But first, a quick announcement. My Inner Cirlce has sold out.  I am considering beginning a new Inner Circle and there are a few spots left. This 6-month program for documentary filmmakers begins January 31, 2012. Email me today to learn more. Or click on this link now:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

Back to the quiz…here are seven questions to ask about your core concept for your documentary-in-progress.

Take this quiz to see if your concept paper and treatment need to be tweaked (or revamped) to make an engaging, profitable documentary film:

1. Do you know about and are you structuring your film with one of the meta-templates used by 90% of commercially successful documentaries?

2. Is your topic visual (or would it work better as a magazine story)?

3. Does your topic or character really rock your world (and will it for the next 2-3 years)?

4. Can you get sufficient access to your characters, or are you dreaming?

5.  Are you using cutting-edge visual devices or, better yet, re-creating the documentary form with a truly innovative stylistic technique?

6. Is your program “ever-green”, or will it be old news by next year?

7. Are you savvy to and prepared to fund the most expensive budget line items

(such as archival footage, music licensing, travel expense and editor fees) that can make or break

your project?

If you answered “yes” to six or more of these questions, congratulations! You likely have an engaging documentary, poised to attract funding, critical acclaim and large audiences. (Be sure to register your treatment with the Writer’s Guild to protect your intellectual property.)

If not, how can you turn each “no” into a “yes”?

In my six-month Inner Circle program, we take a candid, professional look at your core concept and see where tweaking or outright refashioning your film can help.

And if you’re making a character-driven documentary (my specialty), we’ll also ask one more important question:  does action unfold on screen?  If not, how can we replace some of your monotonous talking heads with events that develop in front of your viewers’ eyes?

Join my Inner Circle, beginning January 31^th, 2012 and receive:

-       Three One-on-One Story Consultations … aimed at structuring your film with a robust concept that provides a compelling dramatic experience for your viewer;

-       Twelve Mastermind Calls … to provide peer support and feedback from fellow filmmakers;

-       Unlimited Email Access… to my professional guidance for six months;

-       Much more…check it out at:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

Note that my last two Inner Circle programs sold out.  Here’s what some current members are saying:

“We needed help with our story and structure for our next film, and another filmmaker recommended Karen Everett and New Doc Editing. We’re half way through our 6-month course with the Inner Circle, and we have already learned an incredible amount about story structure that will help us shape our rough cut!”

- Judy Kohin, Producer, BAG IT, URANIUM DRIVE-IN, Reel Thing Productions

“Without having any footage for my film, it initially seemed unjustifiable to seek story consulting or a story editor. But by joining the Inner Circle, I’ve learning so much more about story crafting and editing which will definitely save a lot of time and money in production and post-production.”

- Valerie Camila Rhodes

If you are interested in the upcoming Inner Circle, please email me today at karen@newdocediting.com so we can discuss how your documentary can benefit!

The statistic claimed that only one percent of documentary films are commercially successful.

For awhile, I believed it.  Now I’m beginning to question that statistic.

Where did it come from? Does anyone know?

And how accurate is it today, a few short years later, when distribution consultants like Marc Rosenbush and Stacey Parks are helping filmmakers devise innovative roll-out plans to sell your film? And when more filmmakers are selling their films online, keeping all the profit?

Before I blow the one percent statistic out of the water, a quick announcement: my Inner Circle program for documentary filmmakers sold out last Friday.

Since there is such high demand for this popular program, I am starting a second, concurrent Inner Circle. There are two spots left. Please email me today if you are interested in joining so we can talk about whether this six-month documentary story consulting program is right for you.

Now…here’s my manifesto for 2012:  ignore the one percent statistic!  Expect to make money from your film!

There’s a growing movement among indie filmmakers that addresses the fear embedded in the outdated archetype of the poor, starving artist. For example, the innovative radio show Film Courage (http://filmcourage.com/) empowers indie filmmakers to follow their bliss and create monetary and emotional rewards.

Many filmmakers in my six-month Inner Circle program are creating profitable documentaries by:

-  a) getting their films fully funded through angel investors, so there’s no one to pay back when the film is done; and

- b) turning to innovative distribution models that give the filmmaker the lion’s share of the profits.

Check out my upcoming Inner Circle program at:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

According to film fundraising consultant Morrie Warshowski and documentary mentor Jilann Spitzmiller, who were guests on past Inner Circle Mastermind calls, there’s hope.

Recent fundraising and distribution innovations include:

-       Crowdsourcing to build your audience while you create your film;

-       Engaging your film’s character in fundraising;

-       Correctly implementing fundraising software like Kickstarter and Indie-Gogo.

If you want to join the growing tribe of filmmakers making profitable documentaries, consider joining my upcoming Inner Circle beginning January 31, 2012.

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

This high-end consulting program is not for everyone.  It is a great way to save on my story consulting fees and get cutting-edge storytelling guidance and support from fellow filmmakers over a six-month period.

For example, one of our current Inner Circle members recently shared with our five fellow members how her team raised tens of thousands of dollars from progressive, upper-middle class professionals to fund their last award-winning environmental documentary.

I’m proud that Inner Circle members tell me over and over again how helpful they find the mindset aspect of the program.

“The Inner Circle is a rare, perfect combination of individual attention and

group support,” says Inner Circle member Mark Davis, with whom I am consulting again tomorrow. “The motivational boost alone is worth the price!”

Cultivating a positive, purpose-driven attitude is something I’ve personally worked on a great deal. And I’ve developed unique ways for Inner Circle members to provide encouragement and support for one another, including Mastermind Calls and accountability partners.

Frankly, next to my world-class story consulting skills, my ability to help you stay positive and on track is a major part of my value to you as a filmmaker.

So please, don’t fall prey to dubious and out-dated statistics such as the above-mentioned one percent stat.

Learn more about how the Inner Circle can help you create an engaging, profitable documentary at:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

Again, note that while my Inner Circle program sold out last week, I am starting a second, concurrent Inner Circle on January 31st.

I am only accepting six filmmakers to provide a quality experience. There are two spots left.

Email me today: karen@newdocediting.com,  so we can talk by phone about how Inner Circle can provide you with the storytelling guidance and peer support to create a profitable documentary.

Here’s how it works:

For the next week, I’m offering 10 documentary filmmakers a complimentary mini-story consulting session.

If chosen, you’ll send me up to five minutes of your footage, and I will critique what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve your film.

If you are selected for this offer, I will ask you to send me one of the following:

1. Your trailer or your Kickstarter/IndieGoGo campaign (your film’s calling card)
2. The first five minutes of your film (the most difficult to craft and important to get right)
3. Five minutes from any section of your documentary, even outtakes of uncut video.

To take advantage of this rare opportunity for professional story consulting, email me today. Again, I’m only accepting 10 filmmakers.

If you’re chosen, I’ll critique up to five minutes of footage using my special “Viewer POV” software. This technology allows you to see two things at once: 1) your footage; 2) me critiquing your footage.

We’ll then schedule a 10-minute phone consultation to discuss your project.

At my hourly rate of $250, you’re getting at least $75 worth of story consulting for free!

In case you’re worried your footage isn’t good enough, please don’t! I’m a kind critic, and I will help you.  I’ll point out what’s working, what’s not and how you can improve your documentary.

When we’re done collaborating, I’ll send you a Quicktime file of my critique.

Please email me today at Karen@newdocediting.com if you are interested in this offer.

I’ll accept the first 10 filmmakers, and I’ll give preference to those who are considering joining my next Inner Circle that begins January 30th… so be sure to let me know if you’re interested in this 6-month story consulting program!

You’ll save on my story consulting fees and work with like-minded filmmakers in a supportive environment, fostered with bi-weekly Mastermind Calls. The early bird discount ends soon.

Learn more about the Inner Circle at:

http://newdocediting.com/land/innercircle/

Email me if you are interested in the free critique, and let me know if you are also interested in the Inner Circle. I look forward to critiquing your footage!

I call their documentaries “transformational films”.

Examples include surprise hits such as “I Am”,“What the Bleep Do You Know?”, “Horse Boy”, “Wake Up”, “Crazy Sexy Cancer”, “Thrive” and “Discover The Gift”.

Imagine a bookstore’s psychology, spirituality and self-help sections combined, and you’ll get a whiff of how huge this emerging genre will be.

As the upcoming GATE conference (the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment) promotes in their advertising, “The Audience is Ready!” for stories of personal transformation culminating in global impact.

I’ll be at the GATE conference in Los Angeles on February 4, 2012, so let me know if you’re coming.

The fact that most of the above-mentioned documentaries were theatrical sleeper hits or internet-spread success stories points to what I believe is a blind spot in mainstream distribution channels.

Frankly, most American distributors aren’t interested in “self-help documentaries”…yet.  Is that because these distributors cater primarily to universities, and academia is suspicious or downright disdainful of documentaries like “The Secret” (2006)? (“The Secret” is probably the most commercially successful and denigrated transformational film to date.)

Whatever the reason, I predict the Transformational Film Movement will gain in intellectual rigor, broaden beyond a personal focus, and eventually envelop much of the social issue genre (currently the largest genre of American documentaries, which receive the bulk of foundation funding for films).

I love working with filmmakers who are making transformational films.  Many members of my Inner Circle programs have received my story consulting help in creating cutting-edge, transformational documentaries, including Scott Ryan in “Manifesto” and Katie Teague in “Money and Life”.

If you are interested in creating films that make a difference, I invite you to join my new Inner Circle program starting January 30^th, 2012.

Learn more at http://newdocediting.com/land/innercircle/

Former members have raved about this six-month program for documentary filmmakers.

Inner Circle member Scott Ryan said:

“Karen helped us overcome serious story hurdles, ultimately defining which narrative elements were truly important to my film. After shooting off and on over a period of five years, we were working with hundreds of hours of footage, so her guidance was crucially important.”

Inner Circle member Katie Teague said:

“Hiring Karen as a consultant on my film was one of the best investments on the project to date…Her respectfulness and genuine enthusiasm for the film’s success gives me a renewed confidence when it sags the most.”

If you are seeking professional guidance structuring your film as well as peer support, check out the Inner Circle at:

http://newdocediting.com/land/innercircle/

I’m capping the Inner Circle at 6 members to provide a quality mentoring and group experience, so please contact me today at Karen@newdocediting.com to see if this program is right for you.

If so, I helped design a Film Arts Forum with ITVS senior executive Richard Saiz that inspired so many filmmakers to think more creatively about their storytelling approach that I want to share some tips here…just in time to spruce up your application!

But first, in case you missed the announcement, my new Inner Circle program is starting January 30^th, 2012.  If you are seeking guidance in structuring your film, motivation to meet deadlines, as well as the creative support of other talented filmmakers, this 6-month program is right for you.  Check it out at:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

Now back to the Independent Television Service, the largest U.S. funder of independent documentaries.

Whether or not you are writing an ITVS grant (Open Call is due tomorrow), it’s important to address the important creative aspect of your proposal with fresh eyes.

ITVS promotes innovative storytelling, and filmmakers who think outside the doc box are more likely to get ITVS funding that those who don’t.

(You can see my forum on “Thinking Outside the Doc Box” with ITVS’s Richard Saiz at http://newdocediting.com/client-resources/documentaryinnovation/.)

Here are several ideas to inspire you to, in ITVS’s words “take creative risks” and think in new ways about three standard documentary conventions:

1. Narration.  In my opinion, narration is making a comeback. So how can you provide narration differently than the old “voice of god” drone and in a way that reinforces the theme of your documentary?

-       Crowd source the narration.  (See Tiffany Shlain’s new short “A Declaration of Interdependence”.)

-       Have a child narrate

-       Have someone sing the narration

-       Film the narration being delivered in the audio booth to convey transparency or collaboration, if these are important themes in your film.

2. Interviews. How can you shoot your remaining interviews in a way that makes them stand out and expresses the themes in your film? Here are some examples:

-       Have experts on a documentary about history appear in their own historical reenactments (“Herskovitz: Heart of Darkness”).

-       Combine a talking heads film with a narrative story. (“What the Bleep Do We Know?” “Paulina”)

-       Interview only one person in your film. To capture an aspect of their personality or a theme of the film, use a special camera device such as a jib (see “Collapse”) or Errol Morris’s Interrotron (“Fog of War”) or the newly named EyeDirect device at (http://www.mceyeliner.com/index.html).

-       Have experts on a documentary about child development be interviewed by children. (Not done yet to my knowledge.)

3. Personal Documentaries. First-person films are still growing in popularity. How can your storytelling leverage the “access” you already have, or recreate the access you thought you had?

-       Use animation to recreate scenes with family members or others who are part of your story but now don’t want to be on film. (See Kirby Dick’s “This Film Is Not Yet Rated”).

-       Contrive a ridiculously funny quest. (“Supersize Me”)

-       Crowd source your quest.  Describe your goal or problem and send out a request for You Tube videos from people in your family, or community, or the big wide world, with suggestions for solving the problem. Then film yourself acting on some of the suggestions.

I hope these suggestions will spark your own creativity, whether or not you are aiming for the ITVS deadline. Several of our Inner Circle members have benefited from rethinking their storytelling approach in a more innovative way.

Here are a few testimonials:

“Karen helped me look at my project with fresh eyes,” said Inner Circle member Scott Ryan, “providing a wealth of provoking new ideas for telling my story with the greatest impact.”

According to one Inner circle member, Greg Boozell, “The Inner Circle was a creative haven of mutual support and constructive critique…thanks to its collaborative nature.”

To learn more and register for the January 30^th Inner Circle, click on:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

I’m accepting six filmmakers in the Inner Circle and there are five slots left.

Please email me today if you are interested in talking about whether the Inner Circle is right for you, as the early bird discount ends soon!

When I told her I was weighing whether to begin a new Inner Circle coaching program for documentary filmmakers (given all my new projects), she told me in no uncertain terms that I should definitely offer the Inner Circle program this month.

She helped me realize what I already knew in my gut, from my testimonials gathered from other filmmakers.

Simply put, we creatives thrive when we can talk about our projects on a regular basis with fellow filmmakers.  And our documentaries benefit from structural guidance at key points in our project’s timeline.

She reminded me that I’m really good at giving this guidance. After leading our Mastermind group last night (for the current Inner Circle), I remembered how joyful I feel giving my gift to my tribe.

So… I’m excited to announce that my new Inner Circle 5.0 begins January 30, 2012!  This six-month documentary consulting program provides unparalleled peer support, mastermind calls and one-on-one consultations for your documentary-in-progress.

Learn more at:

newdocediting.com/land/innercircle

Please email me if you are interested so we can discuss if this program is right for you.  The early bird pricing allows you to save $2000. This special discount ends in mid-January, so email me today at Karen@newdocediting.com.

Here’s what a recent Inner Circle alumnae, Julie Miller, said about the program:

“Karen’s analysis and feedback were exactly what I needed! Her insights and methods are quite amazing and will be tremendously useful to me going forward. In particular, her video notes are a great tool.  She helps me stay focused with her sincere, informed support and encouragement.”

One filmmaker was floored to discover that the hours of city council footage he had been depending upon had been inadvertently dumped by the archive facility.

Another filmmaker had run smack into legal challenges with the government he had turned to for funding.

A third filmmaking, working on a concept paper for a film about epilepsy, had personally experienced two seizures in the last few weeks.

Two other Inner Circle members were bravely facing challenges of similar magnitude.  We all cheered to hear that our sixth filmmaking team had won an Audience Choice Award last week for a previous film!

While I was happy that our Mastermind Call provided support and solutions for these toiling filmmakers, I was also struck last night by two things.

First, these filmmakers (most of whom were directing character-driven documentaries) were the protagonists on their own obstacle-filled quest. Sometimes pulling back and looking at your life that way can be inspiring.

Second, I recalled something that award-winning editor Vivien Hillgrove (“The Future of Food”) said while commenting on the editor/director relationship. “I think directors are brave,” she said.

I echo her sentiment here. Documentary film directors are brave. And I want to say thank you to all the directors out there who subscribe to my 2500-member newsletter.

Thank you for listening to and following your passion, which fuels your creation.

Thank you for the courage you show in the face of inevitable challenges.

And thank you for the films you create that educate, enlighten and inspire thousands if not millions of people.

Please give yourselves a pat on the back.  Right now! If you’re a hugger, give yourself a squeeze, while you accept my gratitude.

For those of you who are interested in getting support for the journey of directing your film, I’ll be starting a new Inner Circle in early 2012.

Feel free to email me today at Karen@newdocediting.com if you want to learn more about early bird registration.

Before I tell you why watching “Thrive” will make you a better filmmaker, let me first announce that I’m extending the holiday sale on my online documentary seminars.  I’ve had some interest in an extension, so I’m making this great deal available to everyone.

For the next 48 hours, you can get all of my seminars (valued at $625) for $79.97. Go to http://newdocediting.com/products/. (Note that I will be removing some of my seminars soon, permanently, to make way for fresh educational products.)

Now back to “Thrive”. Whatever you think of conspiracy theories, UFO’s and secret geometric codes, watch “Thrive” as a stellar example of a documentary that spends at least 25% of its on-screen currency on cutting-edge solutions, rather than problems.

Many filmmakers, especially those who attend film school, tend to shy away from spelling out possible solutions to their social issue films, preferring to focus entirely on the injustice or ignorance (or whatever the perceived “problem” is).

But in my experience, this breed of films attracts a small tribe of viewers, the proverbial “converted”. Films with a strong call to action tend to inspire larger audiences, giving viewers hope along with the mandate to act.

Part investigative journalism that follows the money, and part social transformation media that manages to be funny, “Thrive” is also a terrific example of why it makes sense for the filmmaker himself to narrate the tale.

Directed by Foster Gamble, a direct descendent of the Proctor & Gamble empire, this personal documentary makes the case that a small cadre of individuals are controlling the planet—and points the way to a better world. The handsome son of privilege is the perfect whistle-blower.

With the Occupy Movement gaining steam, and in a day when everyone knows the state of the world is in trouble, this positive-focused film seems to be finding a fan base among the more open-minded of the 99 percent.

Why else should you watch “Thrive”?  From a documentary storytelling point of view, “Thrive” not only exemplifies personal narrative and solution-oriented films at their best, but this well-funded film also features what I call a “structural graphic”.

A structural graphic is an animation, such as a timeline or motif (see “The Corporation” or “Who Killed the Electric Car?”), which guides the viewer through the film’s structure.  Check out green-screen capsule animation from which director Gamble narrates his findings.

In terms of sensibility, “Thrive” isn’t for everyone.  But it’s a great example of how to do some things right. Let me know what you think of it.

For more information on how to structure documentaries with structural graphics (or even good old plot points), take advantage of my holiday sale on online documentary seminars at http://newdocediting.com/products/.

You might want to take advantage of this opportunity if:

-       You Want to Improve Your Filmmaking Craft (“The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary”)

-       You Are Directing A Character-Driven Documentary (“Editing the Character-Driven Documentary”)

-       You Are In Post-Production (“The Story Doctoring Kit”)

For the next 48 hours, you can get all of the above seminars for $77.97.  That’s a $625 value for $77.97!  As a bonus, I’m throwing in my e-book “Documentary Editing” and online seminar “Directing Personal Documentaries”.

I know it may sound a bit grandiose, but I truly believe these online documentary seminars are the best in the world.  You’ll come away with new ideas on how to structure topic-based and character-driven documentaries, as well as how to solve common problems such as a lack of visual material. Note there is some repetition in the material.

As with all my products, this offer comes with a full money-back guarantee.

These seminars will not be available for long, because I am creating new programs.

Go to the webpage below and click on the VERY FIRST “Add To Cart” button. You’ll get all the seminars for $77.97:

http://newdocediting.com/products/

This offer comes with a money-back guarantee and ends on Saturday, November 19^th, 2011.

“Karen’s emphasis on simplifying things down to a basic story structure is an incredibly useful thinking tool. She provides concrete and creative ways to deal with storytelling problems.”

– Sara Dosa, Filmmaker

“This class is extremely useful. It certainly met my hopes and expectations. It especially helped translate narrative structure into real world documentary storytelling by showing and discussing examples of inciting incidents and climaxes.”

– Marnie Crawford Samuelson, Filmmaker

Last week I had the privilege of attending the theatrical release of one of my former student’s films, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” which illustrates a storytelling device that can help catapult your own character-driven documentary into the big leagues.

I call this device “character convergence”.

But first, a quick correction.  My recent newsletter mis-identified the director of “Wasteland”, which was actually directed by the talented Lucy Walker.  Thank you, Lucy, for a fantastic film.

Now back to “character convergence”. First, let’s define it.

Character convergence is when the story arcs of multiple protagonists dovetail into a single event, usually late in your film. This union generally causes the audience to sit up a little straighter, breathe a little faster, and stay glued to the screen.

Some great examples of character convergence include the national spelling bee scene in “Spellbound”, the final dance contest in “Mad Hot Ballroom”, and the car show scene in “Revenge of the Electric Car”.

Directed by Chris Paine and co-produced (along with P.G. Morgan) by my former student, Jessie Deeter, “Revenge of the Electric Car” (www.revengeoftheelectriccar.com) is a sequel to the wonderful essay-style expose, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”

The new film follows three main protagonists (plus a fourth outsider character) who race to be the first to bring a new line of electric cars to the mass market. (Note that four is the maximum number of protagonists that most viewers can follow.)

The first protagonist, dubbed “Rocket Man”, is the young CEO of Tesla Motors. The second protagonist, “Mr. Detriot”, is the GM executive who led the creation of the Volt.  And the third protagonist, dubbed “The Warrior”, is the CEO of Nissan, who wants to capture the world market with the Leaf electric vehicle.

In a fascinating convergence scene late in the film, Rocket Man “runs into” Mr. Detroit at a car show. The two rivals decide to check out together the masterpiece of their third rival, the Nissan Leaf vehicle.

Watching the fascinating interaction of these two powerful rivals, I wondered if the film’s producers had arranged the crucial junction of character arcs.

Fortunately, producer Jessie Deeter (my former student who is now an accomplished producer) was on hand after the screening for a Q&A.

Deeter said that once they learned that the Telsa CEO would be attending the show, they alerted the GM executive about the possibility of the two rivals meeting up. After informing each man of the other’s schedule, the producers then decided it was hands-off time.

Camera crews followed each protagonist at the show and caught the spontaneous moment when the two rivals ran into one another.

Their interaction was unscripted, unrehearsed, and marvelously captivating.

The decision about how much to contrive such a convergence of character arcs can be a controversial one.

In general, the cinéma vérité tradition promotes a hands-off approach, but today more and more filmmakers are understanding the narrative appeal of helping bring characters together.

You’ll find an in-depth tutorial on how to craft a documentary with multiple protagonists in “The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary”. Learn more about how to structure multiple plot lines at http://newdocediting.com/products/.