Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

Greetings from Helsinki, I'm a California-born photographer based in Helsinki. Tomorrow I'll begin a 3-country journey that will land me at The Lemesos International Documentary Film Festival in Cyprus. There, a project I'm producing based in New York, entitled THE MUSIC NEVER DIES

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il6msr2ZuHc
(our trailer)

has been chosen to be a part of Docs Talk Cyprus, a 2-day pitch forum held within the festival. I'm three planes away, but am definitely looking forward to the project getting to take some meetings – we're now pulling for a co-production as we are ~40% funded with a budget of ~$250k.

JD, Rich, Yogesh, Ana and Jason, a warm welcome to you all. You're coming here so fast and furious it's hard to keep up with the greetings.

In reply to yogesh 's post on Wed 28 Jul 2010 :

What Doug said. Hey Yogesh, be sure to fill in your profile with your full name – D-Worders like to know who they're talking to.

Hi All—

A little about me:
I’ve been making documentaries in Los Angeles for the last 13 years – mainly films about a dying breed of old Hollywood art directors and cinematographers who I find inspiring as people as well as artists.
Some of my credits include, “Something’s Gonna Live,” which world premiered at the 2009 AFI FEST and is a follow-up to my first documentary, “The Man on Lincoln’s Nose" (2001 Oscar-nominated, Short Subject). Currently, I’m in post-production on a new film that will complete the trilogy of docs on old-Hollywood filmmakers.
Ross McElwee and Abbas Kiarostami are some of my cinema heroes. One of my favorite quotes from Kiarostami is something along the lines of: “Try to make your documentary like a fiction film, and your fiction film like a documentary."
Thanks to everyone who helps maintain this wonderful website. I look forward to meeting new folks on The D-Word!

Greetings and welcome to The D-Word, Daniel. Ross McElwee has been a huge influence on my work, as well.

Thanks, Doug. Great to be here! Any word on a release date for Ross McElwee's new film, "In Paraguay"?

No. I'm afraid there are complications that are holding it up indefinitely. Which is too bad, I'm very eager to see it.

Hi Doug,
Thanks for the update, albeit not very good news for us Ross McElwee fans. Are you at liberty to explain what the complications are holding up the film?
I posted in the Hidden Section a synopsis I found on Fandango – looks really interesting!

I wish I could but I told Ross I'd keep it to myself. But we're getting a bit off topic here, this is basically for intros and greetings. We can continue any discussion of Ross, In Paraguay and the unique challenges of personal docs in the Documentary Film topic.

Great, thanks!

Hello everyone, I'm Indrani Kopal, a documentary filmmaker from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And, I also work as a full time video journalist with Malaysiakini.com, an online news agency here in KL.

I just returned from Washington DC after being part of the 2010 International Emerging Documentary Filmmakers Fellowship program by The Documentary Center, at the George Washington University. I was really privileged to meet many experienced filmmakers during the 6-weeks program. And I really enjoyed SILVERDOC Festival.

indranikopal.blogspot.com/ is my blog. And, D-word site was a big buzz among many filmmakers I came across in US, so here I am :)

And we're very glad to have you, Indrani. You couldn't have gotten better training than from the Fellowship program. Hopefully The D-Word will keep the spirit alive. Welcome aboard.

Greetings from New Zealand.
I live between New Zealand and New York, where I started in the late 1980's as a videographer for downtown independent dance companies. Subsequently I focused on independent film and video work in the experimental genre. These short works have been screened in festivals and galleries in the States, Europe and New Zealand; I also have worked as a video designer, focusing again on the downtown theater projects. More recently I completed a multi channel video projection for the Govert-Brewster Art Gallery in New Zealand – titled: There Are Snakes in Paradise. It is an experimental documentary that looks at effects of living in the shadow of the largest international owned chemical plant in New Zealand (Dow Chemical) in the 1960’s –70’s which produced 245T in great quantities and was spayed in the mega tons from the top to the bottom of New Zealand – (The NZ brand: Clean and Green?). Previous to that I made a 32min Doc. about a painter Chuck Bowdish that was screened in various festivals in the US. My most recent doc. I have just completed with funds from the NZ film Commission is a film chronicling the lives (from 1996 to 2009) of three residents in a home on the Upper West Side in Manhattan who are blind and mentally challenged tilted: Not Everybody Can Do Everything. It is a 102min in length and now just beginning to send out to festivals.

Welcome to The D-Word, Peter. And feel free to register for "Professional" status to give you access to all the discussion topics (50, as opposed to just a few).

Indra, nice to see you here!

Hi everyone,

My name is Gustavo, I am a recent college graduate. I have been thinking about making a documentary (shocking and ill-advised, I know) about illegal immigrants and their path to college. I have a few people lined up to interview, some stuff about policy, a few contacts in some immigrant organizations, and would probably include some stuff about myself in the project as well.

I am a COMPLETE novice to filming! For now I have been watching some documentaries (including Doug's) and thinking about the arch that the project might take, I envision it being about 30 minutes long.

Does anyone have any advice in terms of literature or other informational material that might be useful? I am particularly interested in what you would think a good camera would be for my purposes. I've looked around a bit and like the Canon T2i. I don't have a mac, but I have a PC and access to the adobe suite.

I appreciate any help or advice you guys would have!

Look forward to hearing from you,
Gustavo

Hello all,

My Name is Blake Adams, and I have been in LA for twenty years, acting, writing and occasionally producing (my best...an award winning short film titled "Silent Radio") I have never thought about doing a documentary film until now. I was struck with an idea that I can not let go, and need some real guidance on how to put together the pitch. This is an area very strange to me, so any help on what kind of Package to put together...what are 'people' looking for in a documentary pitch.
Cheers,
Thanks

welcome, blake. feel free to post more specific questions in the Mentoring Room section of the D-Word. for now, the quick answer to your question is that people in the doc industry are primarily looking for intimate access to your characters. secondly, people are looking for subjects that are timely and reveal universal truths. celebrity involvement always helps to get a doc off the ground, but that is certainly not a prerequisite in the way that you need an A-list celeb to get a fiction film greenlit.

In reply to Gustavo Rosa's post on Tue 3 Aug 2010 :

Gustavo, your idea sounds interesting and timely. This issue isn't limited to the US, Europe and in particular Greece struggle with it.

Greetings, Gustavo and Blake. Gustavo, you might want to try a site like DV User, which has more technical topics on cameras. As for your approach to your film, it seems pretty spot on to me, so I'd say trust your instincts. If you're intent on reading a book, though, Michael Rabiger's Directing the Documentary is a classic. And glad if my film has been a help.

Greetings,
I am Chithra Jeyaram an MFA film production student at University of Texas, Austin. I used to be and still am a Physical Therapist and now an emerging documentary filmmaker.

United states is the only country in the developed world with no law requiring PAID PARENTAL LEAVE BENEFITS. Having a child is treated like a life style choice. Most parents lives changes dramatically not only because of the addition of a new life but because of the poor support systems.

I want to make a documentary about tag-team parenting, where parents who can't afford child care stagger their work shifts. For example – one parent works night shifts and the other day and exchange babies at parking lots. In the process, they barely see each other and such marriages or partnerships eventually end.

The situation is worse for single parents or those of the LGBT community. Currently, I am in the research phase of this project. Any suggestions or tips will be appreciated.

Also, I have wanted to make a film using both my skills – Physical Therapy and Filmmaking. Over the last three years, I have noticed that most filmmakers have bad postures and really bad backs. I have be toying with an idea for an animated/doc film on that topic. Any ideas?

thanks
C

Welcome, Chrithra, and feel free to join The D-Word as a full member . I'll be doing an Austin Film Society screening of my new doc THE KIDS GROW UP on Oct 13. Hope to meet you there.

Hello
My name is Kemuel Deaula, I grew up in Alvarenga, Brazil. I've been living in the United State for a long time now, i love it here. I am a graduate of Full Sail University. I am editing my second Documentary and things are going well. D-Word is a great website, i am new to it and still learning how to get around. Check out my resume at www.itsgrita.com/films i am also going to attach my Resume to this post. Have a good day!!

- Kemuel DePaula

Welcome to The D-Word, Kemuel. We sure are getting folks with great names here.

Doug Block
haha, that is true, when i was born they spelled my name wrong, so my parents kept it.

In reply to Gustavo Rosa's post on Tue 3 Aug 2010 :

Hey gustavo, how you doing? i am been doing research for a project similar to yours. shoot me an e-mail, i would like to help you, i want to know more about you project. Kemueldepaula@hotmail.com

In reply to Doug Block's post on Wed 4 Aug 2010 :

Hey Doug,
Thanks. I missed your documentary at Silver Docs. Would love to see the film and meet you in Austin.
Chithra

Same here, Chithra. Please make sure to introduce yourself at some point.

Hello –

I am new to the blog. I applied for full membership and hope to gain it!

I am currently finishing a 6 month project, which is set to finish tomorrow.

During these last 6 months I have made two short documentaries a week. They premiere every Wednesday and Sunday and are based on randomly drawn words. The project is called MINICONCEPTDOCS. It has been the single best documentary filmmaking learning experience of my life. They can be seen here http://robertemmons.blogspot.com or my Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/raemmonsjr

I would love to hear comments from other documentary filmmakers.

I would consider myself a folk filmmaker interested in local culture and history, usually within the area I live in.

I teach film and media studies at Rutgers University in Camden.

I have written about ethics in documentary particularly the ethical responsibilities of the audience and the face of the Other. I look forward to the insights of the diverse group of filmmakers on this blog.

In reply to chithra jeyaram's post on Wed 4 Aug 2010 07:21 PDT :
Hey Chithra,
Your line below cracked me up!

"Over the last three years, I have noticed that most filmmakers have bad postures and really bad backs."

Yes, there should be a physical therapy and yoga class for cinematographers and editors. It's hard enough to remember proper posture and ergonomics at a keyboard, but almost impossible to not hunch terribly while holding a heavy camera and staring forward into a viewfinder all day. Ugh!

In reply to Robert A. Emmons Jr.'s post on Sat 7 Aug 2010 :

You're welcome to join us, Robert. Even though it started as Doug's blog, The D-Word is better described as a community of documentary professionals these days with over 3,000 members from some 80 countries. Some of us teach docs as well, so there is a dedicated topic in the Member's area.

Really like the sound of your two docs a week, will check out your link.

In fact some of us teach at the same school...

In reply to Robert Goodman's post on Sat 7 Aug 2010 :

Ah, Mr. Goodman! We share many a student! The Digital Documentary production class at AIPh has been the best teaching experience I have had. I absolutely love it.

I suppose we'll actually run into each other at some point. Odd to meet here first...Hope to meet you in the flesh at Aiph.

Hi everyone!

My name is Ali and after being in the film industry as an AD and coordinator, I finally wrote my first documentary that will take me and my DOP to South Africa in October!

I am stoked and scared all at the same time. I feel overwhelmed. Does anyone have some good tips for a first timer?

Smiles,
Ali

The best tip I can think of offhand is to sign up for member status! (Though I'm not in charge, I'm guessing your work as an AD should qualify), and you'll have access to a lot of the more technical and various forums wherein you can ask much more pointed questions. I'm not sure if there's any one tip to make it seem less overwhelming except to expect that feeling and not pay too much attention to it! Oh, and welcome to the D-Word...

Hello Alison,
I'm in South Africa right now working on my first doc, I have worked as a photographer for the past 17 years and this is my first doc.
I will be around in October so depending on the area you are working in, we could certainly meet up. I'm living in Joburg.
Peace, Iris

In reply to Alison Barnim's post on Thu 12 Aug 2010 :

Hello Everyone,
I'm Iris and I'm new to the field of documentary filmmaking. For the past 2 years I have been working and shooting in the States and South Africa. As you may imagine, I'm running very low on funding and have not found a funding source that supports first time independent filmmakers. It anyone has suggestions of funders I should contact, please send info to me. All info will be greatly appreciated.
Peace, Iris

Hey all,
I've made some short docs in the past, but took some time off to start a career. I freelance PA for network news. Now I'm working on a film about children who are head of households taking care of younger siblings. This website seems to be a really good resource, so I'm hoping I can turn to it when I get stuck.
I'm wondering if anyone has had any recent experiences traveling on airplanes with camera equipment. How much are they going to harass me if I have a lot of equipment that I will be carrying on?

Best,
Robin

airlines and equipment...the rules are very strict because there are none of old flexibilities left in the system. People I know who used to tip the skycaps and get 20 cases on a plane are now shipping them fedex.

Whatever fits into a carry-on is okay. But you are limited to one and a small handbag – laptop, purse, whatever. If you travel business class you can bring a second carry-on. My advice pack light or ship it ahead. The bag fees get expensive if you do multiple hops.

In reply to Robin Rowley's post on Sat 14 Aug 2010 : I routinely squeeze as much equipment as I can carry on---on. Get yourself a good smallish camera backpack. I have a KATA bag that I love--holds a laptop, a small handycam or a DSLR and a couple of lenses and some external drives--all the cords, etc. and counts as your "purse or briefcase". Then figure out how to pack the rest of what you need into a rolling carry-on. Tripods are what kill the deal. And yes--the baggage police will just make you check--no way around it--if you've got more than 2 carry on items.

Good morning/afternoon, y'all. It's Ken here, spending a typical day editing a short piece for another producer, promoting our upcoming PBS broadcast of "Speaking in Tongues," our last film, working on a proposal and trailer for our current film, "Got Balz?", and juggling the filmmaker/parenting thing. And enjoying life.

Yup, that'd pretty much describe a typical day here, too. Nice to have you aboard the good ship D-Word, Ken, with all the other workaholics.

In reply to Ben Kempas's post on Tue 29 Jun 2010 :

Hi Ben, I would love to get in contact. My name is Peter Berulf Johnsen – so both. I started my production, been to Alaska and am going to Croatia and Mongolia for the next month.

Peter

I just joined, and am hoping to be able to help documentary filmmakers finish their post production sound.
I have mixed about half a dozen documentaries in the last several years, as well as other films.

Welcome to The D-Word, Peter and Bill.

Hi, I'm Marcia. I work with Ken Schneider, (who introduced himself above) on social issue docs. Our most recent is on PBS this month--a piece about kids growing up bilingual called SPEAKING IN TONGUES. I've spent the past 18 months working on a national engagement campaign for it. And now we're back in line fundraising for a new project. That's the life.

Great to have you here, Marcia. Looks like a great campaign and a powerful film. All the best with your broadcasts.

Hi, I'm Kerrin, and I'm currently working on a documentary about sexism and gender roles as portrayed by the media. I hope this website will help me get ideas for my topic. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to comment.

Hi there, I'm working for an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and we are looking for interns who can log footage in Santa Monica. The documentary will be released within the next year.
More details to follow once a dialogue is started.
Thanks!

Documentary filmmaker in Austin, Texas. I'm currently working on a documentary about a woman whose brother is on death row in Livingston. Always looking for collaborators. Willing to help out on others' projects as well.

Hi all,

Documentary filmmaker based in Dublin and at the moment I'm working on a feature doc about coffees, baristas, coffee farmers and a quiet revolution that could change the world.

Looking forward to collaboration and contact via this site.

David

www.davidlawless.co

New D-Worders arriving from around the globe – welcome Kerrin, Eliabeth, Erik and David.

Ditto. Greetings to all!

Hi,
I'm Helkin René Díaz. Photojournalist and DOP from Colombia.
I've just finish to shot the documentary film "Jala, a journey through the senses of water" in India. Shot with the RED ONE camera.
If someone need something in Colombia, don't hesitate to contact me.
All the best!
Helkin René
http://vimeo.com/channels/helkinrenephoto
www.helkinrenephoto.com

Welcome aboard, Helkin. Good to have you at The D-Word.

Hello,
I am searching for a copy of the documentary film Jack Johnson, nominated for an Academy Award in 1970. Jim Jacobs, director. It has a Miles Davis soundtrack.
Sam

Hi there,

I'm self releasing my first doc "The Evangelist The Hitman & The ACLU" so please stop by the website and then the Facebook page to let me know what you think.

Hello -

I am an expat living in Tel Aviv, Israel working on a satirical documentary exploring the reasons why there will never be peace in Israel between the Israelis and Palestinians. You can watch a clip from it on YouTube here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279oAQQzTZI

I am also working on a more personal documentary/home video documenting the ups and downs of a young couple (my wife and I) as we have our first baby.

I would love to hear from you. And that's a picture of me.

Welcome to The D-Word, Jason. Some folks here have been known to point a camera in their family's direction, too. Lots of luck with that.

Hello folks! I just joined and am a Virginia based filmmaker working on a few projects! I am excited to join and hopefully get advise about some of the issues coming up w/ some of my pending projects.

Greetings fellow filmmakers. I've been making films since my grandfather handed me the family 8mm camera, decades ago. Worked in television news for eight years, then fully believing that Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, I opened my own documentary production company. Joined the Directors Guild on the basis of my work in network broadcast television. Finished my own feature-length documentaries in the early 1980s :"With Eyes Wide Open", the story of a blind autistic painter, and "D.O.A.", the story of the Sex Pistols' disastrous first and only U.S. tour. Did several projects for National Geographic TV: "Passion for Pythons" and "Out of Control". Currently doing my best to avoid working for crappy fake-reality series on network television by producing docs for ABC and PBS. Open to collaborations. Have gear, will travel.

Glad to have you join us, Ramona and Ron. Welcome.

Hello everyone. I'm a graduate film student in North Carolina currently working on a short, personal documentary about a lesbian couple for whom I donated sperm. Kind of like Lisa Cholodenko's new film, The Kids Are All Right, except real.

Only two more semesters to go before I graduate and begin the transition from student to independent filmmaker. Looking forward to exploring the site!

- Rick

Sounds really interesting, Rick. Good luck with it and welcome aboard.

hello,everyone. i'm high school student in south korea. i'm interesting documentary. l'm happy to find this site and exploring it!

Good to have young fresh blood here, Juri. Welcome.

I'm Amy Fox. I'm here to learn from and work with experienced documentary filmmakers. I offer my services as a production coordinator, PA, sound assistant, camera assistant or editor anywhere in Japan (or possibly Taiwan) at any point between late October 2010 and April 2011. I might be available as late as October 2011. If you know anyone, please let them know that I'm interested.

Film experience:
I've covered two rallies and two concerts. I've been the director's assistant, sound assistant and editor on a dramatic short, and helped coordinate production on a second. I've script-doctored two screenplays, and I will be crewing four short films over the next month.

Other experience:
I've worked as a volunteer coordinator and metal fabricator. I've been published twice, and have been a text editor more times than I can count. I've organized a youth improv group, a pro-trans/pro-sex feminist grrlella art collective, two Queer drop-ins, and four satirical political campaigns.

As you can see, my biggest strength is coordinating people. I'm interested in turning this strength towards filmmaking.

So if you're in Japan (or possibly Taiwan) and want an extra worker, or know someone who would, please contact me.

Welcome to The D-Word, Amy!

Hi, I'm Tom Puskarich, founder of Digitap Transcription Services in Kathmandu, Nepal. http://www.digitapservices.com

My wife and I collectively have 12 years in documentary production and 10 years in technology backgrounds to serve all your documentary transcription needs. We've already had great feedback of our services from companies such as National Geographic TV & Film as well as Discovery Studios. We pride ourselves on our low and up-front prices, quick turnaround, and flexible workflows to help your project. We also are operating across the US and Nepal to offer round the clock help.

Plus our company is made up of largely international volunteers who use this money to keep them being able to fight human trafficking, serving orphans, and working to make a brighter future for one of the most impoverished countries in the world; Nepal.

We also now have a special for New Clients to get their first 10 minutes of transcription free! Email us at info@digitapservices.com to find out more!

Hey everybody!
I'm Adrien, I'm french. I've been studying cinematography for five years in Paris and I'm now a documentary director/cameraman. I just moved to San Francisco a few days ago, that's why I came here. I'd like to find jobs as a cameraman for documentaries (or even fiction actually) around the city. I already worked on a couple of movies, about a massai tribe in Kenya or the Freedom riders in the US for example.
Don't hesitate to contact me for any information, I need to meet people here!
blondel.adrien@gmail.com
Thanks!

Welcome to The D-Word (and the U.S.), Adrien. Good to have you here.

hallo!
I just moved recently to Chicago with my husband, originally I´m from Germany. At the moment I´m trying to get connected to Chicago filmmakers and get involved in local documentary productions.
My desire is to find other people that have a passion for doc. films and work together on projects.
I already finished a couple of my own independent films with topics around the middle east, a holocaust surviver, lung transplantation, churches in Turkey and also informational films for not for profit organizations. I`m a cinematographer and editor. If someone has a film idea in the Chicago area I would be interested to hear about that and see if there is a possibility to work together on a project.

Welcome, Maren. You should definitely register here for professional membership which would give you access to our member's database. You could do a search of Chicago members and read their profiles, might well be helpful. As will participating here on the various discussion topics, which you'll get many more of as a pro member.

Hello Everyone,

My name is Tal Levitas. I have experience in the film festival world, as I have worked in various capacities with the Silverdocs film festival for several years. Since moving to Los Angeles, I've been working on narrative productions as a Production Assistant.

I am working on an independent documentary project and while my production skills are fairly green, I probably have some insights related to the film festival process.

I have a passion for documentary film and am excited to meet with others who share this.

You're in the right place, Tal. Welcome to The D-Word.

Howdy-
I am producing/directing (and so far, just about everything else) my first film, a documentary about race-based inequities in the American education system. I started out as a teacher in South Central, Los Angeles and have been working as an advocate for urban, minority students ever since.

I decided to make TEACHED because it seems to me that much of the public doesn't really understand the racism inherent in our system--or dismisses it, blaming inner-city kids (in particular), and their families, and their culture, for their lower academic performance instead of making sure they get as good of an education as their white and wealthier peers.

Stepping off my soapbox now.....a new friend (an experienced editor) introduced me to the D-Word as a good place to look for an editor for TEACHED (and a place to find general advice, contacts, etc.). I will post an ad today– hoping to finish TEACHED before 2010 is out!

Cool site. Very happy to be here.
Kelly

And we're happy that you're here, as well, Kelly. Sounds like an important film you're making, so hang in there.

Feel free to register as a full member which would give you access to all 50 discussion topics.

Hi Kelly,
I'll send you a copy of our "walk Right In" if you will send me an address.

Hello all,

I am eagerly about to dip my toes in the documentary world and in need of some advice I found this site. I'm sure this isn't the exact place to post questions so I'll end my intro here and figure out where to go next.

Cheers,
James

In reply to Jason Fredric Gilbert's post on Sun 29 Aug 2010 :

Hello Jason! I just signed up to this site and immediately saw your post!
I'm heading to Tel Aviv in a little more than three weeks time shooting a documentary about the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's first tour to Israel since 1975.
On top of the Israeli/Palestinian issue you've picked up on a truly universal theme for your doc – getting the thing funded!
Good luck with your documentary. Getting everyone together again would be amazing, but even just documenting all the reasons it won't happen is enlightening.

Cheers,
James

Welcome, James. Questions can be posted in the Mentoring Room topic.

Deirdre Towers, Dance on Camera Festival Director, co-produced by Dance Films Association and Film Society of Lincoln Center, is looking for documentaries involving dance for our 39th Festival. Please see our website with the on-line entry form – http://www.dancefilms.org

I just finished a dance film which can be seen on Vimeo – http://vimeo.com/15124459
(Black) Light

Love to see your documentary James

Dance on Camera Festival 2011

Please see our website with the on-line entry form – http://www.dancefilms.org

Hi all,
we are a team of writers, filmakers and producers for tv-series and documentaries based in Rome,Italy. You can follow us on twitter @StoryFactoryDoc

Welcome, Story Factory. So you know, if you want to register for full membership at The D-Word (and we certainly hope you will) you'll need to do so as individuals rather than as a company.

The "real name" policy counts for everyone – you can only join The D-Word as an individual, not as a team or production company.

Hello! I took the "real name" policy literally and included my middle name. I wasn't trying to sound pretentious ... honest! "Enthusiast" is a perfect description for me. Currently, I'm a Big Fan/consumer of documentary ~ especially when Hot Docs rolls around. Am trying to get a sense of The (doc-making) Life to sharpen my appreciation as an audience member.

Welcome, Ann. Nice to have a genuinely enthusiastic enthusiast here in the mix. Hope you find what you're looking for.

Hi D-Word,

I am way overdue in joining this amazing community, and am glad to finally be a part of it. I made my first documentary in 2004 with Tim Nackashi, Dirty Work (dirtyworkdoc.com), have worked for hire as a cinematographer and producer and director in various corners of the non-fiction film and tv-making worlds, and am now in the middle of making my next documentary feature, called My Own Man, about my middle-aged masculinity crisis (check out myownmanthemovie.com for more details on the project). In some ways I'm an experienced filmmaker but in some ways I also feel like a newbie, especially when it comes to the business of attracting funding and building an audience and getting films out into the world, so I'm here to offer what I can while benefiting from the mentorship of this sprawling network of documentary nuts. Thanks for having me, David

Part of the business seems to be discovering that however much experience you accumulate along the way, it's inevitable to find that you're a newbie again and again.

You're welcome to share your crises at The D-Word, David.

Hello,

My husband and I run a post-production facility here in NYC and for some reason have found ourselves working with a lot of documentary filmmakers. We mixed "Dark Days" here as well as "King Corn" and "Herb and Dorothy". I love working on docs and I hope I can add something to the discussions as well.

Hello D-Word,

I am an aspiring documentary filmmaker who is currently researching film schools and am in need of some professional advice. I hold a Bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to film and have very little experience with production, editing, distribution, etc. In your professional opinion, do you think my time and money would be better spent pursuing a Master's degree that may focus heavily on history and theory, or pursuing more of a "hands on" program such as the one-year documentary filmmaking program offered by the New York Film Academy? I have read some varying reviews on the NYFA in general, so any advice or opinions you may have about that school would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your help!

Todd

It's a couple of years old already, but have you seen the Independent's The 10 Best Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers ?

Welcome, Todd, Barbara and especially David, who I've known for a while now (as well as his impossibly lovely wife). You may feel like a newbie but you're not. Dirty Work showed great talent and can't wait to see how My Own Man turns out.

In reply to John Burgan's post on Wed 29 Sep 2010 : Thanks for your quick reply, John. I have been researching the programs mentioned in the Independent article and it has been a great starting point. Please let me know if any other advice comes to mind.

Spend your money getting experience. Volunteer for one of the many top-notch doc makers running around NY, Phila, or DC. Then decide if you want/need a masters. You are more likely to find employment by being a great volunteer than by going to school.

Hi,
My name is Teresa Pigeon; I live in Cary, NC. I am a photographer, but have recently branched out into documentary video. At Duke's Center for Documentary Studies, I learned how my reach can be extended by moving into the video field, and I'm working to use these new skills to tell stories.

I'm currently working on a short about a local eccentric. Also, I'm documenting the making of a local film. Next, I hope to work on a piece about the use of therapy dogs in Hospice (where I volunteer). I'm only in the planning stages of this – but there are so many things to consider.

As is true for most folks, I learned so much in shooting and editing my very first video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjuCfvaw0k.
I learned what to do and what to NOT do (and it's apparent in the clip!)

Very recently I've decided to put much more time and effort into documentary video, and hope to learn from your experiences. I'm excited about some recent work I've done using the 5dmkii – and it's possibilities (while very aware of the limitations). Examples of my photos: www.pigeongallery.com

Welcome, Teresa. A great program you went to at Duke. And you're doing the right thing by just plunging in and making films. Best of luck.

Hi Everyone – wow, it's been 5 years since my last sign in (where does the time go?). Anyway, thought it'd be time for an update and looks like there's a LOT more people here now. Make a long story short: Documentary (corporate media/events producer to pay the bills) producer/director . . . . moved to the Jersey Shore – exit 102 – Asbury Park. . . . . large arts and cultural component in a never-ending up and coming seaside city . . . . NO movie theater. . . . . in a city that used to have 7 (count 'em 7) movie palaces in its heyday (Walter Reade had headquarters here) . . . . couldn't believe that every art genre represented but film . . . . couldn't let that alone . . . . have opened a 56 seat art house theater in the downtown that for the past 16 months has developed a growing, appreciative audience in a considerable radius of the city . . . . it's called The ShowRoom Independent Cinema – www.TheShowRoomAP.com – so now I'm an exhibitor as well as a producer! . . . . quite an odd couple of hats, but very enjoyable and exhilarating to be able to workshop my productions as well as be the salon for others who are making film and looking for an audience. . . . . . and I thought it would be a good time to reconnect and network with everyone on the DWord since I still have a member status here. . . . . right now we're producing short docs that screen before the features, so we keep producing while we're exhibiting. . . . quite a ride . . . . look forward to chatting with you all. . . . Thanks