Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - WHAT IGNITES PASSION FOR YOU?
Trusting Your Instincts
• PASSION AND INTUITION, THE MAGICAL
CONNECTION THAT WILL KEEP YOU GOING
Where My Own Story Begins
Fanning The Spark
How Do You Choose A Subject That Has Life For You?
Imagining Possibilities
• THE ROLE OF FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND COMPANIONS
• DEALING WITH DISTRACTIONS AND DOUBT
Unasked For Attention
Your Own Doubts
Getting Stuck, Not Knowing What To Do
Restoring Your Energy
• FACING THE HURDLES OF FINISHING THE PROJECT
Chapter 2 - THROW A NET AROUND YOUR IDEA:
Focusing Your Energies
• FINDING A BALANCE
• IDENTIFYING AND FRAMING YOUR BASIC PREMISE
What Do You Want To Accomplish?
Setting Your Goals And Limiting The Scope
What Happens If You Don’t Frame The Idea
• CREATING A ONE-SHEET PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Beginning To Develop Your Idea
• MAINTAINING A DYNAMIC BALANCE
Chapter 3 - KNOW YOUR SUBJECT INTIMATELY:
Background Research
• WHAT IS BACKGROUND RESEARCH?
• KINDS OF INFORMATION
• FINDING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE
• THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
Finding People Who Are Themselves Sources Of Information
People With Experience Related To The Subject
People Who Study The Subject
Experts
Gatekeepers
• INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
A Simple, Cheap Filing System
Creating A Contact Database
Categories
• THE UNIVERSE RUNS A MATCHING GRANT SERVICE
Chapter 4 - BUILDING COMMUNITY: From Kickoff to Launch
• THE LOGISTICS OF THE KICKOFF MEETING
Holding A Kickoff Meeting
Making Your Presentation
Your Follow-up
• ORGANIZING A SUPPORT GROUP
Your Interest Group As A Resource
Developing A Core Group
• IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
Chapter 5 - PLANNING AN UNSCRIPTED DOCUMENTARY:
Charting Your Course Before You Start
• TO SCRIPT OR NOT TO SCRIPT?
Scripted Documentaries
Capturing The Story In Unscripted Moments
• WRITE A DETAILED TREATMENT
• DIFFERENT WAYS TO TELL YOUR STORY
The Filmmaker As Poet
The Filmmaker As Teacher
The Filmmaker As Observer
The Filmmaker As A Participant
The Filmmaker Deconstructs Film
The Filmmaker As Performer
• GETTING STARTED
Begin With An Overview
Decide What To Shoot
Chapter 6 - WRITING A PROPOSAL: A Blueprint For Your Film
A Proposal Is A Blueprint For Your Film
• WHY DO YOU NEED A PROPOSAL?
As A Focus For The Project
Fundraising
Recruiting Experienced Crew And Advisors
• ELEMENTS OF A PROPOSAL
Cover Letter
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
Treatment And Project Description
Intended Audience
Production Plan and Time Line
Key Personnel
Funding Strategy
Distribution Plan
Budget
Attachments
• PROPOSAL WRITING RESOURCES
Funder Guidelines
Existing Resources For Filmmakers
Chapter 7 - THE CHALLENGE OF RAISING MONEY:
How To Attract The Funding You Need
• RAISING MONEY BY RAISING SPIRITS
• PEOPLE GENERALLY FUND PEOPLE, NOT IDEAS
• FUNDRAISING LOGISTICS
Realistic Budgeting
Crafting The Budget
Securing Accurate Line Items
Using A Non-Profit “Umbrella”
• FUNDRAISING OPTIONS
Friends And Family Members
House Parties
Fundraising Through Mailings
Foundation Grants
Your Own Money
Credit Card
• ESSENTIAL POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND
When You Are Fundraising, Stay With The Truth
Chapter 8 - THE ROLE OF YOUR CORE GROUP:
Who Will Be By Your Side?
• WHAT IS A CORE GROUP?
• HOW DO YOU ATTRACT A CORE GROUP?
Personal Relationships
The Larger Community
• WORKING WITH YOUR CORE GROUP
• COMMITMENT
The Importance Of Honesty
Calling On Your Core Group In Crisis
Chapter 9 - THE PRODUCTION TEAM:
The People Who Make It Happen
• BRINGING TOGETHER THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Where Do You Find Potential Team Members?
How Many People Do You Need?
What Do You Look For?
The Process Of Selection
Striking A Balance
• WORKING TOGETHER
Managing Expectations
Sharing Production Responsibilities
Potential Problems And Disagreements
• YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Tell Your Crew What They Need To Know
Don’t Overwork Your Crew
• BE ALERT FOR COMMON PROBLEMS
Keeping An Eye On Everything
A Trial Period
A Trial Period
Letting People Go
What If You Lose Control?
Chapter 10 - INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS:
People Who Give Their Time Without Pay
• WHAT DISTIGUISHES AN INTERN AND A VOLUNTEER
Interns
Volunteers
• CHOOSING INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS
Ask Yourself, “Is This A Good Match?”
Compatibility Is All-important
• WORKING WITH INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS
Finding The Right Place For An Intern
An Example Of A Good Place To Start
Hiring An Intern
• WHAT INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS TAKE AWAY
Chapter 11 - PREPRODUCTION PLANNING:
Getting Ready To Shoot
• MAKING A PRODUCTION BINDER
How Do You Find People to Pre-Interview?
How To Conduct A Pre-Interview
• SCOUTING LOCATIONS
Choosing An Interview Setting
• CREATING A SHOT LIST
• COLLECTING DOCUMENTS
• OTHER DOCUMENTS YOU MIGHT NEED
Receipts
Letters Of Agreement
Chapter 12 - FIELD PRODUCTION: On Location
• MEET WITH THE CREW BEFORE THE SHOOT
• A SMALL-CREW INTERVIEW SHOOT
• THE DAY OF THE SHOOT
Arrive Early And Set Up
Setting Up Microphones
Getting The Release
• SHOOTING INTERVIEWS
Framing Options
Three Framings
The Rule of Thirds
Five Degrees Off Center
Lighting
Field Monitor
B-Roll For An Interview
Wrap Up
• AFTER THE SHOOT
Chapter 13 - INTERVIEWS: Gathering People's Stories
• INTERVIEWING
Preparing For The Interview
Building Trust and Setting The Tone
Guiding The Interview
Interviewing Experts — A Special Category
• THE SPIRIT OF AN INTERVIEW
Looking For The Spark Of Truth
The Need for Integrity
Trust Your Instincts
WHEN THE INTERVIEW IS NOT WORKING
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Chapter 14 - BUILDING THE STORY:
A Fine Art And A Construction Project
Choosing A Structure For The Film
• THE FINE ART OF BUILDING A STORY
Be Ready For Changes
How Does A Character Develop?
Character Time
Character Timing
Relationships
Conflict
• WHEN “A CHARACTER” IS NOT A PERSON
How To Show This Character?
• OTHER ELEMENTS OF STORY
The Setting
Trajectory
Pacing
• WHERE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THE VIEWER?
Chapter 15 - EDITING: Weaving the Threads Together
• AN OVERVIEW OF THE EDITING PROCESS
• PREPARING FOR THE EDIT
Logging Your Footage
Transcribing Interviews
Transcribing Sync Sound Scenes (A-roll)
Making A Paper Edit
Establishing A Work Schedule
• HANDS-ON EDITING
The “Assemble Edit”
Rough Cut
Picture Lock
• BUILDING THE STORY IN THE EDITING ROOM
• WORKING WITH AN EDITOR
Differing With The Editor
Let The Material Speak To You
• CRAFTING THE STORY
Pacing
Juxtapositions
• FINDING YOUR STYLE
Getting In “The Zone”
Your Touch
Chapter 16 - FEEDBACK SCREENINGS: Gathering Input
• A REALITY CHECK
• STAGES OF FEEDBACK
Early Screenings
Middle Screenings
Final Screenings
• LOGISTICS
The Venue And Basic Logistics
The Attendees
• THE FEEDBACK SCREENING
What Happens At A Screening
The Questionnaire
• INTEGRATING THE FEEDBACK
Chapter 17 - FINISHING THE FILM: Completing The Project
• HOW COMMON IS THE PROBLEM OF “NOT FINISHING”?
• OBSTACLES TO FINISHING A FILM
Technical And Logistical Obstacles
Running Out Of Money
Sound
Permissions
Personal And Emotional Obstacles
Unresolved Issues With People
• STEPS TOWARD FINISHING A FILM
Questions To Ask
Consider Not Finishing Your Film
The Satisfaction In Finishing A Film
Chapter 18 - LOOK TO THE FUTURE: What’s Next for You?
• HOW MAKING A FILM CHANGES YOU
• BEING VISIBLE, FEELING EXPOSED
• WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT?
Will You Make More Films?
Teaching
Becoming A Spokesperson
• MOVING ON
Chapter 19 - SCREENING YOUR MOVIE:
Ways To Educate, Entertain, Inspire, And Activate
• SCREENINGS SERVE A SPECTRUM OF PURPOSES
To Educate
To Entertain
To Encourage Fresh Thinking
To Support And Inspire
To Activate
• SCREENINGS OF DIFFERENT SIZES
Small
Medium
Large
• CREATING SCREENINGS WITH EXISTING AUDIENCES
Interest Groups
Family, Friends, And Neighbors
Festivals
College Campuses
Conferences
Meetings, Groups And Organizations
• SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
• VIRTUAL AUDIENCES
The Internet
Public And Community Access TV
PBS
• THE BUSINESS OF SCREENINGS
• REACHING PEOPLE THROUGH SCREENINGS
Chapter 20 - PUBLICITY: Putting Out The Word
• MATERIALS TO HAND OUT AND POST
Flyers And Posters
Handbills And Postcards
Materials For People Who Attend Your Screenings
• WORKING WITH THE PRINT MEDIA
Creating A Press Kit
Press Releases
Media Advisories
The Power Of Personal Contact
• SCREENINGS AS SPRINGBOARDS FOR PUBLICITY
Chapter 21 - DISTRIBUTION:
Making Sure Your Film Reaches Viewers
• WEIGHING THE OPTIONS
• PROFESSIONAL DISTRIBUTION
Finding A Distributor
Evaluating A Distributor
Signing With A Distributor
What Happens When A Distributor Acquires Your Film
Stories From The Distribution Trenches
• SELF DISTRIBUTION
• WRITING A STUDY GUIDE
• THE REWARD OF OUTREACH
Table of Contents
as a .pdf file
"...masters at the art of making films who are willing to share their experiences with us."
—Stewart Cheifet, Producer,
Director & Writer of over one
thousand programs for PBS