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Documentary Filmmaking, what to know, how to break in. (Vanity)
Myself | Aug 21, 2003 | Elliott Gigantalope

Posted on 08/21/2003 4:45:05 PM PDT by Elliott Jackalope

This is for all of the FReepers out there who might know a thing or two about the business of documentary filmmaking, and those who might have an interest in doing documentary films. An opportunity has presented itself to me, an opportunity that is proving difficult to ignore. I'm currently working on editing some footage that has been taken in the Amazon river area, and I'm looking at the possibility of getting into the business of making documentary television shows.

The person I'm working with has already made a month long trip into the Amazon armed only with a GL-1 camcorder and a surplus of bravado, and has returned with a lot of very interesting footage of the local flora, fauna and people. This footage is shaping up to be reasonably useful, and will probably yield two or three finished hours of presentable television. This person looks good on camera, and has the ability to get people to open up to him on camera. He is itching to go back and film even more stuff, but is constrained by finances.

I'm considering going into business with this person and forming a production company, even though I know nothing about this business (my expertise is computers and using CAD software, now updating to video editing/effects software). This would naturally involve my spending considerable sums to help finance additional trips, etc. As of yet we have no customers lined up, and I don't even know what can be reasonably realized from the sale of such a show.

The current proposed business plan is to take the existing footage and turn it into a really good ten minute presentation that we can shop around to some of the cable networks, with the idea that we can ship at least one full hour of a show that we can put together with what we have. Then, if we can sell the first episode, then we go back and film a lot more stuff (and do an even better job of it) and put together the next couple of episodes.

Hopefully this will produce enough income to make this operation self-sustaining, with the eventual goal of producing something like ten hours of finished product a year, and enough income from this finished product to be able to stay in business, buy food, pay rent etc. and maybe even have a profit at the end of the day. The current plan involves using four key people to produce everything, and we're completely based on Final Cut Pro so our costs are pretty low.

So, my fellow FReepers, am I nuts to even be thinking about this? Is there a chance of making any money in this business? How much is the average documentary film on Animal Planet or A&E making for the filmmaker? How does one go about opening doors?

I look forward to your replies.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: documentary; filmmaking; television

1 posted on 08/21/2003 4:45:06 PM PDT by Elliott Jackalope
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To: Elliott Gigantalope
Ping in hopes of getting a reply.
2 posted on 08/21/2003 6:50:55 PM PDT by Elliott Jackalope (Testing, testing, is this thing on?)
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To: Elliott Gigantalope
Bump to an empty room. Hello? Anyone out there?
3 posted on 08/22/2003 9:00:02 AM PDT by Elliott Jackalope (Testing, testing, is this thing on?)
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To: Elliott Gigantalope
Sorry, I thought this was about a documentary on how to perform a break in. Nevermind.
4 posted on 08/22/2003 9:01:28 AM PDT by Great_Dame (wheeeeeeeee! whoops!)
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To: Great_Dame
Ok, so the headline ain't so great. Anybody have any info on this subject?
5 posted on 08/22/2003 9:02:30 AM PDT by Elliott Jackalope (Testing, testing, is this thing on?)
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To: Elliott Gigantalope
So, my fellow FReepers, am I nuts to even be thinking about this?

Not if you enjoy it.

Is there a chance of making any money in this business?

Very little chance.

How much is the average documentary film on Animal Planet or A&E making for the filmmaker?

I havent the foggiest, but I imagine that it's somewhere in the low six figures.

How does one go about opening doors?

International Documentary Association

Research, research, research.

6 posted on 08/25/2003 11:53:47 PM PDT by lowbridge (Texas Democrats. Saddam. On the lam together.)
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To: Elliott Gigantalope
Notes from a FReeper made documentary:

'So.... you wanna be in pictures?' HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!

Tailing the Millennium

Tailing the Millennium (Thread 2)

7 posted on 08/25/2003 11:58:59 PM PDT by lowbridge (Texas Democrats. Saddam. On the lam together.)
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To: AnnaZ
advice?
8 posted on 08/25/2003 11:59:27 PM PDT by lowbridge (Texas Democrats. Saddam. On the lam together.)
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To: lowbridge
Thanks for the links.
9 posted on 09/01/2003 4:55:08 PM PDT by Elliott Jackalope (We send our kids to Iraq to fight for them, and they send our jobs to India. Now THAT'S gratitude!)
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To: Elliott Jackalope
Bump for the heck of it.
10 posted on 09/21/2003 11:19:22 PM PDT by Elliott Jackalope (We send our kids to Iraq to fight for them, and they send our jobs to India. Now THAT'S gratitude!)
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