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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

Hey there.

I'm an aspiring studenty type wanting to make docs when i grow up.

Just wanted to ask if anyone has any opinions on the future of
documentary making in relation to new digital technology

lots more docs getting made. bar getting lowered re basic craft
(especially cinematography). pity the poor festival programmers
wading through all the crapola. still, any number of gems are getting
made that never would have otherwise: tarnation, dig!, etc.

Hi all,

greetings from Amsterdam, home of IDFA, one of the largest
documentary film festivals in the world held each year in November.
I'm joining because I love documentaries and to talk about them, to
answer any questions about IDFA, your opinions about IDFA and of
course to hear about interesting documentaries made in whereever you
live. Don't hesitate to ask anything. My personal favourites from the
2004 edition are Darwin's Nightmare by Hubert Sauper, Liberia: an
Uncivil War by Jonathan Stack and James Brabazon and last but not
least The 3 Rooms of Melancholia by Pirjo Honkasalo. If you have a
chance to see them, go! Greets

Hello all,

I wanted to introduce myself and my new documentary production
co. to you all- AshfordFilm ( www.ashfordfilm.com ). We recently
completed a 45 minute doc on the New Hampshire Primary,
featuring John Kerry, of course. It is a great film and it played in
a few festivals. This was the "youngest" political doc to come
out of the election year, as we hadjust graduated from film
school in Boston.

Anyway, If you are in LA, on the 25th on January, listen to my
interview on Centerstage 88.9 @ 7PM with Mark Gordon.
www.stageandscreen.com.

Otherwise, I would love to keep everyone updated and
will contribute to this forum regularly. All the best!

welcome, david and will r. glad you found us.

Hi,
In 1976, age 19, I wrote a wish-list of what I wanted to do & explore
in life, memorized it and tucked it away.

In 2000, I stumbled upon that old list and noticed I had seen and
done a little over half of it.

Also realized I really didn't want to do the rest of that list
anymore. Ha!

So I pondered and wrote a "wish-list" sequel for the rest of my life
on this stage. I carry it in my wallet, it contains 11 written goals.

The third one is, "Produce a TV Documentary Series".

Hmmm, well that may prove to be the most difficult one on the list,
but it's time to start that ball rolling.

So, Hello

hey richard, welcome. hope you have more than a few years for wish
3...

a second lifetime?

Thanks Doug,

"a few years" . . .Yea I realize, lol. I've prepared myself to allow
5 to 10 years before I see an internationally televised doc series.
But I've got 26 years of material gathering behind me, so I'm not
going to toss this goal aside, too much passion. I think that a
significant audience wants to hear what's in my head, as they're
already pondering these things privately. However very few (if any)
are doc'ing this stuff cross-culturally & religiously respectfull
enough to be marketable for national TV.

Like most up-start doc producing dreamers, I think I've got an edge.
We'll see. "I've got a dream", hope no one shoots me.

Very glad I found your work here Doug. Thank you.

Hello all,

I'm a new media gal gone old media - from Web production to radio and
now film. I've also been a freelance writer for about 15 years so
video production is like a revelation - a whole new way for me to
express the visuals! I'm in the middle of producing a 12-part series
for Wyoming Public Television about social issues faced by families in
the state (domestic violence, economic assistance, child support
enforcement, etc).

For anyone wanting to break into producing, check your local public
television (PBS, not local access) station. They have smaller budgets
but in smaller markets are very open to newcomers.

The experience has been invaluable, and my husband and I have invested
in equipment and lined up a project in Alaska where I'll be moving in
June for a year. I have a few other personal projects I'd like to work
on as well - one in particular, about miscarriage - will be my labor
(so to speak) of love.

I'm excited to be hear, to learn and share. And I'm glad to reconnect
(virtually) with Doug!

so glad you found us, aliza, and that you've made your way to the doc
world! and now hope you'll join the d-word community, where the pros
hang out: www.d-word.com/community/join

best... doug

Hello,

I am a partner in the law firm of Abdo Abdo Broady & Satorius and
practice entertainment law.

I have worked extensively with documentary filmmakers and
organizations including Independent Television Service and TPT. I
have provided legal counsel to many documentary filmmakers who have
won Academy Awards and nominations, Peabody Awards, Emmy Awards, and
numerous awards at the Sundance Film Festival.

I have served on the Board of Directors of the IFP MSP since July,
1987; president 2002-2004. I was instrumental in organizing the IFP
National and serve on that board.

I have also produced documentary films and have a MA in film
production from the University of Iowa. I am an active member of
the American Bar Association's Forum on the Entertainment and Sports
Industries and serve as the Associate Editor of the ENTERTAINMENT
AND SPORTS LAWYER. I just returned from the Sundance Film Festival
where I chaired a seminar on “Independent Film Financing” co-
sponsored by the American Bar Association and IFP.

You can find out more about me at our website at www.abdoabdo.com.

dan modestly didn't mention that he's representing esther robinson's
terrific feature doc, "the danny williams story" (which i happen to be
producing with esther). in no way did he solicit this but he has my
unqualified endorsement. welcome, dan!

Thanks Doug. It was great to see you at Sundance last year. But I
missed running into you this year. Esther is wonderful and the
project is wonderful. I am glad to be working with you on it.

ditto, dan. was too busy working on a new film (apart from esther's)
to do sundance this year. alas.

noticed you registered for the community. look forward to continuing
the conversation there.

this is great. Finally on UTNE. I am a doc film maker who does mostly
stories of rockers. I am working on the story of the late great Laura
Nyro. If anyone here has film, photos or stories of her please contact
me. Mostly what I am struggling with is funding (of course!) I would
benefit emmensely discussing funding. How? Grants drive me nuts. But,
have to do I guess.