Documentary Filmmaking A Contemporary Field Guide

• ISBN13: 9780195374438
• ISBN10: 0195374436
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-05
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Documentary Filmmaking: A Contemporary Field Guide is a skills-oriented, step-by-step portable guide to creating documentary films, from the initial idea phase to postproduction processes and distribution. An indispensable resource on site or in the studio, this compact handbook offers something for all types of students: documentary recommendations (for the film buff); illustrations and examples from working documentary makers, producers, editors, and distributors (for the more grounded, visual learner); the latest trends in Internet video and other forms of new media (for the more "techie" documentarian); and even practical financial tips, fundraising ideas, and legal considerations (for the more idealistic--and not always realistic--visionary). Organized by the chronological structure of documentary film creation, the book opens with ideas, motives, access, and preproduction questions. It then moves on to research, crew considerations, legal issues, production planning, film shoots, and interviewing issues, before wrapping up with postproduction organization, publicity, distribution, and festivals. Offering a strong focus on practical advice and ethics, Documentary Filmmaking is an ideal text for undergraduate- and graduate-level documentary film courses. FEATURES Step-by-step information for producing documentaries, including many useful checklists Detailed hands-on advice and class-tested instructional organization backed by the authors' combined forty years of teaching experience--and by their combined sixty years of independent documentary work An up-to-date and careful look at the latest distribution market structure and innovative media for distribution Brief structure and compact size that encourages portability Unique chapters covering Internet video, the use of music, and publicity and distribution

Author Biography

John Hewitt is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts at San Francisco State University.
Gustavo Vazquez is Assistant Professor in the Department of Film and Digital Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Table of Contents

Getting Started

Developing Your Idea and Doing the Research

The Role of the Producer Testing the Waters Narrative Structures Doing the Research Gaining Access to Sources

The Long-term Project and You

Building Characters and the Visual Story

The Interplay of Characters and Sequences Subjects as Personalities Capturing Visual Sequences

Visual Style Decisions Ethics and Visuals

Preparing for Collaboration Friendly Collaboration

Participants Outside Collaborators Choosing Collaborators Contracts

Proposals, Budgets, and Fundraising Preparing for Fundraising Sources of Money

Grants Co-productions and Pre-sales Proposals and Budgets Sample Treatment

Preproduction

Preparation for the Long Haul Office

Needs Access Problems Shooting Abroad Scripting in Advance

Legal Issues Equipment and Crews

Production

Planning for Interviews Priorities

The Art of Conversational Inquiry Planning a Visual Style At the Interview

Location During the Interview

Sound Considerations The Value of Good Audio

The Sound Recordist

The Types of Location Sound

The Cinematographer Alone Audio Basics Legal Issues

Natural or Portable Lighting Light and Cameras

Using Natural Light Light Basics Portable Lights Safety Issues

Production: Shooting the Documentary

The Art of Cinematography

The Director and the Cinematographer Production Crews Visual Grammar Framing Shots with Intention

Schedules and Preparation Selecting Additional Equipment

Internet and Small Screen Video

The Internet's Promise Trailers and Web Buzz

User Generated Sites Aesthetics of the Small Screen Copyrights and Pirating

Postproduction

Using Music in Your Documentary Choosing the Music Pre-recorded Music and Licenses Original Music

The Producer's Search for Structure Overall

Organizing Strategies Finding the Story in the Edit Room Structural Models

Paper Edit Scripts Writing for the Ear

Practicing the Editor's Art

The Relationship of the Producer and Editor Finding Structure

Preparation for the Edit Process Beginning

Post With and Without Scripts

The Timeline of Editing

Exposure, Publicity, Distribution, and Festivals Publicity

Exposure and Deals Deliverables, Screeners, and Press Kits

Website Types Rights Film Festivals and Film markets

Broadcast and Educational Markets Screenings and Local Display Appendix

Documentaries to See

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