Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

Hey everyone,

I'm in my second year at university, taking some film courses, and
trying to figure out how to start a career in film. right now im
really anxious to get started making my own films, including
documentaries, but i don't know how to get started..and so i'm here
to find out!..im really new to it all, so I'm glad to have found this
site/forum :)

Michele

Glad you found us, Michele. Now, get a camera and start shooting!

new to this forum. am in the process of making my 3rd film. this one
has to be good, so I am very interested in thoughts and experiences
of others.

The others didn't have to be good? Anyway, hope this forum helps
this one to be good ;-)

Hi! I have no background in filmmaking, but was asked by a close
friend to help (in whatever capacity I can) in the creation of a
documentary. I'm sure can learn some worthwhile basics here, to say
the least! Thanks to all for this forum.

You're quite welcome, Doug. Good luck.

Hey all, I found out about this forum over the summer, but just
decided to register last week. I'm a senior in college interested
in broadcast journalism and I just recently started getting really
interested in documentary film. I interned at a tv station and got
to work on some human interest segments. Hopefully down the line in
my career I'll be able to focus on producing longer form
documentaries.

If nobody minds, I'll probably hassle everyone about their
movie/television viewing habits for one of my research papers in a
few weeks.

welcome, durrell. not sure which topic would be appropriate for
that. this probably isn't the best forum for that.

Hello to all. I am new here and newly returned to Canada from the
Middle East. I am currently taking some courses at the local film
school and focusing on docs. Happy to have found this forum and look
forward to getting to know you all better. Cheers!

Cheers to you, Michelle. Welcome back and welcome to The D-Word.

Hello everyone! This is my first time at the Utne Cafe Forum. My
name's Federica and I'm a film-maker from Italy who needs a lot of
help in research.
Talk to you soon!

Welcome, Federica. Feel free to post any questions in the Mentoring
topic.

Hello! I am a documentary producer from Estonia (there is a little
country South of Finland and West of Russia). My company is
specialised to the wild-life and environmental issues. Recently we
released a popular-scientific film about meteorite explosion in
Baltic Sea island Saaremaa. Film is called "Home of the Sun". Our
next big topic is an historical re-enactment of A.T. v. Middendorff's
expedition to Siberia. So - wild things.

Welcome, Riho. You and all other documentary professionals should
join The D-Word Community (our separate private forum) and introduce
yourself over there {LINK NOT IMPORTED}.

Joining is free but not automatic. Please follow the instructions at
www.d-word.com/join ...

Hello, I just found about your Forum and I think this is great, I
thoght no longer people care or write about each other. I am from
Spain so I apologize for my misspelling, been working as an AD in
publicity for 4 years, have done 2 short docs and just finished co-
direct, write and produce my first long documentary screened at Made
in Spain section in San Sebastian International Film Festival. I have
attend to all the documentary workshops given by Directors I found in
Spain, and I belong to Docus Madrid Org. I think the present
documentary scene is so good in quality and unreachable that you can
not be up dated, I think this is the best time for documentary in a
lot of years but also the real Industry (I mean make a living out of
filmaking) doesn´t let you in. All my friends also directing are
pitching theyr projects arround the world spending money they don´t
have in order to have somebody interested in buying the project, or
just invest enough money to make it posible. I do not mean to be
pesimistic but I think there is two sides of the story not really
clear defined. One, the romantic and passionate path of making your
own docs with no budget, and sharing them with friends family and a
couple local festivals wich I think is great enough; and the other is
make yourself a living out of professional work with a salary no
matter in wich possition on a film crew. The good thing is that you
can add both and be a happy person.
Those are my initial thoughts to share with u, I will be moving to
London in a month for personal reasons and I know nobody there, so If
any of you will like to have somebody to talk to about documentarys
or life It will be great to let me now. Thanks

Ruth and Pliegerm, welcome. Both of you should check out the
Shooting People listserve - www.shootingpeople.org. Ruth, it's based
in the U.K. and has its own documentary membership.

As Ben mentioned, you might also register for The D-Word Community:
www.d-word.com/join.

Martina (alias Pliegerm) - have you read Mark Kurlansky's book on the
World History of Salt?

Welcome all. Federica, are you the same Federica I met in
Bardonecchia who was pitching the project on garden gnomes?

Hey all,
My name is Brian . I am making a return to filmmaking after a
several year hiatus. I graduated from Bard college with a BFA
in film. However I have spent the many years working in
lighting, everything from theaters to museums.
I recently awoke to realize how much I was missing my real
passion. Joining this forum is my first step on the road back
towards what I really want to be doing.
This seems like a great place to start.

Sure is, Brian. Good luck.

Hi everyone, my names Dan and i've just bought a Canon XM1 and am
about to start shooting some shortfilms - including docs. My
background is really in sound and music, so at present i don't
really know my aperture from my white balance! I've a lot to learn
and look forward to using this forum, cheers ;-)

Just shoot away, Dan. Welcome and lotsa luck.

Heya expressive/Ben
I've read exerpts from this book since it is supposed to be the salt-
"bible". You seem to be quite into this topic. How come?

Btw, I work for a doc-prodco in Hamburg, Germany. We are thinking
about doing something on salt. Currently we are checking the
international market for similar productions.

Martina, I was fascinated by Kurlansky's previous book (on fish)
which inspired me to plan a film project. I haven't read "Salt" yet.
Just curious.

Greetings from Munich, and see you in {LINK NOT IMPORTED} soon.

Hi everyone, I'm Lucy. I'm really interested in ethnographic film and
had a go at making my first documentary over last year and this year,
about an Afghan refugee who lives in London. It was a VERY steep
learning curve (I didn't go to film school) but a great experience.
Still I have so much to learn and this looks like an interesting
place to start. I saw on Shooting People there's a discussion going
on this week with Kate Amend. I just saw Spellbound the other day so
I'm really interested to hear about how she works...

Welcome, Lucy. Love your name - it's my daughter's, as well. Glad
you enthused about the conference, but it's actually the guest host,
Yana Gorskaya, who edited Spellbound. Both she and Kate have great
insights to share.

Hey, there.

My name's Linnea, I've begun production on my first doc about
music in Cuba and I'm looking forward to learning from some
pros.

Hello there in the d-space. I'm just very fresh to this community and
I hope we get fun and excitement.I am a director-editor working in
Athens,Greece, and it's about a year now I have crossed through the
digital era with editing especially. Very interesting but a lot of
questions very often. Hoping discuss all them in an open mind.

Welcome, Theocharis! Bring some sun with you ...

PS. Glad to hear that they've put an end to that strike ...

Hi

I just found this forum through a posting on Shooting People, UK.
And just read through Kate Amends debate, excellent. I have just
completed a 52 minute doc, direction, camera and editing, and would
love not to repeat that particular approach.. a healthy editor
relationship would be fantastic.

If anyone has suggestions on which film festivals to enter right now
that would be a big help. The subject is new Iraqi journalists, all
character led, and so far everyone that has seen it has been gripped.

I look forward to further debates.

Julia and all other documentary professionals - Welcome, and make
sure to join our private forum as well. Membership in
{LINK NOT IMPORTED} is free but not automatic. More info at
www.d-word.com/community - join at www.d-word.com/join

Hi there,
First time on this discussion board, doc filmaker from England, self
shooting director and editor. Glad to be onboard discussion. really
interested in finding out more about this one.
I am part of shooting people.com aswell. Currently struggling through
rushes on a project I shot in brazil. Currently working for the BBC
in Bristol and finding it hard to find time to get the cutting done.
Would be good to hear from other people in the same situation

Andy

Welcome, Andy. {LINK NOT IMPORTED} applies to you as well. :-D

HI there,

I'm a first time filmmaker, developing an idea about experiences of
asylum, whilst working as a researcher for a company in London called
Legal Network Television. So I've joined to learn and hopefully be
encouraged by experiences of other filmmakers out there!

A big welcome to you as well, Odele.

Hi!!
I'm a Digital Media student in his final year.My final project is
going to be a Documentary.It will be film and edit on digital
plattaforms.I found this disscussion board doing Internet research
and I find it the best place to learn about documentary world.Talk to
all soon,Byeee

Welcome, Miguel.

This is for Erica. Yes. I'm the same Federica you met in
Bardonecchia. I've finally decided to take your word and joined the d-
forum. Nice to see your voice again!

Hello everyone. I'm just trying to get involved in documentary
production. I've been a UNIX System Administrator for the last 10
years and am working on a major career change.

I have a lot of experience with live broadcast production graphics as
well (sports mainly...not really my cup of tea).

I'm working on moving back out to North Carolina (home) from Portland
Oregon to pursue this further. Duke University has what appears to be
a fabulous Center For Documentary Studies and offers a certificate.

I'd be interested in stories and pointers on making this journey and
also what your impressions of the Duke program are.

Great community you've built here Doug, I look forward to
participating fully.

Hello all. My name is Meghan. I recently bought the DVX100 and am
currently shooting a doc on Los Angeles gang life and breaking the
cycle of violence. Although I have worked in the film industry for 9
years in feature production, this is my first doc. A friend
recommended this site and so far I am very excited.

Welcome, Meghan. Glad you found us. This is the public forum and
you've registered for the professional community. So when you receive
your welcome email, be sure to introduce yourself again there.

Hi, there. I'm making my first doc about current elements of space technology
development, and I'm so glad to find good a forum site! I've had great success so far
getting participation from leaders in the field, for interviews and such. The problems
that I'm running into are in the areas of accounting and legal. Is it standard to involve
a lawyer if you're getting sponsors, but not investors? And do I need an accountant if
I have temp employees, or is a payroll company OK? Any resources that address
these concerns would be MUCH appreciated! And thanks for setting up the forum!

Welcome, Kate. Most entertainment lawyers do a free short phone
consult for potential clients. Generally, though, you don't need a
lawyer until you start dealing with contracts. Entertainment lawyer
Mark Litwak has a good website you might check out:
www.marklitwak.com.

Any other questions should go in the Mentoring topic.

hello all, I am a senior student journalism. instead of fast news, I
am more interested in documentary-making and filmmaking. I am
presently working on my first documentary; A beginning filmmaker
trying to make a film. The tricky thing is that I and my sister (who
I am doing the doc. with) know the subject personally. This made me
hesitate for a long time. There is a discussion going on about if a
doc.maker is allowed to use actors and all (the tazidrivers in the
Gaza). My question is more; how far is a doc.maker allowed to be
part of the proces and how far should one recognise the presence of
the doc.maker and camera in the documentary.

Just went through the same experience, John. Only last week.
Welcome, Rianne. Docmakers often are part of their own films and
often allow the camera to be acknowledged. You might want to look at
the Ross McElwee conference here for more on the subject.

Hi all,

Am new to D-word. Am really excited to have found it. Am from
England originally but am now living in the US. Would love to
know about any doc groups in L.A.

Very Best,

Paul Hough
Director
THE BACKYARD

Welcome, Paul. There's a very good LA-based online community called
Doculink: www.doculink.org. A bunch of our members came from there
(and are from LA), so you might want to join our community:
www.d-word.com/join

Thanks for letting me know!

Very Best,

Paul

Brian's post was really a classified, so I moved it to the
Classifieds topic. We ask for a more personalized intro here.

And just hit that Post button once, folks.

Hi there,
I met some d-word members - Paul, Ben, Erica, Leon and others- last
night at the idfa (international docu festival Amsterdam), which was
nice! Nice and inspiring. Just checked the war & peace videos and i
like the variety, i like the concept and also i like the films.
I am a freelance journalist based in Amsterdam. I mostly do written
stories and some radio. The last few years i've been doing stuff on
ex-yugoslavia, mostly Serbia & Macedonia, some Croatia, Montenegro
and Bosnia and mostly 'human intersest'and cultural stories.
I've been walking around with some ideas for documentaries (in that
area and in the caucasus)for a while now and i will probably dedicate
a lot of my time next year to realizing one of them. That's why i
came to check this community.
Hope this is enough on myself for now. i'll be around!
roos

More than enough, Roos. Thanks for coming by and welcome. Hope
you'll find this site helpful in your doc endeavors.

Roos - welcome ... and check your email.

nice to see you at the word roos

Enjoyed meeting you Roos. Good luck with your projects.

Time to introduce myself -
I am Ellen Reynolds. I live and work in Philadelphia where I am both the post
production supervisor at the Graduate School of Fine Arts at The University of
Pennsylvania, and one of several community video project facilitators and
editing teachers at the Scribe Video Center.
More importantly perhaps, at least here, is my own documentary work. I am
currently working on a portrait of a 92 year old professional poker player in
Atlantic City and through this a look at the pre-casino history in Atlantic City as
well as that (very strange) place today as it relates to the many senior citizens
that retire there in large numbers. Prior to this I've worked primarily on social
issue documentaries. One that is working well is a program completed last
year about the work the New Haven, CT. police dept. is doing in the area of
race relations, a historically problematic area for all police depts., perhaps,
but especailly there. Other work documents models in alternative education.
One example is a 50 minute doc about 12 high school students who go to
Thailand for 2 months to travel and learn about issues there.
Another aspect of my work that interests me very much is the creation of
programs for children. I have created a 1/2 hr. pilot, trailer, and "bible" for 2
proposed series. They are "documentary based" in that they use real
children, situations, locations, and dialogue but I do construct stories in
cooperation with the kids and script the structure. This way of working on
programs cooperatively with children interests me, as does the possibility of
contributing meaningful, interesting, respectful, productive childrens'
television to our children's television landscape. I am especially interested in
learning from the forum what broadcast opportunities are available to
independent makers working for children because through a pretty extensive
few years of research, travelling to children's television conferences
inernationally, and interviewing children's programming executives, I am
coming to the sad conclusion that in the US there is none. The age group I
am working for on these projects is 8-12. I'd love to hear people's thoughts
on this.
My primary tools are the Sony PD-150 and Final Cut Pro, like so many others.
I shoot alone, mainly, or with one other person if I need extra help (but never
more) and edit alone too, so I am in some need of a collaborator. Philadelphia
is quiet when it comes to doc makers coming together and sharing so if you're
from Philly - give a shout out.
Thanks for being here...

Welcome to the Forum, Ellen. Glad to see you posted this on the
Community, as well.

Hi everyone. I have been watching the posts for a week or so and
finally have time to introduce myself. I am a film student at
Brooks Institute of Photography and am heading in the path of
documentaries. I have a few projects under my belt and will be
shooting a documentary for my portfolio film in the spring. Our
school only offers one introductory documentary class and is adding
more right before I graduate, so I am looking elsewhere to learn the
trade.

Along those lines . . . would anyone be willing to let me interview
them (7-10 questions or so) about their involvement in
documentaries? You don't have to be a seasoned professional either,
I would love to chat with people working on their first doc.
Technically it is for a marketing assignment but I've kind of warped
it to fit my desire to see what making docs is like outside of the
school environment. :)

One last thing . . . can anyone recommend some books to check out
about documentary filmmaking?

Welcome, Angie. That's a good question about doc filmmaking books.
Wish I knew. Anyone else out there have a recommendation?

Imagining Reality: The Faber Book of Documentary by Kevin MacDonald,
Mark Cousins

examples are a little dated, but i still recommend Directing the
Documentary by Michael Rabiger

In the latest DOX issue, Ulla Jacobsen recommends The Documentary
Makers by David A. Goldsmith.

And Ben Kempas writes a fine article about 5 Iranian filmmakers in a
report from Sunny Side of the Doc.

Thanks ... DOX is nothing like a book though ...

Doing Documentary Work by Robert Coles
Editing Digital Video by yours truly.

The latter being highly recommended by yours truly here.

Should we go back to the intros and hear who else is out there?

wouldn't it be nice to have an eyeball counter - wonder if 2 people
or 200,000 are reading these pages.

Robert, here's the census for the past week on the Forum: 196 visits,
134 forum page hits by 50 users, 204 topic reads by 42 users, 15
postings by 9 users. It always increases many times over when we have
a conference going on.

Damn, you beat me by 5 seconds. I had just written virtually the same
posting!

so I guess it's just us and a small group of 50?

I do read the posts on and off. So that makes it 'fifty plus"

absolutely.

Michael Moore RULES!

Listen up all you Dword enthuseists.

Go out on a limb and change the world. You can do it like american
hero Michael Moore a Michigander to boot!

Hey guys,

Im Shazia Malik, a third year film student originally from India but
majoring in Directing and Writing at the Unitec School of Performing
and Screen Arts, Auckland, New Zealand.

The reason I joined d-word was because early this year we kick off
with a doco project and I need some advice... i'll post my question
in the mentoring room...

Welcome, Shazia. Glad you're jumping right in with questions. We'll
try and help ya out.

Hello every one. Im Krys, and im a student film maker in London.
I'm only 18 but have a passion for the films i watch and make, iv made only a few
documentarys to date, the best of which was about fans of cult tv & film. I traveled up
to Milton Keaynes to the collectomainia4 convention where i interviewed a host of
celebreties including many stars of the Lord Of The Rings (Elijah Wood and Andy
Serkis giving particuarly interesting interviews), Star Treck, Buffy, and many more. the
final program ran to 19 minutes and came out very well, for my first serious
documentry i was very proud. I've also shot many short films both in my private time
and for college.
Im currently doing a preproduction assignment on documentary technique so i
thought id better do some in depth resurch to see how i can imporve my ideas.
If any of you have any links to good webs site detailing popular docomentry
techniques please please please drop me reply with the address.
thank you very much... im sure ill find this place very useful!
Krystian

welcom, krys. hope we can help imporve your doc skills.

Hi everyone,

I'm currently filming my first documentary. My subject matter is
changing over a 12 - 14 month period of filming, and therefore I
don't have the ability to go back and reshoot something that didn't
work (creatively - not technically - that is a different challenge).

I have tried to conceive each and every possible shot I
could/should/would need at the end of 12 months, without letting the
potential of this overwhelm or dilute my focus. I'm finding this
very challenging.

When I came online today, and discovered this website, it was coming
across a road sign in a language I could read. Although the journey
will ultimately be my own, it is very cool to know that others who
have walked this same path are just a discussion forum away.

Shazia, Krystian, and Mona - welcome to The D-Word Forum!

Glad you found us, Mona. Welcome.

Hello, coming to you from snowbound western Virginia, (100
miles west of Washington DC,) I am a author/writer with
specialty in health, sciences, and have produced 4 pieces in
video format for various clients and government on healthcare,
animal health surveillance in Africa, HIV/AIDS and other pieces. I
Started as a still photographer years ago, and continue to use
film equipment (am resisting digital sorry) with now using old
16mm Bolex which is understandable for my non digital brain!
Newest project takes me to Africa again, in a few weeks , am
very interested to learn from you experts/enthusiasts here since
this is my first project of my own (read- independent, unfunded at
this point) . Applaud everyone for their pursuits, sorry this is so
wordy!!
BLH

Welcome, Barbera. Congratulations on your decision to stick to film.
After all, life is not digital, is it?

I would like to pitch a project and am also seeking finishing funds
for a project I am currently working on. Is there an appropriate way
to do this?

Not really, Rosalyn. You can join The D-Word Community - www.d-
word.com/join - and get feedback and advice, but we don't pitch here.
I suggest you read the current CE conference for info on how they wish
to be approached.

I worked for twenty-two years as a current affairs journalist with
Irish Television,RTE, and, since leaving in 1999, I have been
making international documentaries, most of them broadcast on
RTE. Please see my website, www.anynewsinc.com for further
information.

My most recent production is 'Congo, Heart of Africa' made from
material accumulated during ten weeks travelling alone in the
Democratic Rebpubic of Congo (DRC). It tells the story of the
forgotten war in DRC where 4 million have died over the past five
years, more than in any other conflict since WW2. Seven
neighbouring African countries have been involved in a vicious
scramble for Congo's wealth - gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt,
coltan, tea, coffee, timber, tobacco, oil - with US,EU and
international companies in close attendance.

This 34 min documentary was broadcast on RTE on 18 Dec
2003.

Jerry, welcome to The D-Word. Make sure to join The D-Word Community
as well. More info at <www.d-word.com/community/>, and join at
<www.d-word.com>. It's free but, unlike The D-Word Forum, it won't be
automatic this time.

Hi there, another new film maker on the big block. Educating via
entertainment is my thing. Currently working on an Irish project I
shot in August last year. Looking for funding to polish the
project. So glad to have found film to express the passion!

Delighted that you found us, Johanna. Welcome.

For funding tips, be sure to read last week's conference with
commissioning editors in Europe, as well as the one we had last year
with Jan Rofekamp.

So this is what you d-word people do all day...!

Having come to filmmaking through the back door - bet you've never
heard a law degree being referred to as that before! - it would be
great to hear from anyone with experience of pitching and producing
their first project - oh and tips of getting funded would be great
too!

cheers, s.

Welcome, Sarah. I suggest you read some of the conferences that are
archived here. Start with The International Pitching Forum {LINK NOT IMPORTED} for
pitching advice, then proceed to the recent Meet Commissioning Editors
in Europe {LINK NOT IMPORTED} for funding advice. And read Jan Rofekamp's
conference, after that... if you dare.

Welcome Sarah!

Everyone - when you introduce yourselves, please tell us where you
are based. (Sarah is in London.)

Hi D-Worders!

I'm Joe Mondello a former Cinema Studies Student from NYU
circa the late 60s and early 70s getting back to what turns
me on (groovy huh? ;) )

Just signed up for a Documentary pre-production course
at NYU and our prof recommended this website.

I look forward to participating here.

Thanks,
JM

Welcome to The D-Word Forum, Joe!

Thanks, Ben.

Are there any geographical "sub-groups" here?
I'd love to meet more folks in the NYC area.

Not in this forum, Joe. I suggest you join two great organizations,
AIVF - www.aivf.org - and DocuClub - www.docuclub.org. They hold lots
of events where you can meet other NY doc makers.

But welcome to our groovy little virtual shindig.

Thanks for the info Doug. Appreciate it.

I'm new--- Steve Olpin. I have been doing this for about 15 years. Now I mostly
do action sports with a documentary style rather than most in my world that do
it with action and music. I have had a docmentary short at Sundance about 10
years ago but have not been back(i've tired--no luck) i'm kind of loosing
interest in film festivals ----but that's is another story---they are sometimes like
high school parties it cool if you invited but now worries if not. ---I not sure how
to do this group i would love to chit chat with peers. I have finally found peers
in Action sports in surf skat snow and moto but never really found a
community in documentary---hope this works out. I shoot video and film and
cut on final cut pro. I own all my own gear and share a edit suite with a brilliant
filmmaker Tim Irwin---I could go on but I will stop and try to figure how to work
inside this group.
thank you,
Steve Olpin
SOLPIN FILMS INC

Actually, the chit chat is in the community area, which you've
already applied for, Steve. Instructions will soon be arriving via
email.

hi, my name's matt osborne, i'm 22 and currently living in Perth, Western Australia,
originally from tasmania, australia. I've recently completed an action sports video and
am about to start a university degree in film and television, specializing in
documentary. I write, shoot, edit and produce and am eager to learn from some
seasoned professionals and maybe even share a bit of young inexperienced
knowledge. My only problem is i might have one to many ideas floating around in my
head???

matt osborne
neige productions and unrest media