Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

Question:

How do I go about looking for a filmmaking partner to pursue this
documentary idea? I can write, such as scripting, but I need a person
with the technical know-how; i.e. camera operation, selection of film
or digital video, etc.

Start by contacting the film office in Detroit or Michigan. Ask about
all the professional organizations - network - find out who's doing
what. There are plenty of talented people out there - you just need to
find them. Another avenue is to look at the credits on shows that you
like and contact those people. Locally produced docs would be a place
to start.

Some advice - the most powerful docs are those with a central
character who undergoes change. We want to see people not ideas.
Figure out how to tell story with a person at the center.

Greetings, all!

My name is Bill, and I am a journalism student at the University of
Minnesota - Twin Cities. Most of my work has been in print, but I am
becoming more and more interested in documentary film. I have a
little experience in the classroom, but am always looking for outside
opportunities. I have talked with a number of professionals here in
the TCs, and was referred to this site. So, here I am, looking
forward to hanging out, catching the buzz, and asking questions...

Cheers!

I've been away for a few weeks and nice to see so many new folks
here! Welcome Phillip, Scott, Rick, Victoria, Bill. Keep asking
those questions (although the Mentoring topic is the best place to ask
them, at least after your initial introductory post).

I'm an Avid/Final Cut Pro editor and documentary filmmaker in
Los Angeles. I'm originally from Chicago and like docs about
odd subcultures.

Best,
Scott

hey all
just introducing myself. i'm sitting here in echo park california
listening to the cracking of neighborhood fireworks. it's a beautiful
night aside from the shooting that happened at LAX today.
i'm a filmmaker, performer and co-artisitic dir. of a theater company
here in LA. just a general artist who likes to make things. i am
working on a doc with a number of experienced doc people and i thought
i would get involved with this forum. we're curently making a doc
about a husband...his wife...their lover and their white bengal tiger.
love to have some tips on the various styles there are when writing/
presenting a treatment as a tool to get completion costs. if no one
has specific advice it would be much appreciated if someone could point
me in the right direction.
thanks
harris

Welcome, Harris. I just got your registration email for The D-Word
Community. So please introduce yourself there, too.

Hello fellow docomakers!

My name is Axel Grigor and I'm the director of an Australian film
company currently shooting an exciting verite documentary that's
scheduled to air nationally in Australia early next year and
hopefully hit many foreign shores soon thereafter. I'm fairly new
to the long-running-time doco game, but I'm enjoying it
immensely.

I have heard many good things about your forum and don't want
to stay out in the cold any longer. I hope to form many new
industry connections through this service and hopefully help
someone get closer to realising their own budding non-fiction
work.

It's nice to be part of this group!

Axel Grigor
Brisbane, Australia

My name is Michael Kennally and I live in the UK. I did some
documentary work at university a few years ago now and have spent the
last four years using video and multimedia technology as an aid to
communication for people with severe learning disabilities.

I am interested in dabbling with the medium again and wanted to see
what goes on here.

Michael Kennally

Welcome Michael. Axel, since you registered for The D-Word
Community, please make sure to post your introduction there, as well.

Michael (and others who are interested and qualify), for info on how
to register, go to: www.d-word.com/join.

Thanks for explaining, Margot.

hy all,

my name is Hermann Barth, I studied some philologies and film theory
10 years ago, made some documentaries meanwhile but mostly prefer to
theorize. Mixing (up) theories and practical experiences I'm
sometimes giving lectures on dramatic structures and visual rhetorics
for students at the Munich Film Academy. I worked for the
International Documentary Film Festival in Munich (www.dokfestival-
muenchen.de - a site with not only german written but some english
texts and informations too) during the last 16 years and I'm now it's
director - so probably can answer some of your questions about
festivals in Europe, film traditions etc. ... but I'm mostly curious
about what's going on here on D-Word and inquisitive after new up-
coming films and projects...

Best

Hermann

Hi and welcome, Hermann. Like many others who have registered for
the community, you have jumped the gun and posted an intro on our
public forum. I'll register you now and email you instructions.

Hi, my name is Dick Rodstein and I'm a narrator. I wanted to hang out
here to better understand how documentary makers see the world and how
they put their projects together.

I've narrated for Discovery Channel, National Geographic Explorer and
Canal Plus, as well as for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the
National Gallery. Recently, I've narrated some trailers for
unfinished documentaries. These short presentations are being used for
completion pitches.

Mostly I'm here to lurk, but if I can answer any questions about
writing for the spoken word, or the best way to get what you want out
of a narrator on a recording session, I'll be happy to.

Cheers,
Dick

Welcome to everyone and a special welcome to Hermann Barth, the only
D-Worder who didn't ignore my birthday!

Some members of The D-Word Community don't read in this public forum,
so you should introduce yourself in our private forum as well:
{LINK NOT IMPORTED}

Welcome, Dick. Nice to have your golden tonsils here.

Ben, did we miss your birthday!? :o
Welcome Dick and Hermann!

Yes you did, Dani. I'm pretty sure I left a clue somewhere ...

Hermann, wann sehen wir uns in {LINK NOT IMPORTED}? Wir haben da
sogar ein deutsches Topic!

Greetings! I'm a filmmaker (12 years in the industry) and I'm about
to embark on my first documentary feature.

My topic is rather unique, so I can't reveal it online. Due to the
timely nature of my piece and my relative inexperience in the field,
I'd like to ask some seasoned pros a few key questions regarding:

1. acquiring film clips and still photos, fair usage laws and public
domain.
2. the discovery of copyrights for films already made, plus
discovery of underlying literary rights of such films.

Any help would be appreciated! I can be reached at
philnoir@earthlink.net

Thank you.

Welcome Steven!

Replies to these questions please in {LINK NOT IMPORTED} where the same posting
was made.

(This is to say we don't double-post at The D-Word. We read
everything ...)

Hello all!

I am new to the world of film production. I have no experience, but
I have desire, drive and a potential project. I am currently a
member of a non-profit organization devoted to peace education within
inner-city schools. In the 5 years the organization has been around,
they've never studied the impact of their program upon the
community. I plan to follow a documentary format and use the film as
a PR tool for the organization to develop more opportunities for
funding.

Starting out, are there any tricks of the trade I can utilize to make
sure that I get either specific shots, or should I follow my inner
creativity and just let it flow? Also, I have access to a mini DV
camera through the university I attend. Would anyone specifically
recommend using it as the primary camera for shooting? Or could I
use something else and use the mini DV for scenes that require detail
to separate by importance of the message?

I have access to local filmmakers, but wanted to throw my name into
this community. I do this mainly because of the War and Peace
Community provided through this site.

Cheers!

Adam

Welcome, Adam.

Your inner creativity is a good thing, but it's best to know the
essentials. There are a number of good books out there for that. I'd
recommend one written by one of our D-Word members, Denise Ohio,
called "Five Essential Steps in Digital Video." You can read more
about it at: http://www.holytoledo.com/Five_Steps.htm.

A mini DV camera will be pefectly fine for your project. Lotsa luck!

...just stumbled across this forum looking for Reed College...

I made a documentary once: www.documentedlife.com

But I think I mean something different than you folks....

Miles

actually no - identical though different media.
A terrific site - only harbored a glance but loved the yearly photos
linked to rememberances. And the family tree was equally interesting.

Okay - now all you have to do Miles is turn it into a film.
smile.