Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

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!