How-To

How an Innovative Web Doc Secured Traditional Distribution

courtney — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Prison Valley, a multimedia prison reform project, tells the tale of Fremont County, Colorado: a tiny patch of the Southwest packed with 13 prisons and a local economy that revolves around the incarceration of 7,735 people—many of whom are the county’s own residents.

From Journalist to Documentarian – Five Tips for a Better Documentary

cristina — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Two-time Emmy Award winner June Cross has written, produced, or edited about a dozen documentaries in a career that spans more than three decades. She is also an associate professor of Journalism at Columbia University, where she teaches graduate-level courses in reporting and documentary film.

Production Insurance for Filmmakers: Understanding the Basics

Nikki — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:57:28 -0500

Production insurance is probably one of the most important things a filmmaker needs to take into consideration before shooting the project. Why get insurance for your project? Essentially, there are three reasons: Legal, Contractual and Asset Protection.

How Filmmakers Can Beat the Recession

Nikki — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:02:06 -0500

As the recession continues to cast a shadow on the American economy, Hollywood studios are emerging as one of the few success stories. Audiences seeking an entertaining reprieve from layoffs and pay cuts are bringing theaters increased ticket sales and revenue and giving the film industry a "recession proof" reputation.

Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Story versus Marketing

Nikki — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:43:32 -0500

Myth #3

“A good story will find its audience no matter what.”

“Good marketing can make any story succeed.”

The myth in all its glory

Prepping Your Film For Distribution

Nikki — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:35:31 -0500

Picture this!

Finding Your Festival

Nikki — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:41:06 -0500

With thousands of film festivals worldwide, and new ones added every year, it has become increasingly challenging for new and emerging filmmakers to tackle the options.

Thank You For the Music: A Music Licensing Guide for Filmmakers

Nikki — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:33:26 -0600

The soundtrack of a film is an integral part of its interpretation. It not only helps to create a polished final product, but it can help an audience understand what the characters are feeling. Picture Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross running out of the church, laughing, her wedding dress trailing behind them.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal? Deciphering Fair Use for Filmmakers

Nikki — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:52:20 -0600

David Van Taylor first engaged questions of Fair Use when he was working on his film Dream Deceivers in 1990, a documentary that explored the lawsuit filed against the heavy-metal band Judas Priest by the family of James Vance, a teenager who tried to commit suicide after smoking marijuana and listening to the group's lyrics. The film incorporated copyrighted music and clips.

Health Insurance for Artists

vanessa — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:12:18 -0500

As freelancers, many members of the creative community -- writers, artists, and filmmakers -- often struggle to find the best health insurance for themselves and their families. Since artists typically do not work as employees, they are not eligible for insurance through a company. And it's not always an option to tag onto a partner's or parent's policy. But there are still plenty of options out there, if you know how to find them. Emerging and veteran artists may not realize that, in fact, they are eligible as artists to join certain organizations, and thus obtain a variety of more affordable health insurance options. So The Independent put together this list, broken down by state with the aim of helping artists learn their insurance options.