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Hello all,

My name is Randy Lee I am 24 and in the process of starting a Video Production company focusing on Documentaries. I've edited one feature-length doc before, (Mark My Words, which the producer is currently submitting to festivals), and have worked on others in a variety of capacities. I also have 3 years experience working for a Video Production Company in Madison, WI, and I am looking for a place for resources to make sure that I am on the right track to help change the world. I'm a shooter / editor / tech guy, and really need to either find producers to work with, or else pick up yet another set up skills and start producing, too...

This is a good place to do that, Randy. Feel free to register for full membership if you want access to all the discussion topics.

Hello, My name is Jan Selby. I am a former independent marketing consultant who has turned away from the traditional life to make my way as a documentary producer and director. I co-founded a documentary video production company in 2007 (Darn Good Documentaries) in St. Paul, MN, USA. In this company, I am primarily a producer. I'm also working on learning to edit using FCP. I recently directed my first short doc (A CIRCLE AND THREE LINES about the history of the peace symbol) which has been accepted at three film festivals so far in 2010. My goal is to continue to learn about all aspects of documentary filmmaking. I'm glad to offer members my experience in marketing and entreprenuership.

What a great topic for a short, Jan. Can one see this on-line anywhere (legally)? Welcome.

Hi Jan, welcome. It's funny, when you wrote a circle and three lines the first thing that came to my mind was the anarchist symbol. I guess I should hang around less with squatters.

Welcome Jan. A CIRCLE AND THREE LINES will be screening in Sebastopol in March.

Hey guys, my name is Chris (or Christian) and I'm trying to get into documentary film making after I got my degree in Film from USC. I most recently saw Mai Iskander's, "Garbage Dreams" at the IFC Center in Manhattan and thought it was a spectacular film! I'm glad it got the DGA nomination yesterday! Has anyone else seen it?

GARBAGE DREAMS will also be playing Sebastopol in March. And yes, it's spectacular.

Hello everyone! I turned my hand to documentaries a little late in my journalism career during which I worked for many years as editor and reporter at a news magazine. After doing a masters in TV journalism from the University of London, I switched to electronic media (although my love of writing has found an outlet in scripting).

I've produced several documentaries, including The Miseducation of Pakistan ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOImnAOkjWs and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnGpHGNJuiA ). A couple of others I'd like to mention are one about the courtesans of Lahore (a city in Pakistan) and another on the social stigma that HIV/AIDs patients have to deal with. I've also worked for a year with Channel Four News (UK) as their stringer in Pakistan, producing and reporting on stories from the country.

Most recently, I've been working with Hemal Trivedi, a US-based director, on another documentary about education in Pakistan and how it can foster attitudes that will go far towards countering the extremist threat in the region.

I am particularly keen on networking with film-makers interested in working in Pakistan.

Welcome, Naziha, Chris and Jan. Naziha, you've come to the right place in terms of filmmakers working in Pakistan. Once you register to become a full member , which we hope you'll do, take a look in the International Co-Productions topic.

Welcome Naziha. She worked helped me out with my recent shoot in Pakistan. She is great storyteller, a great writer and must a I say a superb person to work with. Also, she is really well connected and she really helped me get access to places I would have never managed to get into myself. We had wonderful time in Pakistan.

We are a young, vibrant Creative house dedicated to making meaningful films that catalyze change. A group that is committed to creating the finest Audio/Visual Content for a world wide audience, Wise Guy promises to deliver what you expect. So let "US" tell your story...and see it for yourself.

Good to have you aboard the D-Word.

Only one proviso: as clearly stated on our registration page, membership is only open to individuals, not couples, groups, collectives, companies, institutions or other plural entities. We have very few rules, but this is one of them. D-Word is a "real-name" community – our members like to know who they are dealing with, so "Wise Guy" is not appropriate.

Of course you can continue to use wiseguyent as your username, you just need to update your profile by adding your name and surname.

We're sure you'll understand – look forward to seeing you online.

hi all,
this is vamshi krishna
i'm intrested in making documentaries.
i'm new for making them.

pl advice or guide me in this regard.

What interests you in documentaries, Vamshi?

You might wish to check out Documentaries: And How to Make Them by Andy Glynne

Warmly welcome in D-word -Good luck for ur better future.
In reply to Jan Selby's post on Wed 13 Jan 2010 :

Hi Everyone,

I've posted a couple of times, but now realise I haven't introduced myself. Sorry!

I was an AP/Producer on docs mostly for Channel 4 in the UK for a while before returning to Australia seven years ago. Two children (and a stint in teaching) later, I'm getting back into filmmaking – now as a director/producer.

Having said that, my most recent outing was as AP on friend and neighbour Mick Angus' film Salt. At the moment I'm working on a project about ordinary folk who are long distance runners and the reasons why they run. I'll be sure to shamelessly self-promote when the time comes!

I really enjoy reading all your posts – thanks to all of you for your generosity with your experience and knowledge.

In reply to Jo-Anne Velin's post on Wed 13 Jan 2010 :

Hi Jo-Anne, It's not online since I'm in the film festival world right now, but I did just upload a trailer on my website: www.acircleandthreelines.com. It will be screening at these festivals so far: Big Sky, Peace on Earth, Sebastopol and Heart of Gold. I'm very excited!

Greetings...

My name is Sean Michael Beyer and I come from the narrative side of filmmaking, having directed & produced numerous short films, music videos and two feature films. My only documentary experience until now, has been a few behind-the-scenes "making of" featurettes you often see as DVD special features.

Yesterday, I began production on a passion project of mine, currently entitled "In Search of My Father". I'm 46 y/o and have never met my real / biological father and plan to document the journey of finding him and hopefully becoming a part of each other's lives. I also plan to interview my family and friends and talk about growing up without a legitimate father figure in my life.

How's that for spilling my guts right out of the shoot! :)

Pretty good, Sean. You're off to a flying start. Given all your pro experience, feel free to register for full membership here and get access to all the discussion topics.

In reply to Doug Block's post on Fri 22 Jan 2010 :

Thanks so much Doug. I will do that.

Cheers!

In reply to Sean Michael Beyer's post on Fri 22 Jan 2010 :

Hi Sean – What a journey. You may appreciate, in that case, a film called Memory of Berlin. I don't know how to get a copy, but I know someone in D-Word who may...

There's also "In Search of our Fathers" by Marco Williams which you may know.

I've been shooting most anything that goes on in this small town for years for three local channels and after attending a lot Maine Media Workshops decided to try to concentrate on short docs.

Good luck with that, Tom. Welcome.