Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos, Fourth Edition

Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos, Fourth Edition

Author: Alan Rosenthal

Publisher:

Published: 1996-04

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13:

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As Alan Rosenthal states in the preface to this new edition of his acclaimed resource for filmmakers, Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos is “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.


Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films

Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films

Author: Alan Rosenthal

Publisher:

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13:

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"For me, working in documentary implies a commitment that one wants to change the world for the better. That says it all."--Alan Rosenthal An international documentary filmmaker with more than 60 films to his credit including the Peabody Award winner "Out of the Ashes," Rosenthal has written the first book to address the realities facing a documentary filmmaker. Rather than dealing with theory or hardware, this book tackles the day-to-day problems of the documentary filmmaker from initial concept through distribution. Rosenthal explains in a down-to-earth manner how to approach, create, write, and direct the "new" documentary He emphasizes the research and writing of documentaries, from approach and structure through interviewing, narration writing, and the complexities of editing. The organization of the book follows the process of making a film. Part 1 discusses ideas, research, and script structure; parts 2 and 3 go over preproduction and production; part 4 explores film editing and narration writing; part 5 discusses distinctive film styles; and the concluding chapter offers a perspective on the entire filmmaking process.


Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Digital Videos

Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Digital Videos

Author: Alan Rosenthal

Publisher: SIU Press

Published: 2015-12-23

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13: 0809334593

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In a new edition of this popular guidebook, filmmakers Alan Rosenthal and Ned Eckhardt show readers how to utilize the latest innovations in equipment, technologies, and production techniques for success in the digital, web-based world of documentary film. All twenty-four chapters of the volume have been revised to reflect the latest advances in documentary filmmaking. Rosenthal and Eckhardt discuss the myriad ways in which technological changes have impacted the creation process of documentary films, including how these evolving technologies both complicate and enrich filmmaking today. The book provides crucial insights for the filmmaker from the film’s conception to distribution of the finished film. Topics include creating dynamic proposals, writing narration, and navigating the murky world of contracts. Also included are many practical tips for first-time filmmakers. To provide context and to illustrate techniques, Rosenthal and Eckhardt reference more than one hundred documentaries in detail. A new appendix, “Using the Web and Social Media to Prepare for Your Career,” guides filmmakers through the process of leveraging social media and crowdsourcing for success in filmmaking, fund-raising, and promotion. A day-to-day field manual packed with invaluable lessons, this volume is essential reading for both novice and experienced documentary filmmakers.


Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Digital Videos

Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Digital Videos

Author: Alan Rosenthal

Publisher: SIU Press

Published: 2015-12-23

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13: 0809334585

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In a new edition of this popular guidebook, filmmakers Alan Rosenthal and Ned Eckhardt show readers how to utilize the latest innovations in equipment, technologies, and production techniques for success in the digital, web-based world of documentary film. All twenty-four chapters of the volume have been revised to reflect the latest advances in documentary filmmaking. Rosenthal and Eckhardt discuss the myriad ways in which technological changes have impacted the creation process of documentary films, including how these evolving technologies both complicate and enrich filmmaking today. The book provides crucial insights for the filmmaker from the film’s conception to distribution of the finished film. Topics include creating dynamic proposals, writing narration, and navigating the murky world of contracts. Also included are many practical tips for first-time filmmakers. To provide context and to illustrate techniques, Rosenthal and Eckhardt reference more than one hundred documentaries in detail. A new appendix, “Using the Web and Social Media to Prepare for Your Career,” guides filmmakers through the process of leveraging social media and crowdsourcing for success in filmmaking, fund-raising, and promotion. A day-to-day field manual packed with invaluable lessons, this volume is essential reading for both novice and experienced documentary filmmakers.


Directing the Documentary

Directing the Documentary

Author: Michael Rabiger

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 530

ISBN-13: 0240810899

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Michael Rabiger guides the reader through the stages required to conceive, edit and produce a documentary. He also provides advice on the law, ethics and authorship as well as career possibilities and finding work.


Making Documentary Films and Videos

Making Documentary Films and Videos

Author: Barry Hampe

Publisher: Macmillan

Published: 2007-12-10

Total Pages: 468

ISBN-13: 9780805081817

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Outlines each step in creating documentaries, from conception to final film, and offers advice on capturing human behavior and recreating past events, with advice on how to get started in the field, a section on researching and developing a project, and current resources.


Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video

Author: David K. Irving

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2013-03-20

Total Pages: 412

ISBN-13: 1136048340

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Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video is the definitive book on the subject for beginning filmmakers and students. The book clearly illustrates all of the steps involved in preproduction, production, postproduction, and distribution. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both producer and director, and explains how their separate energies must combine to create a successful short film or video, from script to final product. This guide offers extensive examples from award-winning shorts and includes insightful quotes from the filmmakers themselves describing the problems they encountered and how they solved them. The companion website contains useful forms and information on grants and financing sources, distributors, film and video festivals, film schools, internet sources for short works, and professional associations.


Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video

Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video

Author: Peter W. Rea

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2015-03-24

Total Pages: 497

ISBN-13: 1317908759

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Producing and Directing the Short Film and Video, Fifth Edition is the definitive book on the subject for the serious film student or beginning filmmaker. Its unique two-fold approach looks at filmmaking from the perspectives of both the producer and director, and clearly explains how their separate roles must work together to create a successful short film or video. Through extensive examples from award-winning shorts and insightful interviews, you will learn about common challenges the filmmakers encountered during each step of filmmaking process—from preproduction to production, postproduction, and distribution—and the techniques they used to overcome them. In celebrating this book’s twentieth anniversary, this edition has been updated to include: Two all-new, in-depth cases studies of esteemed short films—Memory Lane and the Academy Award-winning God of Love A revised chapter progression that reinforces the significance of the actor - director relationship Interviews with the filmmakers integrated alongside the text, as well as new images and behind-the-scenes coverage of production processes Revamped sections on current financing strategies, postproduction workflows, and the wide variety of distribution platforms now available to filmmakers A "Where are They Now" appendix featuring updates on the original filmmakers covered in the first edition An expanded companion website (www.focalpress.com/cw/rea) containing useful forms and information on distributors, grants and financing sources, film and video festivals, film schools, internet sources for short works, and professional associations