Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

Hi D-Word,

I am way overdue in joining this amazing community, and am glad to finally be a part of it. I made my first documentary in 2004 with Tim Nackashi, Dirty Work (dirtyworkdoc.com), have worked for hire as a cinematographer and producer and director in various corners of the non-fiction film and tv-making worlds, and am now in the middle of making my next documentary feature, called My Own Man, about my middle-aged masculinity crisis (check out myownmanthemovie.com for more details on the project). In some ways I'm an experienced filmmaker but in some ways I also feel like a newbie, especially when it comes to the business of attracting funding and building an audience and getting films out into the world, so I'm here to offer what I can while benefiting from the mentorship of this sprawling network of documentary nuts. Thanks for having me, David

Part of the business seems to be discovering that however much experience you accumulate along the way, it's inevitable to find that you're a newbie again and again.

You're welcome to share your crises at The D-Word, David.

Hello,

My husband and I run a post-production facility here in NYC and for some reason have found ourselves working with a lot of documentary filmmakers. We mixed "Dark Days" here as well as "King Corn" and "Herb and Dorothy". I love working on docs and I hope I can add something to the discussions as well.

Hello D-Word,

I am an aspiring documentary filmmaker who is currently researching film schools and am in need of some professional advice. I hold a Bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to film and have very little experience with production, editing, distribution, etc. In your professional opinion, do you think my time and money would be better spent pursuing a Master's degree that may focus heavily on history and theory, or pursuing more of a "hands on" program such as the one-year documentary filmmaking program offered by the New York Film Academy? I have read some varying reviews on the NYFA in general, so any advice or opinions you may have about that school would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your help!

Todd

It's a couple of years old already, but have you seen the Independent's The 10 Best Academic Programs for Documentary Filmmakers ?

Welcome, Todd, Barbara and especially David, who I've known for a while now (as well as his impossibly lovely wife). You may feel like a newbie but you're not. Dirty Work showed great talent and can't wait to see how My Own Man turns out.

In reply to John Burgan's post on Wed 29 Sep 2010 : Thanks for your quick reply, John. I have been researching the programs mentioned in the Independent article and it has been a great starting point. Please let me know if any other advice comes to mind.

Spend your money getting experience. Volunteer for one of the many top-notch doc makers running around NY, Phila, or DC. Then decide if you want/need a masters. You are more likely to find employment by being a great volunteer than by going to school.

Hi,
My name is Teresa Pigeon; I live in Cary, NC. I am a photographer, but have recently branched out into documentary video. At Duke's Center for Documentary Studies, I learned how my reach can be extended by moving into the video field, and I'm working to use these new skills to tell stories.

I'm currently working on a short about a local eccentric. Also, I'm documenting the making of a local film. Next, I hope to work on a piece about the use of therapy dogs in Hospice (where I volunteer). I'm only in the planning stages of this – but there are so many things to consider.

As is true for most folks, I learned so much in shooting and editing my very first video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjuCfvaw0k.
I learned what to do and what to NOT do (and it's apparent in the clip!)

Very recently I've decided to put much more time and effort into documentary video, and hope to learn from your experiences. I'm excited about some recent work I've done using the 5dmkii – and it's possibilities (while very aware of the limitations). Examples of my photos: www.pigeongallery.com

Welcome, Teresa. A great program you went to at Duke. And you're doing the right thing by just plunging in and making films. Best of luck.

Hi Everyone – wow, it's been 5 years since my last sign in (where does the time go?). Anyway, thought it'd be time for an update and looks like there's a LOT more people here now. Make a long story short: Documentary (corporate media/events producer to pay the bills) producer/director . . . . moved to the Jersey Shore – exit 102 – Asbury Park. . . . . large arts and cultural component in a never-ending up and coming seaside city . . . . NO movie theater. . . . . in a city that used to have 7 (count 'em 7) movie palaces in its heyday (Walter Reade had headquarters here) . . . . couldn't believe that every art genre represented but film . . . . couldn't let that alone . . . . have opened a 56 seat art house theater in the downtown that for the past 16 months has developed a growing, appreciative audience in a considerable radius of the city . . . . it's called The ShowRoom Independent Cinema – www.TheShowRoomAP.com – so now I'm an exhibitor as well as a producer! . . . . quite an odd couple of hats, but very enjoyable and exhilarating to be able to workshop my productions as well as be the salon for others who are making film and looking for an audience. . . . . . and I thought it would be a good time to reconnect and network with everyone on the DWord since I still have a member status here. . . . . right now we're producing short docs that screen before the features, so we keep producing while we're exhibiting. . . . quite a ride . . . . look forward to chatting with you all. . . . Thanks

Hi all! Greetings from the Bay Area. I am a writer-producer-director with a decade of narrative filmmaking experience in Los Angeles behind me. Have produced, acquired and distributed numerous syndicated tv shows, independent films (foreign and domestic)as well as documentaries. Just completed my cinema verite feature (as Director/DP) on a highly contentious issue:immigration from the south, approached from an unexpected and controversial angle. The main protagonist is a rabid iconoclast, self-proclaimed revolutionary and an embodiment of the Tea Party philosophy. Please do check out the website and trailer at WWW.MAXKENNEDYTHEFILM.COM. The film is due for wide release early 2011. Please click the facebook link on website and 'LIKE' for constant updates. Thanks.

Welcome, Vikram, and a warm welcome back to Mike. Nice to hear what you've been up to, and about The ShowRoom. What a great thing to be doing.

Hey everybody. My name is Mike and I'm looking for feedback on the promo to my new documentary "Buscando a Toño Bicicleta". We raised a small amount of funds to shoot this promo and are currently in talks with a few investors to get the full amount. Any feedback would be appreciated.

http://vimeo.com/15514989

Thanks!

Hi there everybody
My name is Jonathan, and I'm an director and editor from Montreal. My entry into documentary + video in general came a few years ago, during an extended stay in South Africa and Mozambique, where I was doing media workshops and working with video in the townships. I've also worked for a doc program in Montreal, as an editor and technical advisor. I actually heard about D-Word through a German filmmaker friend (what's up, Magdalena? when are you coming back to Montreal for more bagels and cream cheese?), and looking forward to meeting some of you.
I'm currently researching a film about Polish refugees who ended up in Africa during WW2, including my family. So I'm planning a research trip to England, Poland, Belarus, and Tanzania this fall. If anybody has tips about shooting in Belarus or Tanzania, it would be appreciated. I might be looking for some help finding fixers/translators in both places, too.

Merci!

Hi – Richard Baron from Australia. I'm a dedicated documentary producer/director who managed to get my first short feature up and into festivals with no funding or assistance from anyone. Yay for me.

http://www.lanfranchismemorialdiscotheque.com/

I love your films Doug!

Thanks, Richard. Great to have with us at The D-Word. Love your accent, too.

Hi-I'm a documentary maker and editor from San Francisco. Another filmmaker I met at Sidewalk Film Festival told me about D-word and all the helpful forums. Looking forward to meeting other doc makers here.

I have made 2 short documentaries, The Recyclergy and The Legend of Toilet-Seat Charlie, and eager for my next one.

The Recyclergy focuses on a unique group of professional recyclers in the SF Bay Area. You can view the film here:

www.kqed.org/arts/programs/trulyca/shorts/episode.jsp?essid=12107

The Legend of Toilet-Seat Charlie is 12 minute piece on about the inventor of the toilet seat guitar. It's not yet online, but soon! Here's the website:

www.charliedealdoc.com

Jeremy

Hi everyone! This is Cristina, I'm Italian/American currently interning at American Documentary | POV and Outreach Coordinator for 21 Below, in New York City. After working for over a year for the Documentary Foundation, a non profit organization where I managed an educational program for high school students, and did event planning and fund raising.

I looking for a position as Assistant, Coordinator, PreScreener, and/or Event planner for an organization involved with filmmaking in New York.

I speak four languages and am extremely dependable. I have many references, please get in touch at crismis16@gmail.com

Thank you!

Welcome aboard, Jeremy and Cristina.

Thank you, Doug! Please spread the word about my job searching in NY!

Hi all, my names Jason and I'm originally from Southern Africa, and am now residing in NZ. I started making a documentary to help the future generation on getting a more detailed understanding of abusive&addictive substances. I have went down a wasted 10yr path of night clubbing and drugging, and have now given my profession in the Audio Visual industry a break, to complete this doc. I am going to need all the help I can get.
Cheers....or as we say here...Kiora

Hi All,
I'm a Cinematographer & Producer. More info on my site: http://www.noeldonnellon.com

Hello All,
I think I joined D-Word (gulp) five years ago or something and have lurked occasionally, but never long enough to engage in a real conversation. Trying to amend that since I feel woefully behind in the world of non-fiction, except as an audience member.
I made a personal doc called The Grace Lee Project in 2005, plus a few shorts before that; but I also work in fiction (most recently in 2007, a 'fictional documentary' feature called American Zombie). I got sidetracked for a couple of years with family stuff but am now working on a new film about 95 yr old Detroit philosopher/activist who has devoted her life to social justice and the promise of the next American Revolution. I look forward to learning and contributing more to this great community!

Sounds fascinating Grace, I love films about people in their later years.. so much to reflect on, especially a life of action... that's nearly a hundred years of living history embodied in her.