DocNomads Explore Hope

A bit jet-lagged, I’ve just returned from teaching at the innovative, graduate film program DocNomads. This was my sixth year in Budapest instructing ambitious, emerging filmmakers from around the world. One of their assignments was to make an 8-10 minute documentary on the theme of hope.

My job was to help with story structure, but I couldn’t help explaining why I thought hope was such a terrific focus.

I began with a word of caution, based on 18 years of teaching at the #1-ranked documentary program in America (UC Berkeley). “You’re all graduate students schooled in the post-modern art of deconstruction. That’s good.” I looked around the room at hopeful faces.

“But do you want to make films that depress viewers rather than inspire them?” I explained the difference between deconstructing (pulling apart) and integrating (making whole). “If you’re not conscious of this distinction, you can produce naysaying films that only critique people and ideas, without ever offering viewers a breath of hope.”

Getting no response, I realized I was sounding like a nay-sayer myself.

So I pointed out the trend in the American documentary scene toward more uplifting documentaries. In 2018, in a year of political turmoil, positive docs ruled the box office.

They perked up. We talked about the difference between a cautionary tale (One Child Nation, Honeyland) and an exemplary tale (Apollo 11, RBG). One critiques; the other inspires. Both are needed.

Now that I’m home, I’m learning about the latest storytelling template, hopepunk. Now there’s a term that would have peaked their interest sooner!

Stay tuned for more on this exciting trend next week.