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Hi everyone, I'm an independent film maker lost in the mountains of eastern Oregon.

I've been working for years on a documentary about my son's struggle with autism. When he was diagnosed in 2000, we discovered an underground network of parents using alternative medicine and unusual therapies to treat kids the medical community has designated "untreatable" and "incurable."

This has led to ten years of research and first-hand experience with a complex social, economic, and political world that is only just beginning to reach public awareness in the media. I'm pretty surprised that even after years of news stories and talk show arguments about autism, few people seem to be aware of the poltical and corporate forces that are pulling the strings behind this issue.

Most docs on this subject are either amateur you-tube shorts or pro projects made by film makers who have only temporary contact with an autism family. I've been living with and filming my subject for over ten years. I'm hoping I have a unique perspective and unusual approach for my project, and I hope to learn from others on this site about funding, marketing, and distribution.

It's also just a great (and humbling) experience to be connected with so many other talented people.

Welcome and welcome back, James and Marshall.

James, do you have a sample of this film that you could share?

Ben,
Umm, well, I'm currently working on a production reel for grant apps for about the third time (the project keeps changing and I can't keep up with it, gotta just stop dithering and release something eventually, right?) and we're working on recording what I hope will be the final voice-over.

So all I have right at the moment is a lot of clips, some animation, interviews, etc.

Should I post links here or in the "work in progress" section?

Totally Works in Progress .

Hello Everyone,

For the last three years (in my "spare" time), I've been working on a documentary about a Japanese photographer named Izima Kaoru. It's a project that takes place in a number of cities, including Tokyo, L.A., N.Y., Paris, London, Munich, Luxembourg, etc. The project is loosely focused around the photographer's main series, which explores the intersection of death and beauty. I suppose you could call it an artist biography, but light on the biography. It's more about the process and themes of the work.

I also write "technical" books on film, video, and new media topics. I've had a documentary book in the works for a while (put on hold), with a focus on editing.

I look forward to participating in the D-Word community!

-Chad

Hi gang – I signed up for the D-Word some time back and then, well, forgot, I guess... My pal Joe Moulins reminded me in the context of what James Longley has been experiencing recently. So now I've reset my new password, added some credits and do hope to engage more frequently. I work for the National Film Board of Canada, as executive producer at the Pacific & Yukon Centre, based in Vancouver. Our local office is a staff of 14, producing primarily docs, but also auteur animation, and some original digital content. Headquarters are in Montreal. As part of our 70th birthday NFB is now streaming over 1000 titles for free (at least inside of Canada, not sure about any blocking??) Check it out: www.nfb.ca. Cheers and nice to meet you all! Tracey

In reply to James Schlipf's post on Mon 22 Jun 2009 :

Welcome James, I'm starting pre-pro on an autism project that focuses on the efforts of the Princeton Child Development Institute. I'd definitely be interested in knowing more about your project.

Chad, Tracey – welcome to The D-Word.

James, have you seen THE HORSE BOY? It's a film about autism and one alternative therapy. It premiered at Sundance (under the name OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY) and just played at Silver Docs.

Hi, I am coming back to documentary production after spending the last 20 years doing community development and community organizing work. I am currently beginning production of a documentary about 'engaged community development' and offering workshops and consultation on the same topic. I'll post picture and other info later. Right now I am looking for information about when you do and do not need to get releases signed.

In reply to Nick Verbitsky's post on Thu 25 Jun 2009 :
Nick,
Sure, can I email you at the add on your profile? I'm familiar with the Princeton program, it's not really exactly what I'm focusing on but is still relevant in a way that takes some explaining. Watch out, my email goes to spam sometimes.

In reply to Mikal Jakubal's post on Thu 25 Jun 2009 :
Mikal,
Haven't seen HORSE BOY but I've read a lot about it, including some posts on D-Word when I did a search on autism. Do you know what the reaction was at Silver Docs? I understand "eqqui-therapy" is becoming very popular, especially in Texas.
By the way, I looked at your profile and I'm interested in your ELF project. There was recent news about this in Oregon. I agree with your statement that most of these issues are more complex than what is seen in mainstream media (thus my autism project). Let's talk sometime, I'll trade stories of building a log house and dogsledding for stories of straw bales and climbing.

Hee, hee, sure. Don't know about the Silver Docs reception (might want to ask in the Silver Docs topic or Doc Films topic since not everyone checks in here), but everyone I talked to at Sundance loved it. It's a feel-good movie.

For info on our film, check out our website (very much under construction) http://houseoffiremovie.com

(better duck out of here before we get the boot)

In reply to Jim Dessauer's post on Thu 25 Jun 2009 :

Welcome, Jim. General rule is to get releases if someone either speaks or is overheard speaking prominently. Or if you fear they'll sue your ass for some reason ;-)

Hi everyone! I'm an aspiring documentary filmmaker currently based in Shanghai for the summer

I don't have much experience (except for some short films in college with a mini handheld), but am hoping to use this summer to develop more skills – by volunteering for a doc filmmaker, helping out a crew, and so on. Where can I find contacts in Shanghai who might want to use my help?

Also, I'm hoping to start shooting something on my own. Is there a videocamera that you would recommend for amateurs like myself? (that still shoots relatively well...I'm not very technical but am quite particular about image quality :)

Thanks much!

Hi everyone,

I joined the D-Word as I have recently taken the position as the organizer of the industry platform of CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival and more specifically the distribution forum DOX:FORUM which focuses on alternative distribution platforms for documentaries such as online fora, galleries, museums, cinema etc.

DOX:FORUM brings app. 15 projects in late stages of production or post production to Copenhagen to meet with distributors from all these channels and so I have joined D-Word hoping to find the right projects.

See more in the attached call for entries!

Cheers,
Riina

Welcome, Riina. Heard so many wonderful things about Dox:Forum over the years and I can't wait to attend, hopefully next year. We normally discourage double posting, but feel free to post this in both of our funding topics.

Welcome to The D-Word, Lavina and Riina.

Yes, Lavina, didn't mean to ignore you. Welcome aboard.

Hello everyone,

I'm Mary Riley and I have worked in and around Documentary films for quite a few years. I am co-owner of Shields Pictures, Inc. of SF... among our film holdings we own three historic Paramount Pictures film libraries and have been involved in many films (mostly Doc's, including M. Moore's "Fahrenheit 911"... best film I'll ever have my name on:). We are now in the restoration/preservation process of our 3 series mastering to High Definition working with a FotoKem in LA & Spypost in SF (& doing some of the work in our edit bay)...& learning something new everyday! We are scheduled to give presentations about the Popular Science series to international film festivals and film restoration/preservation workshops in The Dominican Republic in the fall. Cheers & nice to meet you all! Mary

Nice to have you here with us, Mary. And keep up the great preservation work.

Thanks Doug... nice site!

Yup. We like it.

Hi All,

This is a wonderful site – thank you.

I made a personal doc a few years ago, Be Good, Smile Pretty...and have been doing work-for-hire and smaller doc projects and motherhood ever since. I have a daughter who turned 4 yesterday and a baby who is 7 months eating the New Yorker bill at my feet. I am about to embark on a sequel to Be Good – and am duly terrified.

I just found Doug's 10 Rules – and although I think I've broken all of them at some point or other – I am most grateful for the sound advice and will keep them taped to my forehead from here on out.

Thanks again, Tracy

Hey Tracy, welcome to The D-Word. Here's my 11th rule, just for you: join up as a professional member. You'll get access to all the discussion topics then: www.d-word.com/users/apply.