Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

peace 'n love back at ya, asar. welcome aboard.

Hi, I'm a New York based filmmaker. I also work for a production
company that is trying to branch out from doing primarily long form
journalistic documentaries to include some educational/industrial
work. I'm trying to do some research on those markets- are they
growing, are there numbers available on sales, etc. Has anyone seen
such information? Thanks so much.

hmm, wouldn't even know where to start. time to google and see what
happens, i guess. but welcome here, for all your doc needs.

thanks so much for the welcome.

i've been googling like mad, and thus far to no avail

as someone who did that work for 25+ years I'd say you're a bit late
to the game. It's all moved to the web. These days most is 2-3 minute
pieces done for websites - and done very cheaply.

did you do more educational stuff for schools or more
industrial/corporate work?

I did mostly corporate though also did a series of programs for schools.
The educational stuff for schools was all under 4 minutes tied to text
books. The longest was 4 minutes that covered WWII and the Holocaust.
It's educational support and when classes are 20 minutes long you
don't have time to do more than flash cards.

Corporate stuff was generally 8-15 minutes. Long was 20.

Are there big companies that specialize in corporate stuff that I
could look to for information?

The Jack Mortons of the world are pretty much gone. There are a few
large players - companies with a 100 people or so scattered around the
country in specialized markets. The only larger ones are the guys
doing meetings and incentive travel.

Hello everyone. I'm new in town. I'm working as an assistant editor
on a doc. that just moved up here. I'm excited to be here and looking
to do good work. I'm from Austin and am very interested in music/
concert/musician documentaries. Also, live video for shows too. I work
with both Avid and FCP focusing on work with HD.

Currently, we are looking for an empty space to set-up in. The sooner
the better. Something in Manhattan, with internet access, and 24/7
access. If anyone knows anything please let me know. Thanks guys and
good luck!! CB

Welcome Chris. Keep in mind "here" is everywhere in D-Word, not just
New York...although there are numerous New York members who could
probably make recommendations on space.

Hello everyone. I am in Tennessee, and I am just starting my first
documentary. I have done some historical biographies before. I like
historical documentation, and I will be doing a short documentary
about a local historic business and building. I believe the business
will be going on, but the building will be coming down to make way for
condos in the near future. I am hoping that this experience will lead
to more documentaries in the future. I found this website while I was
doing a search for documentary release forms. I am sure I will be
able to learn a lot from this forum. Thanks, Tara

glad you found us, tara. good luck with your project. if you're
anywhere near nashville, i'll be coming down your way for the festival
in april.

What festival? I am in Knoxville. I have located a group here in
Knoxville called Tiptoe which stands for Tennessee Independent
Production and Talent Organization East. It is a local nonprofit.
They meet once a month, so I will be going to my first meeting Jan.
31. I am sure I will find out about different festivals and more
about the industry. There is a Secret City Film Festival in nearby
Oak Ridge TN. I believe that occurs during late summer. I have met
with the local film commissiioner here, and that was an eye opening
experience. One thing that he told me is that I need to make sure I
get all rights to my documentary. Would that be called an
"assignment of copyright" contract. I have been searching for what I
might need, but I have not found it yet. Could you possibly lead me
in the right direction. I have an initial meeting with the owner of
the building next Thursday. The film commissioner also told me that
when I finish the production, I need to send the master copy to
myself registered mail. When I receive it...he said not to open it
but to put it in a safe deposit box unopened and leave it there. He
said that would help with the copyright. Anyway, sorry to go on for
so long....just thought I would share that info.

Tara - that person misunderstood your question about copyright. When
you complete a film (not write a script which is somewhat applies to
his/her answer) simply put a copyright notice (c)2006 Tara Bush in the
end credits. You can protect yourself further by registering the film
with the US copyright office - go to their website - fill out the one
page form - send in a copy of the film/dvd/vhs with the fee ($30).
There are separate legal issues regarding permissions to make a film
about someone or a business entity. There are good books available
about making documentary films and the issues involved.

i meant the nashville film festival, tara.

Thank you. I am reading one right now written by Barry Hampe called
"Making Documentary Films and Reality Videos." It has been a big
help. I will keep on reading and looking into other books.

Hi ,

I am a recent grad of the stanford doc program, now living in San
Francisco, and finally getting around to joining D-word officially.
It's comforting to find so many people who share my obsession with
documentaries! I'm working as a freelance camera person (I own a
DVX100A) and editor around the bay area. Right now i'm working on
editing a propaganda piece about equity and scoail justice at SF State
University. I'm also working on distributing my most recent short doc
, Radio Grito, about a spanish- language radio show for migrant
farmworkers and their families in the CA valley. I'm in the
development stages of a piece about a mobile hospital truck and boat
in Ecuador that serves remote indigenous communities. .. Other recent
projects include a 16mm short doc that I did the cinematography for,
Under the Rollercoaster (directed by Lila Place), about a Coney Island
woman who used to actually live under a rollercoaster - this film will
be at Slamdance next week, and I'll be there from the 19th-26th if
anyone is around. It would be great to meet other d-worders in the
non-virtual world sometime...

thanks, and I look forward to be a part of d-word..

mike

welcome, mike. also noticed you posting in the community. good to
have you leap right in.

Hi...I wasn't sure where to post this, but in my researching, I came
across a couple of helpful DVD's. I purchased them off of the Vasst
website. "Lighting it Right" by Victor Milt - this really has helped
me with the creative aspect of lighting and took away some of my fears
of lighting. It has loads of different techniques and tips and
inexpensive lights to create whether you are on a strict budget or
not. Also, I purchased "Understanding Copyright and What You Need to
Know." This DVD covers all different aspects of copyright and has
included forms for use. Just wanted to share this information for
those who are just starting out like me. There is so much to learn!

You should also check out Ty Ford's little book about location audio
that written for non-technical people.
http://home.comcast.net/%7Etyreeford/AudioBootcamp.html

Thanks!! I will check it out.

Hi.
I too am unsure where to post this...i have begun work on my first documentary as a director/
producer running up a few bills to do so. My need right now is funding in order to continue the
project so we have created a 5 minute "trailer" or "teaser" that gives some idea what we are
documenting as well as written synopsis and budget sheet (as would be required from something
like the Sundance Doc completion funds foundation)...my question is: where do you begin
showing something like this to potential commisioning editors? Do they just appear at festivals?
Do they accept solicitations for funding requests from nut-jobs such as myself?

michael, there are a few events each year that present good
opportunities to meet commissioning editors. one is the ifp market in
ny. another is sunny side of the doc, in marseille.

a better one is the toronto documentary forum on may 3 & 4, which is
part of hot docs. it's a two-day pitching forum, and you still have
time to apply as an observer. all the top ce's are there and there's
ample opportunity to meet with them briefly and introduce yourself
during the breaks and lunches. if you have your sample with you on
dvd, they may just take it back with them. or, if you mail it to them
later, presumably it's already on their radar.

there's also the original pitching forum in amsterdam, as part of
idfa. these events are expensive, of course, but kind of the price of
doing business when it comes to raising gobs of funding for your doc.