Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos

by Rosenthal, Alan

• ISBN13: 9780809327423
• ISBN10: 0809327422
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-06-26
• Publisher: Southern Illinois Univ Pr
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

As Alan Rosenthal states in the preface to this new edition of his acclaimed resource for filmmakers,Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videosis "a book about storytelling--how to tell great and moving stories about fascinating people, whether they be villains or heroes." In response to technological advances and the growth of the documentary hybrid in the past five years, Rosenthal reconsiders how one approaches documentary filmmaking in the twenty-first century. Simply and clearly, he explains how to tackle day-to-day problems, from initial concept through distribution. He demonstrates his ideas throughout the book with examples from key filmmakers' work. New aspects of this fourth edition include a vital new chapter titled "Making Your First Film," and a considerable enlargement of the section for producers, "Staying Alive," which includes an extensive discussion of financing, marketing, festivals, and distribution. This new edition offers a revised chapter on nonlinear editing, more examples of precise and exacting proposals, and the addition of a complex budget example with explanation of the budgeting process. Discussion of documentary hybrids, with suggestions for mastering changes and challenges, has also been expanded, while the "Family Films" chapter includes updated information that addresses rapid expansion in this genre.

Author Biography

Alan Rosenthal has made more than sixty films for television. His books include New Challenges for Documentary, Why Docudrama? Fact-Fiction on Film and TV, and Jerusalem: Take One! Memoirs of a Jewish Filmmaker. He received a Peabody Award for Journalism and the International Documentary Association’s award for scholarship. Currently he divides his time among projects in Jerusalem, London, and New York. His most recent film is Stalin's Last Purge.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Preface to the Fourth Edition	p. xi
Preface to the First Edition	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
From Idea to First Draft
Clearing the Decks	p. 9
Getting to Work	p. 19
Writing the Proposal	p. 33
Research	p. 56
Shaping the Film	p. 65
Beginning the First Draft	p. 90
Completing the First Draft	p. 103
Preproduction
Budget and Contract	p. 129
Preproduction Survey	p. 146
Production
The Director Prepares	p. 165
Directing the Interview	p. 177
On Location	p. 193
Postproduction
Editing	p. 205
Writing the Final Narration	p. 226
Finishing the Film	p. 259
Special Cases
Making Your First Film	p. 269
Cinema Verite	p. 275
Documentary Drama	p. 288
The History Documentary	p. 311
Family Films	p. 328
Industrial and Public Relations Films	p. 351
Staying Alive: The Producer's Role	p. 364
Conclusion: Problems and Challenges	p. 389
Budget for a One-Hour Documentary, Peace Process	p. 401
Selected Bibliography	p. 407
Index	p. 409
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