Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

My name is Julienne Stretton,I have worked in new Zealand television
for 20 years,starting as a documentary researcher then
producing,writing and directing my own documentaries. I have also
worked in current affairs proding and directing in NZ for 60 Minutes
and 20/20.I have directed over 20 documentaries covering a range of
subjects and approaches including observational,reality life
situations,historical,political issues,arts. I have a background in
anthropology and I am particularly interested in how people create
meaningful worlds and respond to their life circumstances. My
approach is personal and intimate,my role is to find a way for people
to tell and reveal their personal stories. I am inspired and moved by
the heroism of ordinary lives. I am interested in working
internationally on international subjects.

Greetings. I'm the director of MedEd Media at the University of
Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine (Seattle),
where I produce and direct public health training films, health
documentaries, and related projects. Just read about d-word in The
Independent, I was too cheap to buy a copy but I wrote a note on my
hand before putting the magazine back on the newsstand!

Joshua, Pablo, Julienne, Tom - welcome on board of The D-Word Forums.

Filmmakers - Don't forget to check out The D-Word Community as well,
our private forum for documentary professionals. Here's more info:
www.d-word.com/community

Thank you all for your very warm wellcome.
I would like to tell you with more details what I´m doing and why
I´ve join this comunnity. I live in a very small village by the
Mediterranean shore, a very nice place to live and to create. But in
the industrial aspect I am living in the middle of a desert. I could
have move to Madrid, Barcelona, London or so. But I commited myself to
do things staying where I live and becoming a producer in the
peripheria of the peripheria in despite of my isolation. so I think
this kind of comunity can help me to get some feed back.
I am working on a project focused on Mediterranean people and culture:
above all, fighting for survival during milleniums.
I have got three companies involved (Spain, England and Greece)But ,
in fact I am the executive producer. It is my first time. So I am
learning step by step.
The project has got some development funding and I hope i can get even
more -development is the key- and it is crossing the treshold of the
critical dimension...
Now I am very worried about the finantial engineering and those are my
main questions:

-budget dimension (It is intended to be a world sales product)
-average income trhought different territories.
-percentual balance between pre-sales and expected sales
-Markets where you can go on project basis.

In the actual state of development the project needs the feedback of a
sales agent.
That´s all. Thank you and forgive me for the wrong spells.

Pablo, first of all, your spelling is very good.

I think part of your questions overlaps with what Steve just asked
Jan Rofekamp in {LINK NOT IMPORTED}. Maybe you can wait for Jan's response there
and then ask your additional questions.

I also recommend having a look into {LINK NOT IMPORTED} where you
will find the right topics for Fundraising, Legal Issues, Marketing,
and Distribution.

Thank you very much indeed, Ben.

Pablo, your situation is exactly why The D-Word Community was created
in the first place. I live in New York City and, believe it or not, I
often feel the same way as you-- that I might as well be on a desert
island as far as feeling connected to my peers.

So, by all means, come join us in the community.

Thank you Doug. I´ve already submited the application form. Some
mornings I wake up, look in to the mirror and say to myself: Are you
crazy or what?...
I hope I´m accepted at the lonely riders neighbourdhood. See you
there.

Hello, all.

I'm a first-time documentary maker out of Caracas, Venezuela.
Journalism pays the bills, film-making gobbles-up whatever is left
over. My first film is called "Searching for the Revolution", on our
new leftist government's plans for massive land redistribution to the
poor.

My first brush with the D-Word came through reading Jan Rofekamp's
thorough but brutal marketing guide...and I'm still working through
the grieving process that horrible, traumatic experience induces. I
think I'm past denial ("it can't be...it can't be that hard to sell
my film"), past anger ("those bloody TV people are sucking our blood
dry!"), currently wallowing in self-blame ("what the hell was I
thinking embarking on this project without a clear understanding of
the market?!?") and still a few days away from acceptance.

Seriously, though, anyone looking to found a shell-shock victims'
support circles from having read that article, send me an email...

ft

Welcome, Francisco. Better yet than waiting for an email, come join
the ongoing discussions at The D-Word Community. For more info, go
to: www.d-word.com/community.

To join, email me: d-word@d-word.com

Doug - he already emailed you on the 29th. Are you lagging behind? ;-)

Sheesh, I guess so...

Hi My name is Ed Howe. I'm working on a couple of documentaries out
of my studio in Cambridge MA. (www.edofilm.com) I'm looking forward to
being part of this discussio

Welcome to D-Word, Ed.

Hi my name is Kelvin Dickerson and it's great to be a part of the
d-word community. I produced a PBS documentary a few years
back, "Conscience of Congress", chronicling Blacks in
Congress.

I first got interested in politics, social change and
documentaries in Washington, D.C., where I worked for the
Democratic National Committee, Congressional Black Caucus,
and various political leaders.

I now reside in New York City, where I'm currently toying around
with numerous documentary ideas. And trying to find someone
to work with on a project this summer. Preferably, something
that deals with controversial subject matter, social injustice,
and/or investigative reports.

So if you hear of anything, please let me know.....

Thks.

[tail wagging] Margot's learned how to do Italics :-)

Welcome, Kelvin. The actual D-Word Community is here:
{LINK NOT IMPORTED}

Welcome, Kelvin. Like Ben said.

Hi all,

This is Paul Hough. I made a film called THE BACKYARD which premiered
at Sxsw in March 2002, and will next screen at The San Francisco Indie
Doc Fest (May) Atlanta Film Fest (June) Flordia Film Fest (June) and
Melbourne International Fest (July)

Am excited to have found this community!

Paul

Hello

This is Jesse Turner, I'm a film student in Victoria B.C. I am
looking for everyone's personal definition of the "documentary". If
it isn't to much trouble I would really appreciate it if you
contacted me with your full name, an e-mail adress, and your personal
definition (please don't be afraid to be unique and poetic, though
you don't have to.) This is a study I am doing, your work will NOT be
exploited, I am just a very curious individual looking for a
proffesional opinion on the subject. Thank you for your time and
considerations, I am eager to recieve this information and look
forward to becoming closer to this community of brilliant individuals.
(I also think that this topic would make for a good conversation).

thank you.

please send name, doc-definition, and e-mail to james_pare@shaw.ca

Welcome, Jesse.

Doug, what do you think, maybe we should have a topic in here to
discuss personal definitions of documentary, instead of emailing them
to Jesse?

Hi.

I'm producing a film on a family's fight to keep their son/brother
from dying of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The film takes
place in a Montana town where the family has access to few
resources besides its own to fuel the fight. Because of their
ingenuity and dedication to their family, 5 boys and their mother
have helped the 6th brother live well past the life expectancy for
someone with his disease. The film explores the 6th son's love
of life and the role his family plays in keeping him alive.

Its an hour long piece that has been shot over the course of the
past 3 years on mini digital video. The director grew up with the
family and has special access to their home and hearts. We are
scheduled to wrap photography this summer and are starting to
cut on Final Cut Pro. In the meantime we have a fundraising
drive underway writing grants, creating an informational website
and starting a grass roots newsletter to keep donors aware of
the project. Montana PBS is interested in broadcasting the film
when it is done.

I'm new to the documentary world after spending years in
animation and television production. I'm looking forward to
meeting everyone and learning as much as I can.

Welcome, Brigid. Looks like you're doing a great job of jumping
right into the fire and producing from the ground up. Glad to give
you some help and support.

Hi there (from Vancouver, BC, Canada),
I found this site a couple days ago and wonder why it took me so long.
I signed up, originally, as my boss, Larry Baker, but it seems that
I'll likely have more opportunity to keep up to date with what's
going on here. Larry is a Sound Designer who has been doing audio
post production for documentaries (and other projects) for nearly 4
decades.
I work with him at his studio, Headroom Studios, doing marketing,
research, general administration stuff, etc...I'm hoping to pursue
some writing and producing in the near future as well. We both have
a love of documentaries and if we had our way, we would work
exclusively in that area.
It seems there are a lot of talented people in this group with
interesting projects and great ideas. Can't wait to get to know some
of you better...

hey all,
I work for a tv station in Northwest Missouri, at the moment I am
working on a behind the scenes doc following a local heavyweight
boxer, Rob Calloway. Possible fight on HBO before Christmas if he
beats his next opponent June 28. Fingers crossed and Las Vegas here
we come !

Welcome Paul and Dani.

Greetings Doc makers,

I'm Danielle Beverly, new to New York City via San Francisco and
Chicago. I've been working mainly for PBS since 1997. I'm in the last
months of production on my first feature documentary. The film follows
a 35 year old bipolar artist/chef/bulimic who destroyed her stomach and
esophagus in a failed suicide attempt, and is currently rebuilding her
life. I've done all the camera and sound on the film, as well as
produce it. Several doc makers suggested "d-word" as an excellent
resource, and I'm happy to now be part of this community.

Well, you're part of this Forum, Danielle, but not part of this
community until you email me and Ben a request: d-word@d-word.com

Bonjour,
I am an Australian currently shooting a doco in France - my wife is
an editor and has worked on several Australian and French
documentaries, and was previously making a series out of Tokyo where
we previously lived.
I am photographer, getting my head around this black art, and an avid
(not the brand, the generic term) forum subscriber/contributor.
Our current project is following the creation of a new political
movement in France in the wake of the recent tumultuous presidential
elections, which yielded yet another notch in the extreme-right
wing's belt.
Looking forward to sharing ideas and experiences (although I am
reletively new to the moving picture side of things - I was
previously a Production manager for a media/internet development
company in Tokyo.)
Voila....
will email now.

Welcome Steve. Hope to see you soon inside the Community as well.

Hello: I am a professional historian who, having spent a great deal
of time as a "talking head" on the tube or on the radio doing
interviews about various contemporary international issues decided a
few years ago that I wanted to learn how to get behind the
camera/microphone and learn to make documentaries myself. I have thus
far produced a number of short mini-documentaries and am working on a
much larger piece. Since I am trying to learn as many aspects of
documentary film making as I can, from the creative to the very
technical, I am hoping this forum will be the right place to do that.

Hey Steven, we can use more historians in The D-Word Community. Why
don't you email me and we'll get you in there: doug@d-word.com.

Hi all,
My name is Kathy and I currently reside in Beijing. My
experience so far in film has been writing and producing
fiction back home in Vancouver, Canada, but I've always been
fascinated with documentaries. Signed up to look for more
information about how to start making a documentary (where
to begin!), and to see if there's anyone in Beijing who
would like to start a project about the quickly disappearing
hutongs. Thanks and looking forward to being a part of this
forum.

Welcome Kat! Of the people who have introduced themselves, I can't
remember anyone being from Beijing. But someone has to do the first
step ...
So what are Hutongs again?

Hi, my name's Erin.
I'm assisting on someone else's project in an effort to learn more
about the process of production. I actually did quite a bit of
documentary work as a student, but it was very low-tech and shoe-
string funding. So now I'm hoping to be introduced to the world of
people who do this professionally.

Welcome to The D-Word, Erin!

Thanks for the warm welcome! Hutongs are old courtyard housing for
families (children, parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents
would live in the same compound but in different quarters with an
open courtyard in the middle) and they've been around for centuries.
With the 2008 Olympics coming, they're being leveled fast and the
ones that are being preserved are becoming very touristy. Are there
books or on-line resources you recommend to give an overview or an
idea on where to start (do I start with footage and see what I get
from that or do I begin with a story in mind...)? I probably have
very basic questions. Thanks!

Welcome Kat and Erin! Kat, try www.aivf.org

hi, all. i am a working filmmaker and the director of the 5th
annual channel islands indie film festival (sept 10-15 2002) in
ventura county, ca. we also curate a monthly series of
microcinema (shorts). we regularly screen docs addressing
progressive issues. we would love to see your film. cheers.

Welcome Phillip. I'm sure we'd all like more info on the festival,
if you have the time.

Thanks for starting this resource, Doug. And hi, all!

I'm currently prepping for "Yanomami: The Last Stand", which
will be following one of the last of the Orinoco Cowboys back into
the Amazon. What raised my interest is, he's going to help curb
a global epidemic the old-fashioned way. Should be fun, if not a
complete trial by fire for me.

With my previous background in children's television and music
videos, this project has really restored my passion for the real
world again. It'll be great sharing time with like minds, who also
want to bring their visions of the world to audiences that may
never get a chance otherwise.

Welcome to The D-Word, Scott!

Dragonfly Motion Pictures is a small (one-person) independent documentary production company located
in Toronto. Owned and operated by Rick Miller, I create low budget social issues documentaries. Dragonfly
also provides post production services to a variety of broadcast clients. Since graduating from York
University's film school in 1987I have acquired in excess of 100 editing credits on documentaries for
Canadian broadcasters TVO, CTV, CBC, History, Discovery, Bravo, and Vision.

Dragonfly Motion Pictures has three documentaries in production. "David, his bubby, and Goliath" profiles
a family of radical activist who follow the ancient Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam: healing the world
through social action. "The Cost of Copper" documents the history of remote northern Quebec mining
village which is in the process of becoming a ghost town. "Beer: A Love Story" is an examination of
Canada"s love affair with beer.

I hope that The D Word will provide me with a forum to acquire advice on issues that arise from time to
time when I produce my documentaries. I often have questions about ethics and story development that
I've not been able to find answers to anywhere else on the web. I'll also have questions about the craft of
documentary making. I also hope that I'll be able to make a positive contribution to your forums by
sharing my experiences with fellow filmmakers.

millrick,
Toronto
June 21, 2002

Hello,

I have been interested in documentaries since childhood. I
enjoyed "The Atomic Cafe" thoroughly as an example of popular culture
historic preservation.

I am a native of the Detroit, MI, USA area. I am a writer by training
and have a college degree in journalism. What I need is education in
filmmaking. I am interested in meeting another person with a film
background who would like to collaborate with a writer.

I have an idea for a documentary that was spawned by recent historic
events, that I believe could be done with taste and care if it is
planned first.

As a fan of popular culture, I am interested in how the events of 11
September 2001 had an impact on the "high" and "low" arts of the USA
and overseas. In other words, I would like to work on a documentary
about the popular culture of 9/11 that examines both professionally
produced items and "folk art" from ordinary citizens.

1. For example, the commemorative items, from high quality books and
memorial items, to the "kitsch" that remembers this dark date in US
history.

2. I am also interested in how 9/11 had an impact -- though brief --
on popular entertainment. From erasing the Twin Towers from movies,
to star-studded benefit concerts, reactions in corporate America
varied.

3. Another aspect of 9/11 pop culture involves the Web, such as the
folklore ("Tourist Guy"; Nostradamus) and endless memorial sites and
graphics.

4. Symbolism, iconography and jargon of 9/11. What person who lived
through this era does not know the meaning of "Ground Zero," "Let's
roll," towers with US flag behind them, or what a looped, red, white
and blue ribbon means? Major events often gain their own language and
symbolism, that when presented years later, will still evoke memories
of those who lived through or studied them.

The body of materials produced in reaction to 9/11 is a snapshot in
time, a reflection of recent American history. Even the tackiest
item -- a sequined purse sold in Australia showing a jet hitting a
tower -- tells us of emotions, opinions and reactions of the era.

Welcome Victoria, Rick & Scott. Good luck with all your projects.
What global epidemic is Yanomami fighting? I thirstily await "Beer: A
Love Story" while clutching my sequined, tragedy satchel...

Question:

How do I go about looking for a filmmaking partner to pursue this
documentary idea? I can write, such as scripting, but I need a person
with the technical know-how; i.e. camera operation, selection of film
or digital video, etc.

Start by contacting the film office in Detroit or Michigan. Ask about
all the professional organizations - network - find out who's doing
what. There are plenty of talented people out there - you just need to
find them. Another avenue is to look at the credits on shows that you
like and contact those people. Locally produced docs would be a place
to start.

Some advice - the most powerful docs are those with a central
character who undergoes change. We want to see people not ideas.
Figure out how to tell story with a person at the center.

Greetings, all!

My name is Bill, and I am a journalism student at the University of
Minnesota - Twin Cities. Most of my work has been in print, but I am
becoming more and more interested in documentary film. I have a
little experience in the classroom, but am always looking for outside
opportunities. I have talked with a number of professionals here in
the TCs, and was referred to this site. So, here I am, looking
forward to hanging out, catching the buzz, and asking questions...

Cheers!