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Hey all,
I've made some short docs in the past, but took some time off to start a career. I freelance PA for network news. Now I'm working on a film about children who are head of households taking care of younger siblings. This website seems to be a really good resource, so I'm hoping I can turn to it when I get stuck.
I'm wondering if anyone has had any recent experiences traveling on airplanes with camera equipment. How much are they going to harass me if I have a lot of equipment that I will be carrying on?

Best,
Robin

airlines and equipment...the rules are very strict because there are none of old flexibilities left in the system. People I know who used to tip the skycaps and get 20 cases on a plane are now shipping them fedex.

Whatever fits into a carry-on is okay. But you are limited to one and a small handbag – laptop, purse, whatever. If you travel business class you can bring a second carry-on. My advice pack light or ship it ahead. The bag fees get expensive if you do multiple hops.

In reply to Robin Rowley's post on Sat 14 Aug 2010 : I routinely squeeze as much equipment as I can carry on---on. Get yourself a good smallish camera backpack. I have a KATA bag that I love--holds a laptop, a small handycam or a DSLR and a couple of lenses and some external drives--all the cords, etc. and counts as your "purse or briefcase". Then figure out how to pack the rest of what you need into a rolling carry-on. Tripods are what kill the deal. And yes--the baggage police will just make you check--no way around it--if you've got more than 2 carry on items.

Good morning/afternoon, y'all. It's Ken here, spending a typical day editing a short piece for another producer, promoting our upcoming PBS broadcast of "Speaking in Tongues," our last film, working on a proposal and trailer for our current film, "Got Balz?", and juggling the filmmaker/parenting thing. And enjoying life.

Yup, that'd pretty much describe a typical day here, too. Nice to have you aboard the good ship D-Word, Ken, with all the other workaholics.

In reply to Ben Kempas's post on Tue 29 Jun 2010 :

Hi Ben, I would love to get in contact. My name is Peter Berulf Johnsen – so both. I started my production, been to Alaska and am going to Croatia and Mongolia for the next month.

Peter

I just joined, and am hoping to be able to help documentary filmmakers finish their post production sound.
I have mixed about half a dozen documentaries in the last several years, as well as other films.

Welcome to The D-Word, Peter and Bill.

Hi, I'm Marcia. I work with Ken Schneider, (who introduced himself above) on social issue docs. Our most recent is on PBS this month--a piece about kids growing up bilingual called SPEAKING IN TONGUES. I've spent the past 18 months working on a national engagement campaign for it. And now we're back in line fundraising for a new project. That's the life.

Great to have you here, Marcia. Looks like a great campaign and a powerful film. All the best with your broadcasts.

Hi, I'm Kerrin, and I'm currently working on a documentary about sexism and gender roles as portrayed by the media. I hope this website will help me get ideas for my topic. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to comment.

Hi there, I'm working for an acclaimed documentary filmmaker and we are looking for interns who can log footage in Santa Monica. The documentary will be released within the next year.
More details to follow once a dialogue is started.
Thanks!

Documentary filmmaker in Austin, Texas. I'm currently working on a documentary about a woman whose brother is on death row in Livingston. Always looking for collaborators. Willing to help out on others' projects as well.

Hi all,

Documentary filmmaker based in Dublin and at the moment I'm working on a feature doc about coffees, baristas, coffee farmers and a quiet revolution that could change the world.

Looking forward to collaboration and contact via this site.

David

www.davidlawless.co

New D-Worders arriving from around the globe – welcome Kerrin, Eliabeth, Erik and David.

Ditto. Greetings to all!

Hi,
I'm Helkin René Díaz. Photojournalist and DOP from Colombia.
I've just finish to shot the documentary film "Jala, a journey through the senses of water" in India. Shot with the RED ONE camera.
If someone need something in Colombia, don't hesitate to contact me.
All the best!
Helkin René
http://vimeo.com/channels/helkinrenephoto
www.helkinrenephoto.com

Welcome aboard, Helkin. Good to have you at The D-Word.

Hello,
I am searching for a copy of the documentary film Jack Johnson, nominated for an Academy Award in 1970. Jim Jacobs, director. It has a Miles Davis soundtrack.
Sam

Hi there,

I'm self releasing my first doc "The Evangelist The Hitman & The ACLU" so please stop by the website and then the Facebook page to let me know what you think.

Hello -

I am an expat living in Tel Aviv, Israel working on a satirical documentary exploring the reasons why there will never be peace in Israel between the Israelis and Palestinians. You can watch a clip from it on YouTube here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279oAQQzTZI

I am also working on a more personal documentary/home video documenting the ups and downs of a young couple (my wife and I) as we have our first baby.

I would love to hear from you. And that's a picture of me.

Welcome to The D-Word, Jason. Some folks here have been known to point a camera in their family's direction, too. Lots of luck with that.

Hello folks! I just joined and am a Virginia based filmmaker working on a few projects! I am excited to join and hopefully get advise about some of the issues coming up w/ some of my pending projects.

Greetings fellow filmmakers. I've been making films since my grandfather handed me the family 8mm camera, decades ago. Worked in television news for eight years, then fully believing that Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, I opened my own documentary production company. Joined the Directors Guild on the basis of my work in network broadcast television. Finished my own feature-length documentaries in the early 1980s :"With Eyes Wide Open", the story of a blind autistic painter, and "D.O.A.", the story of the Sex Pistols' disastrous first and only U.S. tour. Did several projects for National Geographic TV: "Passion for Pythons" and "Out of Control". Currently doing my best to avoid working for crappy fake-reality series on network television by producing docs for ABC and PBS. Open to collaborations. Have gear, will travel.

Glad to have you join us, Ramona and Ron. Welcome.