Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

Erica, thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I've just
finished a two page letter to my "subject", who really is also a
friend who is always over for dinner with his family, etc. I'm half
talking him into it but also making sure he's up for the commitment.
My main points to him are "i think people can be more affected when
they can see and feel things through someone's eyes, particularly
someone who looks like them." and i take what you've said about sound
to heart; i've experienced the muddy sound of using the in-cam mic, so
i know i have to figure out something better than that. also a 3 chip
or a pro DP are not out of the question if we commit to do some
fundraising, but that's a little ahead of myself for now. but i'll be
sure to keep you posted and again, thanks for taking the time!

welcome, marc. normally wouldn't take someone without professional
doc experience into the d-word community but we sometimes make
exceptions for people with exceptionally worthy projects. you'll get
all the info you're looking for there. only request is that you do a
lot of reading of back posts, read the FAQ thoroughly before you start
asking questions. and when you do ask questions, make them as
specific as possible.

to join, go to: www.d-word.com/community/join

Doug, thank you so much for this opportunity. I have registered at
the D-Word Community and I look forward to learning a lot and being a
vital part of that group. I assure you that I will do a lot of back
post reading, I will know the FAQ inside and out, and I will be very
specific with my questions. Thanks for this opportunity; it means a
lot to me. I look forward to sharing my passion and enthusiasm for
indie film. Thanks again!

Hi there. I am very pleased to be a part of this forum. I am an
aspiring documentarian, studying at Hampshire College in MA. It means
a great deal to me to share ideas with you all, afterall, life is a
collaboration. Currently I am working for a documentary film company
on a film that focuses on the Spanish Civil War and how it was
portrayed in Hollywood films. I have made 3 short docs: "Associate"
(about how people percieve the same things in very different ways),
"April 2004" documentary about the March for Women´s lives in
Washington D.C., and "The Box" about the effects of television on the
young generation. My favorite documentarian is Frederick Weissman
("Highschool", "Titictu Follies" are ones that i recoment if you have
not seen them already). Anyone else share the same interest in his films?

Sorry, its spelled TITICUT Follies.

Um, it's also spelled Wiseman, Lily ;-) Yes, a number of his films
are considered documentary classics. On the other hand, his pacing
seems out of a different era. Hard to watch his films on television
now. They seem so slow and in desperate need of editing. His
historical importance and influence is unquestioned, though.

And this kind of pacing is what i believe needs to be re-introduced. I
worked for a television station for a while and editing the pacing was
the most challenging. everything had to be snap, snap, snap. it is
amazing what the humans eye has adapted to in terms of how fast it can
read images. is this scary? or, is it part of the evolution process?
certainly, it is. but, are we leading ourselves in the wrong
direction? i think it is ironic that even the term "back to basics" is
as commercial as anything else. Do we document this as a problem, or
just a celebration of humans evolving into a new kind? These are the
kinds of seemingly unanswerable questions that make me want to
document, like WISEMAN, to discover with no pre-convictions.

Doug, "so slow and in desperate need of editing"??? If you compared,
let's say, "Domestic Violence" (Wiseman) and "Divorce Iranian Style"
(Longinotto), how would you maintain the claim that the first one
seemed "out of a different era"?

Welcome everyone, by the way! :-)

haven't seen the longinotto film, ben. but sounds like she's out of
a different era, too, then ;-)

anyway, a worthy goal regarding the pacing, lily. would be nice to
tilt the balance back in the direction of wiseman.

Wow, Doug, getting soft-gloved all of a sudden? ;-)

Anyway, who else is out there?

Hi everyone - I think I just failed at making my first D-Word posting
on the introduce yourself thread. i hope i'm now in the right place.
i'm a first time chatter.

so i just moved down to new york from Cambridge, MA where i lived for
the last ten years. it's good to be back home, but i do miss the
little filmmaking community i left behind. i've poked around some of
the various threads here at D-word, and i have to say i'm quite
excited to be joing this community.

i'm in the process of trying to find enough funding to carve out the
time to cut my first feature, which i shot in the Ecuadorian Amazon
last winter. I'm still learning how to talk about the film, but
essentially it is a character-driven verite piece that investigates
the discovery and subsequent massacre of the area's last completely
isolated tribe. we are still without a web site, but i'd be happy to
describe the project more fully for those who are interested.

good to be aboard.

Hi, my name is Jessica and i'm just about to graduate from
journalism at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. I'm
currently interning for a production company, where i'm doing
work for them on a documentary film. I've already done two 30
minute documentaries for one of my classes and loved it. I'm
really interested in social issues and cultures and one of the
films that i produced was on HIV and AIDS, which turned out
great. I just joined to get feedback from more experienced
filmmakers, since this is one of my passions.
Cheers

I'm quite new to this, i actually just found this website when i was
researching for my documentary film. Well, just a hello to
everyone and i'm here to learn as much as i can. Do i just post
my questions here?

Welcome, Mark and Jessica. Try to post any newcomer's questions in
the "Mentoring Room" {LINK NOT IMPORTED}. Cheers.

ditto. welcome to both.

Welcome everyone!

Greetings everyone!

I'm currently just a VJ (doing live visuals at clubs,events) but am
planning on seriously getting into digital videography in general
and more specifically documentary making. My aspiration and goal is
to move to tokyo japan next year to make street type documentaries
of pop/subcultural odd/interesting social phenomena. initially i'll
probably tackle easy hip or youthful issues that seem more like a
music video but eventual would like to delve into serious social
issues in tokyo/japan that require more planning and resources... i
was thinking of moving there with a 2 man crew from here seattle but
now i'm thinking it be better to find a crew once i'm there on my
own for rent, financial issues. Since i have dual status i plan on
being there indefinitely to see this endeavour through. I plan on
having a website up soon and then eventually sell my product or
footage to, really, whatever broadcast outlet that will take
it...this are is my main concern and therefore the biggest are where
i'd like to receive realistic advise, etc... also is anyone on this
forum from japan? if so please hit me up! anyways, i'm glad i found
this place! yoroshikuonegaishimasu!

nice to have you here, ren. good luck with your plans.

Hi Ren, I have been very impressed by Vj's works. I think that
imagery connection will prove inportant to you. Welcome

Hello all,
Just dropping in to get some good advice from the pros. I have crewed
on Indie films and spent a couple of years as a videographer doing
corporate, wedding, and a little music video work. I am currently
prepping a doc of sorts involving two unsolved murders in Oklahoma
and Missouri. They are 5 and 9 years cold respectively so most will
be interviews with family etc. Hoping to get some good advice on
another thread to make the interviews as appealing and interesting as
possible. Thanks!

welcome, jim. and happy holidays to all in d-world!

Hello,
I am here to find out some info and become more literate in the
documentary film world. I am working on a documentary about couples
who make the decision/choice to not have children. I'm 21 years old
and finishing my Post grad in Public Relations. I'm working on this
documentary to gain experience in the industry and to help out my
cousin, who is the director/producer. I currently live in Ontario,
Canada but I grew up in British Columbia. I'm moving to London,
England within the year and can't wait. I am very excited to learn
as much as possible about the documentary world and to meet those
involved.

Welcome to The D-Word, Michelle!

Anybody else out there? :-)

nice to have you here, michelle. good luck with the doc and with
your studies.

Thanks very much! I'm going to post some questions in the ask the
experts section. If you can answer, please do!! :)

cheers,
michelle