How to Make a Low Budget Documentary Feature: From Idea to Distribution with “Sign Painters”

How to Make a Low Budget Documentary Feature: From Idea to Distribution with "Sign Painters"

When Faythe initially proposed the idea of doing a film about sign painting, I said what many people have said to us over the past four years: "What do you mean, sign painting?" I immediately felt pretty stupid saying that – even as a relatively aesthetically tuned-in person, a person that has always appreciated cool signage, interesting lettering, et cetera, I had never really put two and two together. I had never given much thought to the fact that there was an entire industry of talented tradesmen and women who actually made the signs I had admired for much of my life. My own ignorance was enough motivation for me to say, "Sounds great. Let's do it!"

http://lightsfilmschool.com/blog/how-to-make-a-low-budget-documentary-feature-from-idea-to-distribution-with-sign-painters/4009/

How to succeed as a video journalist | Philip Bloom

PHILIP: I have been a journalist for 25 years, 17 of those were working as a news cameraman in some bloody awful places but covering some incredibly important stories.

Just how important people like Christian (who has written the guest blog post below) are must not be underestimated. Without people like him and the countless others working in TV news risking their lives to make sure what needs to be told is told we would live in the dark ages and some of the most desperate plights of man, the injustices,  would never be highlighted and we would remain ignorant.

Yes, some TV news programmes are biased and their journalism can, at times  be questionable but I am a firm believer that these are in the minority. UK TV news for example is forbidden to be politically biased, unlike UK newspapers, although in reality it's not as easy as that. Anyway this is for a different post.

philipbloom.net/2014/07/30/how-to-succeed-as-a-video-journalist

A social media documentary

Would you let someone read your text messages? How about broadcast them on TV?

In an age where what we tap with our fingers is almost as important as what we say with our mouths, documentary makers are having to go to extraordinary new lengths to tell the whole story.

"Is Chlamydia permanent?" Josie silently searches on her phone, moments after discovering she may have contracted the sexually transmitted disease from Aiden, another star of Channel 4's new series The Secret Life of Students.

m.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28402656?ocid=socialflow_twitter

12 Essential Filmmaking Tools Under $20 | Premiumbeat.com

Filmmaking can be a really expensive craft. Between buying a nice camera, lenses, audio equipment, rigs, and accessories, you are looking at thousands of dollars in equipment. However, some of the most useful equipment you can have on can have on-set won't break the bank.

Caleb Pike at DSLR Video Shooter has shared 12 essential pieces of filmmaking equipment that you can pick up for less than $20.

http://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/12-essential-filmmaking-tools-under-20/

Monday Memo: More Oscar Rule Changes in Store for Filmmakers | Stranger than Fiction

This week Pete Hammond of Deadline reported that rule changes to the documentary category of the Oscars were results of an effort to pare down the number of films eligible for the awards.

Writing for Indiewire, Anthony Kaufman reported on the rise of VOD for docs with the concurrent decline of box office receipts. In a related piece, Indiewire's Eric Kohn took a look at the VOD-friendly distribution strategy used by the action narrative film SNOWPIERCER.

stfdocs.com/monday-memo/monday-memo-more-oscar-rule-changes-in-store-for-filmmakers

Top 10 Screenwriting Books For Screenwriters

Screenwriters have strong opinions about what screenwriting books are the best when it comes to writing.

It may surprise you, but so do decision-makers.

These ten books for screenwriters are the ones that agents, managers, executives, stars, and directors reference the most.

goodinaroom.com/blog/screenwriters-books

Using social media to promote your film | Know How | The Knowledge

Social Media is NOT there to offer you a form of free advertising: Social media is about sharing content and engaging with people, so it's important to realize that if you only try to sell yourself and your own work, you're unlikely to be particularly successful. Make sure to find a balance between promoting your film and talking to people, sharing your opinions, and posting interesting and thought provoking content.

"Going Viral" is no easy task: Don't be disheartened if the trailer for your film doesn't go viral as soon as you upload it – getting people to watch and share can be quite challenging. Often films that go viral have done the social media circuit several times. It can often takes a rare set of circumstances, or a hell of a lot of work to propel a film or trailer to internet stardom.

www.theknowledgeonline.com/guides/post/2013/08/12/Using-social-media-to-promote-your-film#part%201:%20social%20media%20networking%20services