome of a prison sentence.

As far as other films which have had grassroots impact, I'd recommend
looking at the catalogue of the past few years of the Council on
Foundations Film Festival. They celebrate films which are
specifically geared towards impact.

You may also want to think about attending the Center for Social
Media's Why Media Matters seminar which will be held in Washington DC
in February 2006.

Erica,
I have gotten some information on Fahrenheit 911. I have heard of
Thin Blue Line, but I will look into it further it - thanks for the
suggestion! I have been struggling with trying to find specific
films to focus on.
I am trying to decide if or how to narrow down my thesis to
something manageable. I may end up looking specifically at only a
few films or at an organization that is using documentary film for
issue awareness or impact, but I am still in the information
gathering process.
I am glad I found this site as it is nice to be able to talk with
others that have an interest in what documentary film can do. It
gives me some insight and ideas on where to look and what I am
missing. Thank you!

Juvies is another one you should look at.

hello!!
i just introduced myself in d world and i have a question..I cant add
a topic here??If not how i can ask something which is out of topic
comparing to the existing ones???
PS:this is maria im greek studying film in paris i want to work in
editing i have a little pro experience in documentaries and my
wildest dream would be finishing my hair metal documentary(i should
do a gallop if anybody would be interested in watching that:p).Im so
happy to be here guys
take care:)

i see you made it here, maria. welcome (again).

doug ure a sweetheart!!!
so what do u think guys about hair metal???any fans possibly(again im
full of optimism;p)

hi. i'm a fiction writer and teacher living in small town virginia. i
have no filmmaking experience at all beyond pulling cords as a PA on
a few very low budget horror indies back in my twenties. i've sold a
couple of scripts to indie producers, but i'm preparing to try my
hand at my own documentary, following a poor single mom who has gone
back to college--a story i know since i did it myself ten years ago.
i've been reading and watching everything i can get my hands on; the
search led me here. i have so much to learn! glad to have found it.

glad you found us, too, mary. good luck with your doc and feel free
to ask questions in The Mentoring Room topic.

hi. my name is wilson santos. i graduated in 1996 with a BA in
english and a minor in film. i did a 6 week intensive course in
filmmaking at NYU and have taken several scriptwriting seminars. i
wrote my first feature film in 1997 and sold it to a swiss
independent filmmaker. he has yet to produce the film so the rights
will revert back to me this coming year. i just finished the rough
draft of my second full feature.

i have been exploring the possibility of producing a documentary
lately, which brings me to this forum. i have no experience in video
production as my background is film, but i do have a good concept of
screen composition. i am no stranger to organizing and producing
things either, so i think i can handle such a project. i have several
questions though and would like to know which is the best place to
ask. some techinical questions as well as financial questions.

looking forward to learning from those here who have more experience.

nice forum

thanks, wilson. try the "mentoring room" topic.

Hello fellow film makers, my name is Rudy Castro, born and raised
in Los Angeles, CA. I have just joined this wonderful community
and i am very exctied about the project im working on. Im telling
the story of two women in 1975 who founded a female clique of one
of the longest standing East LA gangs. Thirty years later, one of
the founders died leaving behind three adult children who each are
following a different path seeking an answer to their loss. One
of the paths is to locate their father, who was also a part of the
gang, after ten years to confront him. To tell him that his first
love is dead and that his first grandchild has been born.

Anyways, i just wanted to introduce myself and begin dialogue.
This website has been very informative, insightful and inspiring.
To all of the contributors, my upmost gratitute.

This will be my first feature length documentary. I have a
bachelors in Sociology, directed a short doc, and have been
working in film medium for about two years. Im currently in the
early stages of production on a self funded budget. Looking to
continue pushing the project further along with the help of you
all.
thank you

sounds like a great project, rudy. welcome and good luck!

Hi, I'm Carolyn Allen. I'm completing my first educational
documentary "Backyard Nature Safari" to encourage young children
to discover the wonder in their yards and parks. I'm in Los
Angeles and am eager to meet other documentary filmmakers. I have
written a couple scripts with heavy nature themes...and am so
excited about finding this group! Yeah!

Welcome to The D-Word Safari, Carolyn. Discover the wonder!

Hello everyone, my name is Pekka and I'm a full time student, not in
film school though. I'm new to film making and have no experience, but
what I do have is an idea close to my heart and the people to work
with me; two camera men and an editor. Unfortunately I have no
experience in searching for financing and that's what I'm trying to do
now. To be more accurate, I'm trying to learn how to do that right
now. It will be a feature length documentary about mixed martial arts,
and I'm looking for consultancy as how I should go on about things
other than technical issues with shooting the film, meaning producing
it etc. I'm hoping to make few connections in here.. we'll see!

So far the project is being going on with big heart. Hopefully we can
move forward as soon as possible.