Transformational Documentaries Form Emerging Trend
I love working with filmmakers who make a difference, and there’s an emerging tribe of documentary filmmakers who are making a difference in a brand new way.
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 30th, 2012.
Learn more at https://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:
https://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.
