The Documentary Filmmaking Master Class

Tell Your Story from Concept to Distribution

Betsy Chasse

• Publisher: Allworth
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781621537229
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Film & Video

"A realist with a senseof humor, Chasse is both stringent and encouraging as she covers every aspect of creating a successfulproduction." — Booklist starred review How to Make and Distribute a Documentary without Losing Your Mind or Going Broke Documentary filmmaking requires more than just a passion for the subject, whether it be one's personal story or that of someone else, a historical event or a startling discovery, a political movement or a heinous crime. Making a documentary and getting it in front of an audience requires determination, careful planning, money, and a strong production team. With over thirty years of experience in filmmaking, author Betsy Chasse mentors readers every step of the way with a down-to-earth approach and invaluable advice. Chapters cover topics such as:

• Choosing a Subject
• Developing a Business Plan
• Securing Financial Backing
• Assembling a Production Team
• Nailing Interviews and Shooting B-Roll
• Getting through Post-Production
• Distributing and Marketing the Film

Both novices and experienced filmmakers will benefit from this all-inclusive guide. With the right knowledge, persistence, and The Documentary Filmmaking Master Class in their camera bags, readers will not only turn their visions into reality, they'll be able to share the results with others and navigate the process with confidence.

Index

#

60 Minutes, 34

A

A&E, 145

Academy Awards, 12, 18, 18n, 32, 143, 144

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, 143, 144

Adobe, 33

advertising, 75, 128, 161, 163, 167, 170, 171

agenda, 6, 7, 8, 9–10, 34, 36, 50, 61

aggregator, 144–145

aggressive communication, 92

agreements. see documents and contracts

Alternative Medium Credit, 138

Altman, Robert, 5

Amazon Prime, 16, 47, 128, 162, 163, 169

American Film Market (AFM), 22, 131, 133, 141, 162

angel investors, 58, 61, 65

Animal Planet, 18

Apple TV, 162

approvals, investor, 64

ArcLight, 143, 160

ASCAP, 126

assertive communication, 92–93

Assignment, 140

Assumption of Obligations, 139

audience, 15, 41, 51, 52, 131, 133, 144, 165, 170, 171, 173, 177

Audioblocks, 126

B

background checks, 62

Bernays, Edward, 14

bias, 36–37

bin, 116–117

BMI, 126

books, 172

box office, 47, 141, 177

boxofficemojo.com, 47

branded products, 87

B-roll

and comparables, 15

and copyright, 104, 105

defined, 15n

Expository Mode, 34

fair use, 106–110

at interviews, 102, 104

patent and trademark, 105

planning and preparation, 103

stock footage, purchasing, 104, 105–106, 110–111

uses for, 104

using wisely, 112

budgets. see also investors

business plan, 43

and crowdfunding, 69–70

film festivals, 133

‘forgotten’ costs, 24

legal costs, 41n

and market statistics, 51

marketing, 22, 166, 168, 17...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• SECTION I: BEFORE YOU INVEST YOUR TIME AND MONEY, IS IT WORTH IT?
• SECTION II: THE BUSINESS PLAN
• SECTION III: MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
• SECTION IV: PRODUCTION
• SECTION V: POSTPRODUCTION
• SECTION VI: MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
• SECTION VII: THE WRAP
• About the Author
• Index