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Hi Everyone!!

I am an aspiring filmmaker who just found out about this site from a fellow member. I am really interested in new models for marketing, distribution, financing, micro-financing, crowdsourcing, social media, transmedia, and all other aspects of film that are rapidly changing due to the internet. I understand that what I have just mentioned encapsulates much more than just documentary filmmaking, however, it has really been the documentary filmmakers who have been most successful at this (i.e. Robert Greenwald, Sandi Dubowski, etc. etc.).

I am hoping to find some great information on these forums about these topics. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Specifically, I am interested in marketing/promoting videos on YouTube. I recently created a video for a non-profit for which we acquired sponsorship based on the amount of views that we get. The more views=the more donated.

While this video is not a documentary I think it illustrates (along with Pink Glove Dance) a form of altruistic advertising or in essence the most micro way in which to finance a project. Specifically, by donating time people can fund a cause/film.

Here is a link to the project that I just launched: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSkgWJvFeY8

If it is not ok that I posted this because it is not a Doc. Please flag/remove my post and I will post again without the link.

Once again any feedback on promoting/marketing YouTube videos would be greatly appreciated!!!!

Thanks.

Wade, there's plenty to wade through here (sorry, couldn't resist) especially in the Archived Topics (featuring Dubowski etc.) – you could read for weeks on end.

Can't watch your clip right now but it's perfectly acceptable to post a non-documentary link. Our regime isn't that tough. :-)

And welcome to The D-Word! So, who else is lurking out there?

Welcome, Wade. If you don't mind making your way down to NYC, there are two events in the next two weeks you might be interested in: The Conversation and DIY Days .

Hi Doug, those two are very cool events. Thanks for posting...

Hello folks,

As a newbie I will start with my name, Christa Boarini, my location, New York, and my deal: I am a filmmaker working on my fist feature documentary, The View From Bellas Luces http://www.theviewfrombellasluces.com

This community came very highly recommended to me by panelists in at a doc seminar and this is the first thing I am doing upon getting home.

Hi All,

I'm pleased to have found you.

I'm currently working on several projects that are in the early stages while also in the final throes of distribution of The Edge of Never (www.edgeofneverfilm.com), a feature doc that is playing on Showtime right now. The film is based on a book I wrote of the same name.

We finished it in Sept. 2009, bought an old Airstream bus and hit the road with it. We did 45 shows from coast to coast (we rented the theaters, bought the advertising, did the PR, and charged at the door) over the course of three months. During that time we sold US pay TV rights to Showtime. We're working on getting onto iTunes, etc. with Distribber (Adam C. recommended this forum), have representation for foreign TV (beginning at MIPDOC and MIPTV), and are seeking a bricks and mortar distributor.

Though I've been involved with other projects – the last one, Steep, was sold to Sony Pictures Classics – this is the first where we've tried the hybrid distribution model. It's been a trial and error so far, but it beats the hell out of the all-rights deal.

Looking to learn from others about the many things that I don't know about, and if I do know anything useful, to share it.

Cheers,
BK

Welcome to The D-Word, Christa and William.

Bill, what a great approach to distribution! See you in our Business Topics.

Hi everybody,

I'm a film editor, editing (&loving) mostly documentary films, because i think its the greatest editing challenge you can get. I'm glad to have found this site with so many colleagues and film professionals, and i will contribute where i can.

All the best

Thomas

Welcome on board!

(Thomas is a bit modest and doesn't mention he edited BURMA VJ.)

The extraordinarily well edited, Burma VJ, I should add. Welcome, Thomas, and Bill and Christa, too.

Hello!
I have just joined D-Word which came highly recommended by a friend. I make doc's and I organise film festivals so I'm super exited about joining, learning and adding in from my experiences!

Great having you here, Yasmin. Get thee to the Festivals topic right away. You'll find it super interesting.

I'm the new Executive Director at Full Frame! We kick off two weeks from today with DA Pennebaker and Chris Hedgedus' US Premeire of "King fo Pastry"!
Come down to Durham for the best docs and a great fun festival! April 8-11...
www.fullframefest.org

Great to have you here, Deirdre. We've put up a special Full Frame topic for those attending (there's a whole bunch of us) and those wanting to attend virtually. So feel free to drop in and post there, as well.

On a personal note, can't wait to be there and meet you.

I have made a series of documentaries involving public nudity, including Mardi Gras, Key West Fantasy Fest, and Biker Rallies. Always looking for ideas on how to improve my work and find a market for it. I recently self-published a book, "WildLife – Naked Outdoors" available on Blurb.com

You're welcome at The D-Word, Stephen, whatever the state of your attire.

as far as finding a market for it, HBO and Showtime love nudity... in fact, their "premium subscribers" demand it. that's what one of their CE's told me one time.

I certainly demand it.

Hello everyone,

My name is Ruchi, I love documentary, I want to make documentaries. I'm a student in the Media Studies program at The New School here in NYC and now, happy to be a part of this community. I found you through the strange, but usual, confluence of things. At a talk at school the other day, two filmmakers mentioned Doug Block's 51 Birch Street, and I thought, I'd like to see that. Then the next day I got an email about a screening of the film in my neighborhood. A click on a link, and here I am.

I recently completed a short doc entitled Making the City that showed at the US Super 8 Film and DV Festival. If anyone is interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7XCcKCKu4s

Wow, Ruchi, and here I am. Life sure is strange. Hope I'll get to meet you at the screening on Sunday (if not you can always rent 51 Birch on Netflix). But welcome to The D-Word, regardless.

Hi D-Word'ers,

I just signed up. It's great finding this community. After surfing through several of the forums I'm blown away by the quality of the discussions and the good solid advice being passed around.

While I do have a doc on the back burner – I'm a post-production guy who does a lot of work with documentarians. Doc work is my most satisfying work... and often the most challenging.

I run my own boutique post house in NYC, specializing in Final Cut Studio workflows. I am also the President of The Moving Pictures Collective of NYC ( www.mopictive.org ), which is 501c3 and a D/B/A of the NY FCP User Group. Its mission is educating digital filmmakers through monthly meetings and educational events.

Since I'm a vendor-type guy as it relates to docs, I'll cut short the details of my business life and just say: Thanks for having me! I look forward to helping out when I can. And I'm sure I'll have some questions for all of you!

Sincerely,

Patrick

Good to have you here, Patrick. Glad you found us. Feel free to jump right into the discussions.

Hi everyone,

I'm a filmmaker from Zimbabwe and I've been in the industry for almost 5 years. I've been researching two docs for about a year now both focusing on our capital city, Harare – one on water and the other on garbage/waste management, both hot topics here. We hope to start shooting in the next couple of weeks.

It's really exciting to find such an incredible resource on the web – thanks so much to all of you D-Worders who make it happen.

Nigel

Welcome to The D-Word, Patrick and Nigel.

Nigel, you might want to connect to our other man in Harare.

Welcome to Nigel and Patrick. I remember your posts at Creative Cow, Patrick, your expertise is welcomed. As Ben says, you're our second member in Zimbabwe, Nigel, so go out and spread the D-Word!

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