Documentary

Quest for Truth

michele — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:22:26 -0500

Rory Kennedy didn’t always know she wanted to be a filmmaker, but she did see herself as a political activist. As the daughter of former U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, politics run strong in her blood. In wanting to make an impact on people’s lives, she gravitated towards film as a means of educating herself and others about political and social issues.

Party Like a Doc Star

michele — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Filmmakers increasingly need to seek funds from as many sources as possible. A fundraising party may seem like a fun way to raise much-needed dough, but they are a lot of work. Still, securing the right host, making a personal connection to the guests, and laying the groundwork for future "asks" can have

Werner Herzog Made Me Do It

michele — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Stuck in a dead-end job and worried he'd never make it as a filmmaker, Lee Kazimir decided to take Werner Herzog's advice. Legendary filmmaker Herzog had once said in an interview that he believed the best way to become a filmmaker would be not to practice filmmaking but to walk -- say, from Madrid to Kiev.

The Future of Public Media: Talking with Pat Aufderheide

michele — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:38:54 -0500

At SILVERDOCS 2008, writer Randi Cecchine talks with Pat Aufderheide, founder and director of the Center for Social Media at American University, about moving their Beyond Broadcast conference to SILVERDOCS, unraveling the complexities of fair use, and taking on the future of public media.

The Doc Doctor's Anatomy of a Film: "This Is Where My Dog Is Buried"

michele — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:22:46 -0500

About this column: Many filmmakers ponder in anguish, How do other people—celebrated people—do it? Am I taking too long to make this documentary? Does everybody spend as much money as I am spending, or am I spending too little? And when filmmakers share their lessons learned in interviews in the glossy trade magazines, their tales seem to follow the arc of otherworldy heroes rather than real documentary makers, i.e. human beings like you and me. So each month, the Doc Doctor will go out into the world (this real world) of filmmakers who are successful and find out how they made it. The "Anatomy of a Film Column" is a chance to learn from filmmakers' hits and misses in real life examples. —Fernanda Rossi, story consultant a.k.a. the Documentary Doctor

Documentary 2.0: Making Media That Matters

michele — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 09:38:49 -0500

Each June, The Media That Matters Film Festival selects a group of 12 shorts by independent filmmakers designed to spark action and debate in twelve minutes or less. Unlike other festivals, MTM works to promote its selections year-round through online streaming, broadcasts and community screenings.

For Inspiration, Judd Ehrlich Looked to the Subject of His New Film, "Run For Your Life"

mike — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:25:39 -0500

While vampires made a big splash at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, a documentary about a son of Transylvania carved out a decidedly different niche for itself.

The Doc Doctor's Anatomy of a Film: "Muskrat Lovely"

RossiF — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:23:44 -0500

The Doc Doctor's Anatomy of a Film: "Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea"

mike — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:25:28 -0500

To Shoot "Flying," Jennifer Fox Gave Up Control of Her Camera

michele — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:28:03 -0500

As an award-winning director, producer and camerawoman, Jennifer Fox is certainly well-versed in all the conventions of ‘proper’ documentary filmmaking – introduce the camera slowly, don’t talk about your own life, “create a neutral plane they can project on,” as she says.