So, You Want To Make A Documentary: Sharing Ideas And Hatching a Plan
Do you have an idea for a film but don't know the first thing about creating it? Are you on your ninth feature film and want to bounce ideas off people? Do you have an under underutilized skill (videographer, editor, producer...etc) that you want to put into action?
Then come check out this workshop.
Documentary filmmaking is a fascinating trade but often lonely. This class will help bring together local artists to discuss their projects and try to come up with a plan on how to make their vision a reality.
We'll talk about what goes into making a documentary including the idea, the aesthetics, the finances and the execution in an informal setting.
details
- when: saturday, april 16th, 2011, from 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
- to attend: Please see the info page for more information on attending any of the workshops at the 2011 Boston Skillshare.
- facilitated by: Samantha Farinella
lesson plan
1. Icebreaker with class: have a go around about who people are and why they are here.
2. I will talk a little about myself - how I financed my first feature film, Left Lane (with grad school $) and how I am financing my second film (I raised over $16,000 on Kickstarter). What working in TV is like...etc.
3. Aesthetics of documentary filmmaking - discuss coming up with an idea, how you should interview subjects, locations for filming...etc. Hopefully I will be able to show clips from a few films on the differences of how documentaries look and/or how you go about filming your subjects.
Ideas for show clips - subject to change:
The Big One - Michael Moore offers NIKE CEO Phil Knight a chance to visit his own sweat shop
Supersize Me - Morgan Spurlock eats a supersized Big Mac and throws up
Waltz With Bashir - showing an example of an animated documentary
Left Lane - how to make a performance documentary interesting with one camera
4. Permission and rights - hand out examples of release forms and the importance of getting them signed.
5. Partner Shares: group people together to talk about their ideas and come up with a brief plan of how and where to get started. Have them discuss their findings.
6. Thank everyone. Conclusion.
facilitator experience
Director/Producer/Videographer: Samantha Farinella
Samantha Farinella is a New York City-based queer feminist filmmaker and founder of One Angry Woman Productions. She has produced and directed six documentaries and four narrative shorts that have been featured in both national and international film festivals.
LEFT LANE, Farinella’s most recent film is currently in over forty-five festivals worldwide. So far, LEFT LANE has received eight awards including NewFest’s Audience Award for Best Feature Film, the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Outtakes Film Festival in New Zealand and The Audience Award at Paris Feminist Film Festival.
In addition, Farinella’s previous works have been screened by: Outfest L.A. Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Washington DC Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Boston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; HERE Art Gallery, NYC; Phat Shorts Festival, NYC; Brooklyn Waterfront Artist Coalition Festival; The Guggenheim, NYC.
She also has extensive television production experience, producing award-winning behind the scenes and promo spots for numerous series including Degrassi: The Next Generation and South Of Nowhere.
Currently Samantha is raising post production funds for her latest feature documentary, Hoonah's Heroes. From August - October of 2010, 19 interviews were conducted with over 70 hours of footage shot in south eastern Alaska and the Big Island of Hawaii. $18,000+ has been raised so far. Wish her luck!
intended audience
Anyone with an idea for a documentary, someone interested in documentary filmmaking, someone who wants to find community amongst filmmakers or someone who has a skill and wants to barter with other filmmakers - from the novice to the expert. Since I am a socially political documentary filmmaker, this class will have a slight slant but all types of documentary ideas are welcome.