Introduce Yourself: Sign In Here First

Hi D-Worders,

I’ve been a member of the D-Word for a while – in fact, some of you have been very helpful answering technical questions I had – but realized I never introduced myself. better late than never. . . I am a burgeoning filmmaker. My recent films include a documentary I shot in the NYC Subway called ‘A City Symphony Underground.’ Some consider it more of an experimental piece but it’s actually based on the “city symphony” Documentary genre made popular in the 1920s. Films such as ‘Berlin: A City Symphony, Vertov’s Man with a Movie Camera, Manahatta,’ and Joris Iven’s ‘Rain.’ So far the film has been screened in 5 festivals and, I hope, many more.

I like doing all parts of the filmmaking process. I have my own equipment. One of my interests is creating short films for NGOs and nonprofits that help others. Films that they can use for fundraising, website, etc. After the earthquake in Haiti last year I traveled to Haiti with World Wide Orphan’s Foundation founder, Jane Aronson, to film her pilgrimage to orphanages there. I loved the work so much and also proved to myself that I was able to film and record audio on my own and get great results. Added to the difficulty of the trek was the 100 degree weather shooting mid day in bright conditions – man, that was hard – getting decent footage shooting people with dark skin with the sun behind them. Arghhh. . . . Plus it was run and gun stuff, all hand held, never knowing what will happen next.

I have also started creating artist profiles – short pieces that profile a creative person’s work and the process they go through.

If any of you D-Worders have any ideas of people that may be interested in the kind of work I do – please get in touch . . . love to hear from all and everybody.

Oh, much of my professional history I produced educational media and curriculum so am also interested in working on projects created to educate or having to do with education. I have a graduate degree from Harvard Grad School of Ed.

Well, that’s it for now. Please check out my website Catherinestratton.blogspot.com where you can see recent work.

Cheers,

cathy

Thanks for the intro, Cathy. See, if you hadn't introduced yourself we would have continued to call you Catherine. Next thing you know you'll be hanging out in the Bar and getting plastered in the afternoon.

In reply to Catherine Stratton's post on Sun 27 Mar 2011 :

Always great when folk finally delurk. Good to have you here, Cathy.

Hello D-Word, I am quite new to the world of film making... though its been something I've always wanted to be involved with ever since my father was subject of a film by the legendary, Paul Watson, in the 70's. I had the privilege of having lunch with Paul last year and was further inspired to become a catalyst in the telling of important stories. I found myself in the Biz quite by mistake shortly after this... an introduction I made for my friend, director Mark Neale, resulted in his feature documentary, Fastest, being funded. I am now working with him as producer for Mechanics of Hope, a film about NGO, Riders for Health. I was assistant to CEO's of this organisation for a number of years so I know it very well. I am also producing a film about composer, film maker & educator, Tony Conrad. This film is being made by Tyler Hubby. One of my other major projects is with Crispin Glover, the actor & auteur. I am presently developing the circuit in the UK for him to tour his Big Slide Show performance & film screenings. This is his sole distribution model and one that I am honoured to help develop. The first tour in Feb this year sold out. I am learning fast about the innovative & new funding & distribution models that are being practised and I am keen to get involved with discussions about it all. I am also a musician and writer.

A warm welcome, Paul. Would love to hear more about the funding and distribution you're doing in the relevant topics here. Feel free to leap right into the discussions.

Hello, documentarians of the world!

I'm an aspiring filmmaker currently living in New Orleans. I'm fortunate to be working with Lily Keber on Bayou Maharajah – a documentary about colorful New Orleans pianist James Booker which is now (mostly) in post-production.

We're in the process of setting up a website, and you can sign-up for the email list here if you want to see what happens when filmmakers get ahold of fancy email campaign software.

When I'm not working on the Booker doc, I also spend time pouring coffee at Royal Blend for rent money, shooting antique shop commercials for equipment money, and pestering all the film crews I come across while walking my dog for fun. My wife's in grad school at UNO for poetry, so we'll occasionally cross paths, too.

I plan to assail these forums with a variety of complex technical questions, probing distribution queries, and buckets of unsolicited opinions.

Wow, Ted, a poet and a documentary filmmaker, you guys are gonna be living the high life alright!

Anyway, welcome to The D-Word. Happy to say I'm gonna be in NOLA for 3 days soon for the first time in over 25 years (though it's for a conference, so don't know how much down time I'll have). Looking forward to it.

I've been registered on the D-Word for a couple of weeks and figured I should introduce myself. I live in Lexington, Kentucky, where I pick up what documentary work I can, although of late that's become very rare around here. But you must know all about that wherever you are so I'll leave it. Otherwise, the place does have its charms, I suppose.

I have made two documentaries myself: "Rock That Uke" (co-director, editor, camera) and "...damn bad oyster: The Times of William Goebel, governor" (producer, director, writer, editor). The former is a meditation on life, death, love, hate, art, frustrated ambition...what you'd expect. Oh, and the ukulele. Especially if it's amplified and distorted. Yeah, it's kinda funny. The latter is a historical project that airs regularly on KET (the state PBS affiliate). It tell the story of a violent, raucous decade (the 1890s) in Kentucky that culminates in assassination and political upheaval. It's quite funny. One review called it "drolly informative." What higher praise could I wish for.

This will do for now; don't want to wear out my welcome first time out. If anyone's needs help on anything in Kentucky, let me know. I have some gear (and I travel). Or if anyone's passing through and needs a drink, I can provide that too.

Hi this is Sigrid Dyekjaer, producer from Denmark, part of Danish Documentary production, produced film like "The Good Life" by Eva Mulvad, showing at Tribeca in a couple of weeks, "The Monastery" by Pernille Rose Groenkjaer, "Mechanical Love" By Phie Ambo. I am attaching my CV. I am also chairman of the Advisoryboard for CPH:DOX.

Welcome aboard, Sean. A drink sounds really good right now.

And a particularly warm welcome to Sigrid, who I first met at IDFA 5 years ago when "The Monastery" won the Joris Ivens prize. She's one of the Europe's greatest producers and I urge everyone to come see The Good Life at Tribeca and meet her.

So you know, no need to attach your CV. Clicking on your name or photo links to your member profile .

Hello,
I am a musician, composer new to your community. Have to say, in a world where we all spend far too much time in front of our computers (oops that is what I am doing now) it is nice to see so many of you opening up about real issues. That said, I am a composer who had the pleasure of composing music for a doc and fell in love with the process. To be able to write music in, around and complimenting the dialogue and narration of a doc was great. To be a creative part of such a meaningful art form is ..well just love it. So if any of you have need of any music, temp music or anything music related, please feel free to let me know. Also to whomever made the doc about Little Jimmy Scott...i'd like to know where I can see that. He is great..I had the pleasure of seeing him in New York and wow...that is so where Betty Carter got her style.
Thanks to all and I look forward to being a part of this community.
Laura Perlman ljperl@earthlink.net

Welcome, Laura. The Jimmy Scott filmmaker dude is Jacob Bricca .

Welcome Laura! Glad you found your way here. I owe you an email back. It's been a crazy week. Happy to have you among us.

Hi there, my name is Kristen and I'm a newbie. :)
So grateful to have found this resource for doc filmmakers!
My husband, Jeff and I are currently in production on a feature doc about Transformational Bodywork called "Growing My Brave". Following stories from surviving to thriving. A project that we kind of stumbled into and are now in love with. It's been a truly organic experience that has changed our lives for the better and we look forward to learning and growing our skills as storytellers. We have at least one more leg of shooting in May and then looking forward to jumping into post, with hopes to release by 2012. I cut a teaser to help with funding which you can watch here: http://vimeo.com/18899104

Thanks for taking a look and thanks for having me!

Warmly, Kristen Turick

Welcome to The D-Word, Kirsten.

So who else is out there? Enthusiasts and Professionals, please introduce yourself here.

Hey, all!

I'm a filmmaker and a film executive. My documentary is still on the festival circuit and will premiere on the OWN network later in the year.

Chris (and everyone in the same situation) – It's time to apply for Professional status on The D-Word then. It'll give you access to all of our Business, Creative, Technical, and Social Topics. It's free but not automatic.

Hi Doug
Can you help me with a password for HOtdocs, to be registrered with a discount?
all the best
sigrid

Sure thing, Sigrid. Enter the discount code [...] when ordering online and you'll get $50 (U.S.) off an industry pass. But aren't you going there with your film and automatically getting a pass?

[edited by Ben – the discount code can only be obtained in our Professionals-only area]

Hi Sigrid, this is the link to the private topic with the discount code.

Oopsie, didn't realize you asked me in one of the public topics, Sigrid. Usually we hosts are totally on top of keeping questions in the proper topics. (And other times we sleep.)

Anyway, hope you've been perusing the various topics here and getting a feel for the discussions.

Greetings all. I was fortunate enough to meet Doug Block about a month ago at a class here in the Twin Cities and he mentioned D-Word quite a bit, which I was embarrassingly ignorant of. Well, not anymore.

I've directed/produced 2 feature docs and 1 short besides a few narrative shorts and a co directed feature which is in post. My most recent doc is called SCRAP and is playing April 17th at The Indie Spirit Film Festival. The trailers for it are below. Thanks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s3PlfeOiew&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.youtube.com/user/killingjokefilms?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/4PB0el-BOfA

Welcome to The D-Word, Paul. Ignorance excused if you make up for it by active participation. :-)

(by the way, a doc I shot will play at your Minneapolis Film Festival this month. Called MASTER CLASS OPERA, by Olivia Hagemann.)

Anyboy else out there? Come on, it's time to un-lurk!

In reply to Ben Kempas's post on Wed 6 Apr 2011 : Nice! I was fortunate enough to screen SCRAP at MSPIFF. It's a good fest for docs and I'll see if I can make it our for yours. Thanks for the shout out.

Hello, I'm new to D-Word world. Nice to meet everyone! Lily Keber (Director of Bayou Maharajah) introduced me to this site. I'm currently recording sound for her project. I also just finished working with Gary Hustwit (Director of Helvetica) & Luke Geissbuhler (DP of Borat) in New Orleans. Very cool guys. I've recorded professional audio/video of hundreds of famous individuals from all walks of life, all over the globe. I am looking forward to recording the artist Lil' Wayne next week. If your production comes to New Orleans look me up! I also love to travel:) www.ericlaws.com