When you’re making a nonfiction film it’s often important to get a documentary release form from all the participants, to show that you have their permission to film them. When do you need a documentary film release form? Examples Ideally you would have a signed documentary film release form forRead More →
Making a batch of 1,000 DVDs or Blu-Rays isn’t always cost-effective for low budget documentaries unless you’re sure that you can sell them all. But distributing your film online can cost next to nothing– if you choose an option that doesn’t have a setup fee or an annual fee (whichRead More →
Photo credit Documentary filmmaking can be quite expensive: budgets can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for a feature-length documentary. If you’re interested in making a low budget documentary film, especially if you’ve never made one before, you’ll need to spend wisely and count every penny. 10 LowRead More →
Saying no to a camera is sometimes impossible for politicians. Even when they really should say no. Over the years, some documentary filmmakers have managed to get incredible access to candidates as they run for office that often makes us wonder “how did they ever agree to be videotaped thatRead More →
Let’s say you don’t want to use a DSLR shotgun microphone that sits on top of your camera but instead you want to use a boom pole and a shotgun mic mounted on top of that to capture sound much closer to your subject than an on-camera mic will allowRead More →
Creative Commons image credit: US Department of Defense Here are some documentary filmmaking interview tips. Some are obvious, others not so much. Not all of these will be appropriate for every documentary film. You may also want to consider: Documentary Film Interviews: Should the Questions be Heard on Screen? DocumentaryRead More →
Creative Commons image credit: Wikipedia. Here are two crucial questions you may want to ask yourself before you shoot the very first interview for your documentary film: Question 1: Will the voice of the questions being asked be included and audible in the finished documentary? If so, the interviewee mustRead More →
So, you’ve made your film. Now what? The film festival circuit can be confusing and, if you don’t go in with a solid game plan, a waste of time and money. Luckily, there are a few guide books that help you execute a film festival strategy that’s well-suited for yourRead More →
Sometimes, a good documentary film explores a mystery– be it a huge international conspiracy, or something a bit more humble, such as “is the girl I’m talking to in this chatroom really hot?” Below is a list of really great mystery documentaries that trace a story back to its origins,Read More →
Think documentary films are always boring and serious? Think again! Documentaries can be just as funny, and sometimes funnier than fictional films. This list proves it! Here are ten of the all time funniest documentary films: 10. Religulous In Religulous, avowed atheist comedian Bill Maher takes on what he seesRead More →
Whether you’re a seasoned documentary filmmaker, a film student, or just starting out, there’s nothing wrong with honing your craft further by doing a little reading. Here are several books, some geared specifically towards documentary filmmaking, others broader, that are worth a look. Books About Documentary Filmmaking Producing With PassionRead More →