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Hi everyone,
I'm so happy to have found the D-Word and look forward to learning from and connecting with you all! I am currently finishing a film about human enhancement technologies (bionic limbs, brain-machine interfaces, prenatal screening technologies, etc...)and disability rights called Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement. In it, I follow three main characters, each of whom has a severe disability and each has a different perspective and stake in these emerging technologies. The film is trying to raise ethical/philosophical questions for us all to grapple with: how will these technologies change what it means to be human, "who" is allowed to be born, what values are embedded within the culture that are perpetuated by these technnologies, etc... I'm very excited about it, and have received great feedback so far, but am feeling a bit stuck about where to go from here. I started the project as my thesis for my master's program at UCSC in Social Documentation (Documentary Film) which I completed this past June. While the program is excellent in supporting us to go deep with our research and analysis and thinking about story structure, voice, etc.. it was quite light when it comes to post and to distribution or anything relating to the business side of things! So I am looking for advice here on these fronts. (I'll post more specific questions in various threads but do welcome any feedback).

I also want to share that after working on my film intensely for the last three years, I'm really excited to connect with other documentary filmmakers and am looking for other projects to crew on. So if anyone is looking for help, i.e. camera, research, writing, assistant directing, PA, editing, even just brainstorming ideas together, please keep me in mind (especially in the Bay Area, but I'd be very willing to travel too for the right project).

I am also about to invest in a camera in the next few days, but am still wavering between the HPX170 and the HMC150 (I'd love more advice on this, but I'll take it to the camera thread).

So thanks to all, especially the hosts! See ya on the forums!

Welcome, Regan. I highly recommend you start by reading the vast archives of the Marketing and Distribution topic. Or at least the past year or so. You'll get up to speed pretty quickly just from that.

i am a member of kodao productions here in the Philippines. Kodao is an indigenous word meaning journal. we make social and political documentaries. We also have a radio program that was blacklisted by the government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo because of being outspoken about the administration's corrupt management of our country.

Welcome, Ariel. Do register for full membership .

Hello Everyone,
My name is Graeme Orr and I was born in England, grew up in Australia and now live in Canada. I am finishing of my first feature length documentary at the moment. I am very glad to have found this site. I live in a kind of creative bubble. Been working hard on my doc which I am producing, directing, writing, shooting and editing on my own. I love the art forma nd have a subject I am very passionate about.

My film, 'Road to Nirvana' is about how a chance meeting with a humanitarian has changed my life for ever. It was kind of lost. Knowing only that I wanted to learn more about the world and had dreams of using my passion for Documentaries to somehow positively impact the world. Then I was shooting for the local news one day and had to interview a man who builds schools and orpahanges all over the world and bring medical aid to those in need. He still holds down a full-time job and helps his wife run a business. At first I didn't know what to expect but the more time I spent with him I realised he was the answer to a lot of my personal neds aswell as proffessional ones. We travelled to Kenya, Egypt, India, Nepal and Sudan on crazy adventures to see some of the poorest people on the planet. It didn't take long for me to realise how spoit the western world is. I came back from each trip a little different. With a new perspective. I knew I had to make this into a feature and get as many people as possible to see it. I was extremely fortuate and now I feel it is my duty to spread AShid (my subject) message. 'In helping others lies the true significance of living'.

The drama and arch of the story revolves around Ashid's realization that he isn't getting any younger and after 30 years he needs to find some way of making his society survive after he is gone. After being a humble man who did very little self promotion he now realizes he must bring a new generation into the mix so when he is gone it won't all fall away. That is were I come in. Together we are taking his message to the world from the point of view of some one who at first had no really understanding of what he was talking about to now dedicating what has been 2 years of my life on fulfilling what I believe to be my duty or calling if you like.

WOW!! I really can rant on about this project.

Long story short (kind of) .. that's what I am doing at the moment. We have one shoot left in Cambodia and possibly another in The Dominican Republic. I'll be at Hot Docs in Toronto at the end of the month trying to learn the pitching process and aiming to meet the people who can help get this story out to the world.

I look forward to interacting with fellow passionate documentary filmmakers here at The D-Word. I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions for you all. I also look forward to researching some of your films so I can pick your brains even more about specifics. This site is just what I need. Wish I had found it sooner.

Graeme

Great to have you here, Graeme. Like with Ariel, feel free to sign up for full membership here ...

Thanks, Doug. I'll be sure to check it out.

Regan, it's really great to have enthusiastic, fresh young blood infusing The D-Word. So jump right in to any forum without hesitating. We'll all be the better for it. And that goes for everyone who's registered recently or lurking out there in the dark. We simply don't exist without your posts. No questions too unenlightened. No sharing of experience we don't welcome wholeheartedly.

Thanks for sharing that, Doug, (I especially liked that part about being referred to as a "young" blood). =)

It can seem intimidating to chime in with questions and thoughts sometimes, but I'll give it a go! I'm sure I'll have lots of unenlightened quandaries to pose along the way that may, if nothing else, amuse the wiser, more experienced ones among us. Maybe they'll take pity on me and share some insights...? ;)

Thanks to Mikal Jakubal for getting me on here!

hey regan, you must know Renee Tajima-Peña pretty well, yes? she's my Executive Producer for my film WHATEVER IT TAKES. Renee was a big help to me (and continues to be) – hopefully, you've been able to get some good documentary instruction from her...

Hi Chris, That's great Renee is your Executive Producer. I did get to know Renee well and learned a great deal from her. What a fabulous woman and gifted filmmaker/storyteller! Your film sounds really interesting, by the way. Sounds like an incredible journey making it too.

Hi everyone. I'm really pleased to have found this site and looking forward to connecting with other documentary filmmakers.

I'm fairly new to the industry, having been thrown in at the deep end on a project in Thailand about AIDS orphans. The children are from a small rural village and are preparing to take part in an opera in Bangkok. They are being taught by an American composer and musician and filming has been on-going for the last 18 months.

My biggest concern at the moment is to do with releases. I know there is plenty of information available on the subject but it isn't always very clear. I have full permission to film the children, but there are obviously countless other adults appearing throughout the film. I understand that everyone who is interviewed must sign a release. What I'm less sure about is other people who appear in the shot.

When I speak to Americans they always say that everyone should sign a release. It's obviously easy to say than to carry out. Europeans seems to be less strict and concentrate on those being interviewed. I know that Thailand is not a litigious society compared to America – is this a factor a distributor or broadcaster will take into account if people haven't signed?

We're all looking forward to the big performance in July and then we can start to edit.

Hope to get to know you guys!!

Mike

Welcome, Mike. I'm no lawyer but I'd mainly be concerned with people you've interviewed and those who are featured fairly prominently in a scene (which is usually a judgement call). If they speak at all I try to get a release. If they're just in the background I don't worry too much, though you might later have the occasional broadcaster who'll want a face blurred.

Hello mates,

My name is Matt, and I'm a young documentary filmmaker almost out of college and just looking to start working my way into the networks a little more. I've already worked in La on a couple of feature docs, and I've also created some short pieces over the past 2 years, so I have some experience. Basically just looking to see who's out there and who wants to be friendly enough to say hi, and maybe give me some advice . Always need advice.

Nice to meet all of you.

Greetings, Matt. Since you're now a member with access to the various discussion topics, try and be more specific about what advice you need and post in the appropriate area. But before you do, you should check out back posts or use the search engine. Chances are whatever question you have has been asked many times before.

My guess is you probably have all sorts of advice to give us, as well, so don't hesitate to jump in with it when you can.

Hi Regan, good to see you here. Don't make yourself so scarce when you're in HoHum County!

Yeah, I'd second Doug's advice about back posts. When I joined, I systematically read all the back posts in the topics most relevant to where we're at with our film. Time well spent. Not to say I don't still constantly ask redundant or obvious questions...

Hi everyone I´m Tati from São Paulo, Brazil...

Can´t say i am a documentarist yet...I consider myself an artist, because i have always worked in the fields of arts, graduated as an architect, worked as an architect, landscape designer, dj,jewellery designer, photography... but I believe the right field for me is documentary...
As i always been concerned with social issues, justice or the lack of it, my parents believed i was going to be lawyer, but as i don´t believe in law i would never be a lawyer...Maybe i tough architect could help this social issues but i realise that´s probably not the best way...

I believe documentaries can open people eyes for so many things, it´s a great communication instrument...

Last year i did a short course in documentaries and did my first doc, which came out pretty good, it´s about the distance between folk culture and academic culture...

I realise i can be really good and happy in this field, as i love meeting others cultures and different people point of view, i also love to do research,to know human psycology, antropology and travel...

Just couldn´t find people that are just like me that have this some motives so i´ve been working on my own just researching my next documentary topic which will be about Catholic Church-The Sacred or Profane, i would like to aproach abortion ...

I would love to hear from you guys...
I also plan to study documentary in Melbourne Australia or maybe New York, next year.

Hope to make some contacts in this site
Cheers :)
Tati

Hi Tatiana, very glad that you discovered us here. You might want to check out this place if you hope to study documentary in NY next year. I know the people involved in running the program and I think it's going to be awesome. And lots of our members are from NYC, too, so great opportunities to meet other working doc filmmakers. Hey, including me!

Hi Everyone,

So I'm new to D-word. I learned about the site from Christopher Wong (shout out for his amazing doc, Whatever It Takes). As if the internet isn't distracting enough I can tell that there will be many hours spent exploring here, which frankly I'm thrilled about.

A bit about myself. My name's Ben. I'm a student at Whitman College and will be graduating in May. This is quite exciting, but also a bit nerve racking. Very soon after graduation I will be moving to either LA or NY so people's thoughts of the doc scene in either city would be much appreciated and very much listened to (as well as any advice for young eager filmmakers).

As far as film goes, I recently made a short doc called TEAM TALIBAN. It will be playing in Tribeca at the end of april, so if you're in NY or know people who would be interested in seeing it here's the website. www.teamtalibanfilm.com

Well, I guess that's all for now. I hope to upload a photo to replace the default one, and I look forward to getting to know everyone and exploring d-word!

Ben

welcome ben! may you waste countless hours here along with the rest of us documentary fools.

(although you didn't win at AFI Dallas either, i can honestly say that TEAM TALIBAN was definitely the best doc short i saw there! and there were quite a few excellent ones playing...)

Hey Mikal!
I'll actually be up in Humboldt next week helping Scott with some Trees Foundation work. Not sure if we'll be staying in SoHum or Arcata, but I'll check in if I'm in your 'hood.

Welcome to The D-Word, Ben, and congrats on your success with the short. Can't speak for LA but between the weekly Stranger Than Fiction series and the monthly DocuClub screenings, I'd say NYC has a pretty thriving doc scene.

Hi, I'm John and I found out about this site from Snagfilms.com. I am 57 years old. Have teaching Special Education for 3+ years. Married 29 years. Two grown sons and 5 grandkids. Former US Navy SEAl and Vietnam veteran. I am struggling to learn how to play the bass guitar.Nice to meet you all.

I meant that I had been teaching for 30+ years on that last post.

Very glad you found and snagged us, John. Do you simply enjoy documentaries or are you trying to make one?