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Hi Everybody:

I'm a writer/producer who makes a living on corporate projects but lives for my passion for documenting offbeat subcultures.

After making a bunch of political/history docs for PBS and PBS affiliates, I recently got sucked into the world of traveling county fair daredevils. "Hell Drivers: America's Original Crash Test Dummies," features guys who set themselves on fire for $500 and jump garbage trucks off dirt ramps despite the guaranteed back problems.

After being in about a dozen low-key festivals, I'm getting phenomenal feedback from both monstertruck fanatics and the NPR crowd (very little overlap). Lately, I've been researching the sales agent world to aim for TV before playing the distribution game to NASCAR nation. But I think it's a little too wacky for PBS.

Would love feedback on the trailer if anyone has a moment: http://helldriversmovie.wordpress.com/see-the-trailers/

Glad to be part of this community!

Much appreciated,

Darren

Hello everyone,

I'm an director/editor living and working in Santa Monica. I mostly get paid to edit crappy reality TV, but in between shows I like to help causes I care about grow awareness and gain support through media. Last spring, I went to the Thai/Burma border with some friends to lay the groundwork for a non-profit trying to bring hope to the people of Burma, and in the fall I traveled all over Africa to shoot a doc for a non-profit based in Nashville. I've done similar work in Sri Lanka, and I edited a short film about an AIDS orphan in Northern Uganda for the non-profit Invisible Children. Currently editing the Africa doc and cursing the sound guy (myself).

Take Care,

Austin
www.austinflack.com

Welcome, Austin, from a guy who recorded a key interview in his current film outdoors without a windscreen and is now suffering the consequences.

curiously enthusiastic outdoors personage, stranger in a strange land, 3 years in NZ after 20 in the USofA.
am taking this year to edit Doc I shot over 2 years in the American West, 2004-5. 220 hours. Daunting but fun. film|fotography|filosophy. that's what I do.

Well, lucky for us that's what we do, too. Welcome to our ongoing online party, Richard.

. . . and I look forward to being part and parcel of your family Doug, thank you.

Hello everyone!

I'm a documentary filmmaker currently located in my hometown of Reading, PA. For the past year and a half, I've been living in New Hampshire creating short documentaries about the state during the primaries and election. It was there I stumbled upon the topic for my first feature doc – The Free State Project, a modern pilgrimage to New Hampshire by libertarians from around the U.S., intending to influence local and state policy in the hopes of creating a libertarian utopia inside the U.S.

My doc follows four individuals associated with the Free State Project– Two as they are moving to New Hampshire and two who already reside as members of FSP. They all are wonderfully different and bring different dimensions to this film of passionate characters.

We've finished filming, and I'm back in Reading catching up with old friends and editing this project. I plan to move out to L.A. by the end of the year. Can't wait to get to know all of you and learn from your expertise!

xoxo
Christina

A warm welcome to The D-Word, Christina. My guess is you look at your libertarian subjects objectively, but I'm curious if your personal politics differs a great deal. If so, almost always a fascinating tension. Feel free to talk more about the film in the Works in Progress topic.

Hiya! I'm just starting to get back into digital vid. filming and this looked like a great site. I am trying to put together a short doc. and am always looking for advice and tips that can save me time, money and headaches but not always in that order. Short of my own limited experience I don't really have anyone locally to ask about stuff so, here I am. I am very interested in what others have accomplished on shoestring budgets. I've only signed up about an hour ago and have already found some great resources. Thank you! I'm not much of a social butterfly or big blogger type but if someone is interested what little experience I've had, I am willing to share. Then again this may be my last post... Thanks for such a great site BTW. I know it takes a ton of effort for a thing like this to run. Know that your work is greatly appreciated!
Best regards, Jay

Geez, Jay, always thought Cape Coral was a hotbed of documentary activity. Another illusion shattered, but welcome anyway.

Hi all, I'm a sometime filmmaker from Gibraltar, now languishing in the World of Extreme Sports, based in Munich...pays the bills though huh!

Ah, Munich... perhaps then you know Munich's most famous online export, Mr. Ben Kempas? If not, you'll meet him here soon enough. And welcome to The D-Word, Sergio, where we languish 24/7.

Doug, stop it...

Sergio, a big welcome from Munich to Glonn! How did you end up there?`:-)

Theatre- Music- and Filmenthusiast, in the hands of ZeLIG School for Documentary (Italy) since nearly 20 years and running ESoDoc – European Social Documentary (Media-Training-Initiative) creating Productive synergies between NGOs, documenary filmmakers and New Media people. Future of audiovisual production is our (practical) focus.

Greetings Heidi. Hear good things about Zelig.

Welcome, Heidi. It's great to see the first people finding us through Reelisor. Be sure to sign up as a full Member of The D-Word to see all our additional discussion topics. It's free but not automatic.

Hi All!
I am very excited to be here today! A friend of mine told me about this wonderful site yesterday. While I have heard bits and bobs about it, I am pleased I took the time today to say hello. Documentary filmmaking is my passion. I majored in film studies at the University of Boulder where I made my first doc, Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow. It is fun to look back and laugh now:). Most recently I produced a documentary that opens in theaters next month called As Seen Through These Eyes, on the surviving art and artists of the Holocaust.
Also, I am currently circulating a short film called Kaziah the Goat Woman on the festival circuit, which I directed and edited.
Finally, you can find my thoughts in the form of a blog on FilmIndustryBloggers.com.
Thank you for all your hard work putting this together!
Warmest,
Amy

welcome Amy! one of the editors (Zeb Smith) you worked with on AS SEEN THROUGH THESE EYES was the editor for my film. he doesn't post here very often, but he speaks very highly of your work.

make sure you become a full member here, and then you can see all the really interesting (and time-wasting) parts of the D-Word.

Welcome, Amy. There's just one more part of the application you have to go thru to become a full member ...

I love ZEB! He is really fabulous.

Hi
Thanks to all of you and D world. I am very new for making documentary and need your some advice. First I am not sure about camera that from which camera I should shoot documentary. I want my documentary should go in festivals also.
I want to use simple camera which I can rent cheaply but same time festivals should accept documentary which shoot by these camera.
Can some one tell that which type of camera shoot (documentary) is accepted by festivals?
Or festivals only accept documentary which is shoot by some special camera if so please you can mention those camera name (which should be simple and cheaper to rent).
Thanks to all of you and hope to get some good answer.

Festivals will accept films shot with this camera.

Try the Panasonic DVX100B for standard definition, or if you have the budget to work in High Definition, try working with the HVX200 or HPX170. But your choice of camera should also depend on what kind of material you are planning to film. Festivals are most interested in good films, not the kind of camera.

Just kidding about the Arriflex 535, BTW.

Lots of thanks James

You say Festivals are most interested in good films, not the kind of camera… please can you say some most simple camera which I can use for shooting and I can rent or buy camera on cheap cost.
Is this true that festivals accept only those films which have Resolution of 2048 by 1080 pixels, if so which normal and simple camera will give Resolution of 2048 by 1080 pixels.
Thanks

Anand – firstly please note that the D-Word is a "Real Name" community, meaning that everyone is asked to register with their full name, not initials, so please log-in and adjust your profile accordingly.

Secondly, there is no single technical standard for festival submissions – this can be anything from standard definition DV to full-blown HD. Check the festivals own submission guidelines although as James says, the main criterion is to submit a good film.