Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

hello from jim of animalcharm, a nomadic, autonomous, off-
braodcast channel of video remix anarchy. I also spent 8 years
as the equipment and facilities manager of Kartemquin Films in
Chicago, IL, most well known for "Hoop Dreams". They have a
new feature directed by Steve James coming out in early 2003,
called "Stevie." I currently live and work in Los Angeles,
freelancing on a variety of fronts, most recently as a cameraman
in Vietnam with Renee Tajima-Pena for a CPB/Kartemquin
documentary series on immigration, tentatively titled, "New
Americans." I have worked as cameraman & sound recordist for
many of the series segments including those produced by
Vangie Griego, Gordon Quinn, Jerry Blumenthal, Steve James,
and Peter Gilbert.

Welcome, Jim. Those are great doc makers you've been working with!

Once again, let me remind those of you with professional experience
to join The D-Word Community and be part of the ongoing discussions:
www.d-word.com/join.

When you register, we ask you to tell us about your professional
background. Feel free to cut and paste what you've written here.

Hi folks blake from australia livin in germany here
i am aperforming artist about to turn doco maker well an extension of that
world actually.
Check out http://standstill.va.com.au
for what i do pics etc
basically i do event entertainment and stree theatre
nice to be here
looking forward to participating
seeya
bb

Thanks for the intro, Blake. Welcome. We can use a little more
street theater in here ;-)

Saludos a todos. Rich Potter checking in. I'm a young filmmaker
currently living and working in Panama City, Republic of Panamá. I do a
bit of everything--fiction, doc, commercial--in DV and edit with FCP on
G4's. Primarily signed on for the distribution discussion, thinking of
the half hour narrative short we just completed, but I see there's more
going on here than just that. Look forward to learning a few things
from you all.

Bien.
Rp.

Goodmorning. I've been making films for more than 20 years. I did a
dramatic version of a play I wrote about Edith Wharton called "Songs
From The Heart" which aired on BRAVO and many PBS stations, a
documentary about Nicaragua in 1990, and have just finished a feature-
length documentary about GE and PCBs.
Thanks for hosting this,
Mickey Friedman

Just finished the IFP Market in New York with our Hudson River Film
and Video production "Manhood and Violence: Fatal Peril" about a
violence-prevention program in the San Francisco County Jail that
reduces violent re-arrests by 80%, You watch part of the process as
these men are transformed. Just started to apply to festivals.
Wanted to check out this forum to see what it was about. If we have
questions later how could we get in touch with you or other
panelists?

Ask away in The Mentoring Room {LINK NOT IMPORTED}, Michelle. Welcome to you,
Mickey and Rich.

I'm Fel Blake from Sydney, Australia, and I've accidentally started a
documentary production company. I have a slate of three at the
moment, an investor is waving money at me, I have a bit of equipment,
a lot of contacts and I've written scripts/ treatments for two docs,
but that doesn't change the fact that I don't have a clue!
I have a degree in film and work in the development side of the
industry here in Australia, but have little production experience.
I hope to commence production on my first Doc (DV, shooting in the
M.E.) next March.
Thanks for having me at this forum- I look forward to chatting with
you all, and learning from those better informed than myself!
- Fel.

Hi, Fel. Congrats - having an investor waving money at you is FAR
more important than having a clue ;-)

Producing docs is 80% hard work and persistence, 20% good ol' common
sense. I'm sure you'll do just fine, but we're happy to help in
whatever way we can.

I suggest you join The D-Word Community: www.d-word.com/join

Hi. I'm Alysa Nahmias from New York; currently producing and
directing a doc about the history and architecture of the National
Art Schools in Cuba (see www.ajnafilm.com). I'm a first time
filmmaker happy to be in dialogue with all these experts.

Hola!
Is this Cuba week or something?
I am Bette Wanderman and my film " A CUBAN LEGEND" just finished a
week's run at a theatre in New York. I literally just came back from
the theatre with the spoils which are, 2 movie posters, 3 trailers , 2
DVtapes and the tour de resisitance, a great The New York Times
review!. I hope to find some tips on distribution in other
territories and different media.

Best!
Bette
www.cubanlegends.com

Welcome, Alysa. Nice to have you here. And kudos, Bette, and good
luck with the rest of the run. Hope the Times review opens some
(theater) doors!

Hello all,
I'm putting together a proposal for a short on
girls and civic/public expression. Just starting the process actually,
and looking around for good resources/guidance. A workshop leader at
Women Make Movies in NYC recommended this forum, so here I am.
-Christina

Well, you got a good steer, Christina ;-) Welcome to our virtual
corner of the world.

Hello to everyone on the forum,

I'm organizing a new networking group for NYC producers and directors
(both documentary and narrative film). The group focuses on bringing
together producers and directors in the independent filmmaking
community, with the goal of getting directors together with the right
producers for their project and vice versa. We'll be meeting on a
monthly basis, and our first event is this coming Tuesday, Oct. 29, a
cash bar Happy Hour at the Screening Room, 54 Varick Street, on the
2nd Floor Lounge, from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. If you're interested in
attending or would like to be placed on the mailing list for future
events, send me an e-mail at digitalnyc@hotmail.com with info on your
previous or current projects, to facilitate introductions.

Thanks.

i'm a producer with our new doc company in California called
Pacific Rimshot . We have a development slate of several
shows, and I'm looking to meeting other filmmakers and sharing
ideas.

doug block or ben should be along any minute to invite you to
join the professional side of this community.

welcome.

Welcome, Una and Mary. I've mentinoned it any number of times, but
anyone with professional documentary experience is welcome to join The
D-Word Community: www.d-word.com/join.

Hi there all. My name is Leslie Bielanski. I am President of LNB
Productions/IndieSource. I am a documentary filmmaker who started a
production company with my husband in January. We are documentary
producers who also rent digital filmmaking equipment. We were
recently at an IDA conference where we learned about this site. We
are excited to be a part of a this documentary community.

Hi everyone!
My name is Sy, and I am an forth year honours student studying in
Scotland. As part of my degree I am producing and directing a
documentry about Bengali dance. I discover this website by accident
and although most of you guys are halfway around the world, I feel I
can gain something from this site.
Cheers!

Welcome to The D-Word, Syeda (and all other newbies!)

Most of us guys are half-way round the world, but there is the
occasional Scot in here (three in total, plus myself counting as
honorary one).

Where in Scotland do you study?

Hi Doug--and Syeda!

I was trying to find an appropriate place to thank Doug for the Al
Maysles-Susan Froemke dialogue. A HUGE THANK YOU! After joining
early this year, I'd been too preoccupied with
equipment/funding/paying my rent etc. This reminded me why I was doing
all of the other stuff.

And of course I discover Syeda--a Bengali doing a project on Bengali
dance in Scotland. I am a Bengali from west of the Padma. What kind
of Bengali dance? Write me if you read this.

Thanks, Jayasri. Nice to hear from you again and hope you'll find a
little spare time to join us more often on The D-Word Community.

Lots of people have expressed their appreciation for the conference.
We'll definitely try to do more like it in the future (though Al and
Susan are one-of-a-kind).

Hi Doug and Jayasri!

I am studying in Dundee, a little town about a 30 minutes drive away
from the capital, Edinburgh. As for the Dance documentry, I am
directing a documentry about the bengali community here in dundee,
and the dance school that has arisen from it. I'm looking forward to
producing and directing it, as this is my first major project , and I
will be glad to recieve any comments or tips!