Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

I've been a video-maker since I bought my first video camera in 1969.
I've retired from running an art deco lighting business and want to
master documentary making.

I bought a Sony HC42 mini-dv camera and have been exploring the
intersection of art, commerce and politics at street fairs. I've
focused on gay pride fairs specifically because they reveal a
fascinating glimpse of a world many people are interested in but a
society few understand.

I've done interviews at six different gay events. I also explored a
street fair sponsored by a homeless soup kitchen and another sponsored
by a Park Avenue Association in Manhattan on the same day a few blocks
apart.

I've started attending events at the Apple store in Soho. I'm
comfortable but not wealthy. I can afford to spend $10,000 to $20,000
on camera, sound and editing equipment.

Is this the best way to go? I've been reading here and also at DV
Info Net. I'm particularly interested in getting into the new world of
video blogging --"vloging".

Does anyone have any additional resources to suggest I explore?

HI everyone,
I am a newbie and enjoying the site. There are so many questions to
ask, but I figured I'd say hello first! I am working on a ballet
documentary and have just started using FCP. I use to work in Imovie.
Now, I need to figure out how to convert Imovie DV files to the FCP
DV format. Any suggestions? I think maybe this is a rendering
situation, but I a newbie!

Welcome Randolfe and Christian. We generally try to answer the
technical questions at The Mentoring Room topic.

That said, I haven't a clue about converting IMovie to FCP. Randolfe,
I assume you're going the FCP route. Why not just get the most
storage and memory you can, good monitors, and go to town?

New person on site. I'm a student at Curtin University in Westerna
Australia and I joined the site to try and find out some legal
information for a doco I'm planning.

fire away in the Mentoring Room topic, jasmine. glad you found us.

'm glad I found you too!

well, after a few weeks of surfing the web on and off, I think I found
what I was looking for. An online forum specifically catered to
documentaries. ahem, excuse me: to the D-word.

I'll attempt to avoid a long-winded monologue about myself, my past
projects, struggles... et al... and keep it short'n'sweet.

I have two projects that are both shot and have remained dormant for
the last 7 years - ouch - at least. Both focus on New Hampshire
subjects: one involves a barber that sold used records at his shop and
the other centers around two contra fiddlers who are still alive and
playing.

So much time has lapsed since shooting all the footage, I have found
that my initial interest in the material has changed immensely. So
much so that I'm now trying to grasp the same inspiration I was
bubbling with when I captured all the footage - so that I might
finally edit the pieces. Ugh. And I can't even blame the lack or
expense of technology anymore. Now I really DO have all the tools.

(here I go, rambling) gotta keep this short...

There you have it. Time + different sensibilities = box of tapes.

I know there's a story buried in those hours of footage... or at least
I had one in mind when shooting. How does one turn the light on again?
Without that same inspiration I feel the editing will lack a voice -
and that makes for dull storytelling. I'm a different person, but the
footage remains the same. Hmmm...

I've enjoyed reading some of the above posts and look forward to
learning more. Will check back when time allows...

Cheers,
Jeff

welcome, jeff. my advice is to simply view and log your footage. if,
at the end, you aren't inspired then let it sit. if you are, think
about editing a 5 to 10 minute sample for fundraising purposes. my
guess is you'll find your inspiration again.

thanks doug. sound advice.
i feel as though it's a bit like Plato's cave. now that i've had some
distance from the footage and reviewed every angle of it, my attitude
towards the material changed. i'm now looking at it with a more mature
set of eyes - which certainly isn't a bad thing - it just changes the
perspective some.

anyone got a time machine I can borrow?
~ Jeff

I've been having a lot of fun recently at the Yahoo videoblogging
site.

I would also encourage those coming here to check out the Current
TV "studio" page where they can learn how to submit video and also
get to "judge" videos that have been submitted to Current for
consideration.

For those who really want to get on the "cutting edge", I'd suggest
exploring the following resources involving "vlogging":

August 20, 2005 update:

CBS News covered one site listed below and that newscast can be
watched via this link:
http://tinyurl.com/aaamm

The kind of unique sharing of personal experience that vlogging
makes possible is demonstrated by this vlog in which a young woman
takes us into her doctor's office while she undergoes a bioptsy.
http://8bitme.blogspot.com/2005/08/biopsy-day-arrives.html

This site has great free tutorials:



http://freevlog.org/



The Yahoo video bloggers discussion group is really a fantastic
resource with a lot of interaction going on.

videoblogging

1175 Members, Archives: Public

Videoblogging is taking off. We discuss practical issues (bandwidth,
process, need for a videoblogging tool) and more philosophical
issues (why and what is a videoblog? ...). Join the conversation! A
very good group has gathered here to make videoblogging a reality.
Creators and developers are equally welcome and needed. Here are the
steps to take to best take advantage of this group: 1. Make a
videoblog. Freevlog explains how to videoblog for free. Feevlog
explains how to videoblog for a fee. ( ...(more)





Before discovering FireANT, I was drawn into exploring the vlog
universe through this site. Click on the “make your own vlogroll”
link above the displayed video frames on the opening page. By
checking those vlogs that look interesting and then continuing to
the bottom of the page, you can have them open in a vertical row and
you can check them out quickly.

http://videoblogging-universe.com/



At the Apple store in SoHo, they will have a second monthly
presentation described here. (Film Archives in Manhattan is
starting a monthly presentation of the best vlogs after a successful
recent event.)



Videoblogging

Join videobloggers as they show their favorite videos and viewing
tools, discuss video blog creation, and share tips and techniques.
Learn how you can create your own video blog for free!
August 27, 7:00 p.m.

A vlog that does a pretty good job when stacked up against
professional commentators/newscasters
is:http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2005/08/rb_05_aug_01.html

The funniest and most talented humorous vlog I’ve found to date is:

http://www.jonnygoldstein.com/2005/08/06/yanni_goldthtein_holithtic_h
ealer_holithtic_videoblogging.php



A vlog that is polished and professional, one that loads and plays
in a way that proves real quality is possible can be found at:
http://fauxpress.blogspot.com/2005/08/kites-meditation-on-romantic-
love.html

A vlog which is so open about personal matters, it is absolutely
chilling, can be found at: (updated every Monday)
http://www.tonyhayden.com/

This video captures the spirit of the vlogging world.

http://randomshow.com/media/video/20050804a.mov






The best discussion I’ve found about digital video has been at:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/

Hello,

My name is Marco Raaphorst. I work as a composer and sound designer
for all sorts of media. I am located in The Hague, The Netherlands.

I have done all sorts of projects, some of them internationally. I did
some work for Dutch RTL Sport and the Canadian CBC's ZED-TV. But I
would like to find composition work for documentaries since I am a big
fan of documentaries myself. My music can fit like a glove with the
imaging, or be the contrast, if that's what we want :)

For a brief introduction about my work, please check
http://melodiefabriek.nl

--
Regards,

Marco Raaphorst

Melodiefabriek
Van den Boschstraat 286
2595 AH The Hague
The Netherlands

+31-703470409, +31-645492000

http://melodiefabriek.nl/

welcome, marco. glad you found us.

HI,

My name is Kylie Purcell and I am a third year Television Production
at Charles Sturt University in NSW, Australia. I am currently
working on a Research Paper in which I have decided to focus
on 'Editing the Documentary', and the different approaches taken in
cutting a doco as opposed to say a fictional work.
If anyone has any info or knows where I can find some i'd be very
grateful!
-Thanks

Well, Kylie, you might start by reading our conference: The Art of
the Documentary Editor {LINK NOT IMPORTED}

wow- i should have looked around more. This is place is excellent!!
Thanks

well, we think so ;-)

hello,

my name is robert, i have made a couple shorter documentaries, combining
elements of docs and experimental film. i am in the VERY early stages of
a (hopefully) feature length doc, and i am writing a script which i
would like to shoot in the documentary style, because not only is that
stylistically appealing to me, but i find that it is the best
environment for everyone involved in the film to truly be at their most
creative, but i could write a novel on my theories about that, so i will
just stop right there. this place looks like a wonderful community.

Welcome, RObert. Sounds like you have big plans.

I'm Michael Lieberman, from Binghamton, NY and recent college
graduate.

Currently working on a documentary about an Iraq war veteran,
who's now speaking out against the war.

I enjoy the process immensely, as if every day shooting is an
education in life skills and cinema, which is more than I ever
got in college, believe me.

This is the best forum I've seen on documentary filmmaking and I
look forward to spending time here.

Welcome, Michael. Go Binghamton Mets! Yeah, there's a limit to what
a college, even a film school, teaches you about making a film. The
rest is here on D-Word.

Welcome, Robert and Michael. Wishing you both good luck on your
projects.

Hello! My name is Mechelle Martz. I am currently working on a
Master's Degree at Colorado State University. I have been working
in media for 10 years and have some ideas for some doumentary films
that I would like to create. However, within those ideas my main
focus has become the effectiveness of documentary film to distribute
a message or information. I am currently working on a thesis to
study the social effects of documentary film and if there is a way
to determine if documentary films are able to motivate communities,
governments, and social groups to action.
I have found a ton of information on production and astethic
evaluation of documentary films but very little on follow up
assesment or study on if the film had been effective in
communicating it's message to an audience. How many people see your
documentary? Has the documentary started social movements, changed
government policies? Does anyone evaluate the after effects of
thier documentary film? Do they care?
I hope by joining this forum I may gain some insight into these
areas. Maybe some of you may have more information or ideas of
where I can find possible studies in this area.
Maybe I can give some PR/Marketing expertise to those who need it.
Either way I'm looking forward to getting some tips as well.
Thanks,

Mechelle Martz
mechellem@gmail.com

Welcome, Mechelle! You're working on a fascinating study. Tough to
nail down some of that stuff, how big an effect a film has. You
might start by reading Sandi Dubowski's archived online conference
on outreach. Scroll down on the front page.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will take a look!

Mechelle, even though it didn't change the administration, Fahrenheit
911 has an enormous impact on the discourse of last year's elections
and Michael Moore was able through his site and through partnerships
with other organizations to promote grassroots mobilization for
progressive causes.

Also do some research on Erroll Morris' Thin Blue Line which impacted
the outcome of a prison sentence.

As far as other films which have had grassroots impact, I'd recommend
looking at the catalogue of the past few years of the Council on
Foundations Film Festival. They celebrate films which are
specifically geared towards impact.

You may also want to think about attending the Center for Social
Media's Why Media Matters seminar which will be held in Washington DC
in February 2006.