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hello all,

well after turning 30 this year, i decided to rethink my career and
take the big jump to go back to school to pursue documentary
filmmaking (for love if not for money). i'm trying to build up some
knowledge and experience before applying, so i'm currently taking my
first documentary filmmaking class through an extension program. it's
been an *interesting* initial experience to say the least. i'm glad i
came across the d-word and think this list will be a great resource.

Welcome, Aileen. Glad you realize this is a "labor of love" kind of
career. Hope you saved your pennies from the previous one ;-)

Lotsa luck.

Good to have you here, Will. But pleeeease join us at The D-Word
Community, where all of our members hang out.

Just email me your Utne user name and password and I'll register you.

Hello. I'm Churchill Roberts, professor and co-director of the
Documentary Institute at the University of Florida.
www.jou.ufl.edu/documentary I teach courses in documentary film
history and, along with three colleagues, produce documentaries for
the PBS network. Our most recent documentary, "Freedom Never Dies:
The Legacy of Harry T. Moore," aired last year on PBS. I enjoy
discussing documentary and learning what others are doing. When we
are not teaching, my colleagues and I travel a great deal and, when
we don't have a shoot, try to attend documentary conferences. My
colleague Sandra Dickson will be attending a RealScreen conference in
New York this month and next month I'll be going to Berlin for the
World Congress of Producers of History. My other two colleagues
(lucky devils) will be going to Sundance. In July I visited the
Munich Film School and was most impressed with the faculty and
students there. I look forward to corresponding with
you.

Welcome, Churchill. We'd love to have you join The D-Word Community
(www.d-word.com/join).

Hello All,
I am a newby to this scene. I have a background in various media
(audio, still photography, graphics,and of course video). Doing docs
has always been something that I wanted to do but never had the
resources until about 3 or 4 years ago. Docs are,(in my humble
opinion)an incredibly important tool for voiceing topics and
information that mainstreem media can't or won't do justice to. I
hope to contribute my two cents before I check off this planet.I have
two projects I am working on. One being a look at the Jazz history of
Baltimore from the grass roots to the present.Your forum is
invaluable because this kind of knowledge and insite can't be taught
or bought. I look forward to taking part in as well as learning from
your forum.

Sincerely,

John

Hey, John, it's nice to have you here and do take part. I applaud
your eagerness to leap into the daunting docu-making fray. It's a
long haul making a doc, so hold onto that spirit.

Oh that knowledge and insight could be bought...

Welcome Churchill (or do we call you Professor Roberts?) and John.
Sound like great projects. John, are you based in Baltimore?

Erica and Douug,

Thank you for the welcome. Dough, I just Hope with much help
determination,and inspiration that I can contribute something
meaningfull and informative. I look forward to the forums. Erica, Yes
I am based in Baltimore (Maryland).In hind site, I would agree that
it is possible to purchase knowledge and insite (the purpose of
college I would conclude). But that is just from a single instructor.
The total knowledge and insite available from so many sources and
experiences in a forum like this is priceless.Your Point is well
taken.

Peace,

John

I like the Baltimore (Maryland). Is there another Baltimore? (I'm
in Greenbelt, myself - that's why I asked).

Most colleges/film schools charge enough dough (not to be confused
with Doug) to provide more than one instructor. But life experience
and contacts with other likeminded filmmakers are indeed priceless.

Erica,

Believe it or not there is another Baltimore. Baltimore, Ohio. After
finding that out I dont assume anything anymore. Life experiences was
probably a beter term to use. These days with Ebay you can buy just
about anything.Untill next time.

Peace,

John

Hi everyone!

I'm currently in post production for my first (legitimate)
documentary on Activism (interviews and footage at the G8 leaders
summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada.) I've been trying to get into
the film industry for awhile and finally decided to make my start by
doing my own project. The learning curve was steep, thats for sure.
I look forward to future discussion here.

Cheers!

Welcome, Tom. Nice to have you join us.

Welcome, Tom. Nice to have you join us.

Hi, My name is Victor Huey, a Chinese-American film maker based in
New York. After working on IATSE Feature Film world for 25 years, I
have dropped out of that world to return to grad film school, to take
time off to work towards the completion of my epic 20 year
documentary film about the underground music scene in China,
entitled "Rocking the Great Walls.

Hello I'm from New York and I'm currently working on an Independent
film "Wonder Boy", but, I also have documentary films playing on one
of my websites. I'm looking for feedback and what it's like on the
film festivl circuit, if anyone is into that. I'm looking for
whatever help I can get from people. please visit us and watch our
works. www.webworkfilms.com

Thank you

Let me be the first to welcome you both.

Thank you

And I'll be the second. Chris, feel free to fire away with questions
in the Mentoring topic, but it's hard to respond to general ones. Try
to make them as specific as possible.

Victor, I applaud your tenacity. Like casting in fiction films, it's
75% of the battle in making docs. Keep us posted on your progress.

Ok question #1)Funding for documentary films. Do you guys know of
any way to obtain funds other then my own pocket.
#2)Also do you guys know of any good places to buy equipment from in
new york or online that has cheap prices.

I'll think of #3...

Thanks

thAnks for the encouragement...victor

B&H has good prices and a nice showroom.
Funding for docs falls into grants from foundations, commissioned
programs from broadcasters or cable, self-funded, filmmakers with
reputations who can get presales money from broadcasters or cable to
fund some or part of production.

I'm currently filming my second documentary. The first was
funded by Fox, this one is funded by my credit cards and the
kindness of friends. I produced commercials for 8 years, so
there are some people who owe me favors and are pitching in
on this! I'm hoping to find some insights on this site by others
who have been there. (Specifically where to get cheap
equipment)

Welcome to The D-Word, Tricia, and don't forget to join us in our
humble filmmaker hang-out {LINK NOT IMPORTED} as well.

More info at www.d-word.com/community