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Best “Go Vote” Doc Short
October 30, 2020
I first met prolific film producer Tiffany Shlain when I helped structure her first feature documentary, “Connected” (2011). It premiered at Sundance and won an astounding seventeen awards. Since then, she and her team have perfected the art of the short doc. I’m honored to have helped with her latest 2-minute burst of sunshine, “Dear Voter”. When the culture zigs, Tiffany zags. And yet, she is a master of crowd-sourcing. Watch how these bursts of soundbites—which used to be called “MOS”, or “man on the street” videos—support her anomalous thesis. A few quick announcements: Congrats to Carmic Productions whose documentary…
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Pointers for Applying to Roy W. Dean Grant
October 24, 2020
Quick reminder: email me for pointers on applying to the Roy W. Dean grant; the deadline is October 31st.
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Documentary Filmmakers and Mental Health
October 17, 2020
Last week I emailed fifty filmmakers with whom I’ve recently worked. I wanted to check in about their progress since our last story consultation. Happily, a handful reported they had finished their docs! That includes Nitsan Tal whose “8000 Paperclips” received this lovely review in The Jerusalem Post: “…a delicately crafted and touching story”. But many filmmakers said they’d made little progress since Covid-19 hit. “Working in relative isolation for so long, I’m wondering if anyone would be interested in this subject matter besides the people involved,” said one filmmaker. Last year D-Word founder Doug Block said something that is…
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Roy W. Dean Grant Deadline is Oct 31st
October 14, 2020
It’s time to apply to the Roy W. Dean Grant! The deadline is October 31st. Contrary to popular belief, this grant offers a cash component, as well as a slew of free and discounted services. For example, the winner will receive 50% off New Doc Editing’s Grant Writing Services. I came in second place for this grant myself, and I have three tips: Stress the urgency of your documentary. (This was the big reason I was not selected for the grant; the winner had exigency on her side.) If you’re making a social issue documentary, highlight what’s being done about…
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Rates for Doc Editing and Story Consulting
September 30, 2020
We are now offering two levels of editorial talent: emerging gifted editors as well as seasoned veteran editors (who have at least two awards under their belt). Check out our new editing rates here. While they come with their own valuable experience, our editors are further trained by me. I oversee all our edits by contributing story consulting notes free of charge. For stand-alone story consultations, I’ve recently lowered our story consulting rates to adjust to the Covid Era. Email me if you’d like to know more!
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Documentary Editing Seminar
September 15, 2020
With the hope of helping many filmmakers who may have time on their hands due to COVID, I’m giving away my popular seminar Editing the Character Driven Documentary (which sold for many years for $297). Filmed live, these six 30-60 minute modules explain how to adapt screenwriting principles to documentary films. I developed this groundbreaking work while teaching at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism (#1 documentary program in the U.S.), and later at the San Francisco Film Society. The weekend seminar was the Film Society’s most popular educational offering, selling out semester after semester for five years. I loved…
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Announcing Documentary Grant Writing Service
September 7, 2020
I’m excited to officially announce our new Grant Writing service! My talented staff writer and I can help you develop a boilerplate grant proposal as well as tailor one for specific proposals, such as the ITVS Diversity Development Fund (deadline is September 11th). Our elegantly written pitch sections can be inserted into the Core Documentary Application, which was developed by the Sundance Institute and the Independent Documentary Association to streamline the process of applying to multiple grants. During this summer’s ITVS Open Call, we helped several filmmakers perfect their proposals, including Isara Krieger, who gave this testimonial: “Karen is a…
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Deadline for Diversity Fund Is Sept 11
September 3, 2020
Important reminder: the deadline for ITVS’s Diversity Development Fund is September 11th. If you’re an experienced filmmaker who identifies as a person of color, and you’re in pre-production, you can apply for up to $25,000. If you’re interested in our new Grant Writing Service, please email me today because we have capacity to help two more filmmakers. As director Brenda Hayes says, we can help you take the frustration out of writing proposals: “After a myriad of ‘Thank you for applying, but…’ rejection letters, I accepted Karen’s help with the ITVS proposal. While the proverbial jury is still out, her…
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Three Upcoming Grant Opportunities
August 31, 2020
First this: my colleague Carole Dean is offering her Intentional Filmmaking Class this fall, beginning September 21st. This is a phenomenal class which focuses on how to raise funds while wearing all the hats that independent filmmakers must don. Early enrollment is $630 through September 9th for 8 classes and 4 personal consultations. What a deal! Lately we’ve been helping a number of producers apply for funding with our newgrant preparation service. Here are three upcoming grant opportunities: ITVS’s Diversity Development Fund is just around the corner! It gives up to $25,000 to producers of color who are in pre-production.…
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Finding Justice on PBS
August 25, 2020
Quick newsflash: we have a talented editor currently available. During a week with plenty in the news about the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, I was thrilled to learn that a documentary we edited is being featured at the prestigious National Women’s History Museum virtual celebration of the centennial on August 26th at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET. The film will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker, Amanda Owen, and Rosa Rios, the 43rd Treasurer of the United States. It’s free, but you have to register. Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/finding-justice-the-untold-story-of-womens-fight-for-the-vote-tickets-115879571919 Edited by my nephew (and latest hire), this historical…
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