Documentary
Has the Drive to Fund "Social Issue" Docs Affected Their Form?
In surveying more than a year of films and filmmaker interviews, Randi Cecchine decides that yes, funding streams can influence form, and the difference between the US and foreign models may surprise you.
March 4th, 2010 | Randi Cecchine
US docmakers may feel pressed by funders to change the world with every film. The Independent's Randi Cecchine asks how is that mandate influencing docs' form, and what happens when funding models drastically differ, as they do abroad?
Over the past few years, I've had the pleasure of attending a number of film festivals and conferences, some with a press pass blogging for The Independent, some as a filmmaker; and each time I watch films, attend panel discussions, and most importantly, speak to documentary filmmakers to learn about their creative practice and the realities of producing.
Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Illinois
Chicago has served as a backdrop for a number of films...but as Jennifer Sheffield found out, Illinois has a lot more to offer than just a pretty skyline.
February 22nd, 2010 | Jennifer A. Sheffield
In the third installment of The Independent's Film-Friendly State series, we explore the indie ins and outs of Illinois, including tax breaks, the infamous skyline, and why Central Illinois is the next cinematic hot spot -- no, really.
In her role as managing director of the Illinois Film Office, Betsy Steinberg spends a lot of time talking with filmmakers on both coasts and overseas. “In Chicago, and around the state, the abundance of looks is never-ending,” she says. “Every filmmaker says it is the most under-photgraphed place in the movies.”
10 to Watch in 2010... Plus Five Runners-Up
After 10 days of Facebook-exclusive interviews, the suspense is finally over: The Independent's 10 filmmakers to keep an eye on in 2010... and the runners-up.
February 4th, 2010 | Nikki Chase
They come from all walks of life, and each has a different story to tell. Some have found success, while others are just beginning their careers. And although their filmmaking reflects this diversity, they all have one major thing in common (other than being on this list): talent. Be sure to take notes as you read...you'll want to remember these filmmakers.
Choosing The Independent's 10 to Watch is like trying to predict the future, or the stock market, or the weather in New England. The films on this list are in all stages of production and the filmmakers range from seasoned professionals to debut artists. So you might wonder how we named this particular group. How, exactly, does one go about predicting what 2010 has in store?
How Funders are Like Crushes and Other Sundance Morsels
Notes on Sundance 2010 from the eclectic and entertaining docmaker, Therese Shechter.
February 3rd, 2010 | Therese Shechter
Only filmmaker Therese Shechter equates raising money for her doc to speed-dating or counts eating potato skins as a personal victory. That's why we're happy she's back, sharing her blog with The Independent, about the always-crazy lines at Sundance 2010, which oddly dissipated by Wednesday.
Editor's note: Below is just a sampling of Shechter's Sundance account. For the whole enchilada, visit her blog.
Hello from Sundance!
Economic Turmoil in Film
How are recent American films coming to terms with economic strain? From features to personal documentaries, Teresa Bitler suggests seven films with recession-related themes.
January 25th, 2010 | Teresa Bitler
The films in this story capture the cinematic landscape of a country coming to grips with severe economic turmoil. From a man who loses his job and becomes obsessed with beating an arcade game's high score, to contemplating how, exactly, we ended up in this monetary mess, The Independent's Teresa Bitler suggests films that put the current fiscal downfall into perspective.
Pink slips and foreclosure notices. A few years ago, they seemed like some distant reality, something other people faced, people we didn’t know. Increasingly, though, the threat of job loss and foreclosure touches us all in some way. If we aren’t personally facing these issues, a family member, friend, or neighbor likely is.
Film-Friendly State: Shooting in Utah
The Independent's Angela Wu takes an in-depth look at why shooting your next film in the mountains might not be such a bad idea.
January 22nd, 2010 | Angela Wu
In the second installment of The Independent's new Film-Friendly States series, Angela Wu explores why, if you're an independent filmmaker, Utah offers much more than Sundance.
From New Hampshire’s “no filming permits” policy to Michigan’s 42 percent tax credit, states are fighting to stay competitive with low-cost international filming locations — and each other. For filmmakers, this means a slew of incentive programs that might make financing your next film a bit easier.
Doc Highlights from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
In part two of two, The Independent comments on intriguing docs from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.
January 7th, 2010 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers take two of highlights from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, this time with a focus on docs. Last month he served up narrative features.
You may want to check out part one, which offers a festival overview with a focus on its narrative features.
From Journalist to Documentarian – Five Tips for a Better Documentary
Think you’ve got an idea for a documentary? Before you shoot, hear how professional journalists turn good ideas into engaging nonfiction stories.
January 4th, 2010 | Michael Grosse
Ever wonder how, exactly, some documentaries can successfully embrace and tell a story, all while engaging the audience? So do we. The Independent's Michael Grosse highlights five important techniques on how to effectively research and write a better documentary.
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.
Doc Doctor's Story Strategies: Is Narration a Storytelling Red Flag?
In her 5th installment of "Story Strategies: Debunking the Myths of Storytelling," Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi asks: What's so terrible about narration?
November 23rd, 2009 | Fernanda Rossi
Is voiceover a red flag for bad storytelling? Doc Doctor Fernanda Rossi enters the debate on whether or not narration can be a creative tool and explores the prejudices associated with the use of voiceovers, suggesting why documentary filmmakers may want to consider the device when crafting stories.
Myth #5
“Narration in a documentary is bad storytelling.”
Says who?
The Myth in All Its Glory
Borat's Aftermath: A Romanian Town Seeks Damages
The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Mercedes Stalenhoef, the Dutch director of the documentary, "Carmen Meets Borat."
November 23rd, 2009 | Randi Cecchine
Filmmaker Mercedes Stalenhoef thought she was filming a young woman with dreams of escaping her poor Romanian hometown for a better life. But then another film crew descended on Glod, Romania, to shoot scenes for Borat, forever changing the villagers' prospects and not necessarily for the better. The Independent's Randi Cecchine interviews Stalenhoef about the process of making and distributing her documentary, Carmen Meets Borat.
I had the pleasure of seeing Carmen Meets Borat at the International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul, and was deeply moved. Carmen tells the story of a young Romanian woman with big dreams but who lives in a poor town.
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