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This Is The Story Of…
September 25, 2013
I’m just back from West Doc, where I was inspired by filmmaker Ondi Timoner, two-time winner of the Sundance Grand Jury Prize, to answer this question: “How can you quickly orient your film’s viewer with a so-called structural roadmap?” But first…our New Doc Inner Circle 7.0 has sold out. If you are interested in being on the waiting list for our next Inner Circle 8.0 in January, please let me know. Your film’s introduction ideally achieves three things quickly. First, impress your viewer with the film’s production values. Second, emotionally hook your viewer. And third, give your viewer a sense…
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Last Day for Doc Early Bird Discount
September 20, 2013
Today is the last day to register for the early bird discount for the Inner Circle, my 3-month program beginning September 30th that will help you structure highly watchable, inspiring documentaries. You can participate from anywhere in the world, and all Mastermind teleseminars are recorded in case you can’t be on a call. Register at: newdocediting.com/land/innercircle According to former Inner Circle member Camila Rhodes: Without having any footage for my film it seemed unjustifiable to seek story consulting, but by joining the Inner Circle I received so much support and knowledge from Karen and the group that I was able…
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Free Flight to Documentary Story Workshop
September 17, 2013
Directing your own documentary can be a lonely endeavor, which is part of the reason I’m at West Doc today, a documentary conference in LA. If you’re searching for community, I want to share with you my own solution to creating such a community for myself, as well as invite you to a documentary story workshop in San Francisco at my expense. When I went to film school and later taught editing at the most prestigious documentary program in the world at UC Berkeley, I enjoyed two decades of a built-in, easily accessible community of intelligent, committed filmmakers, who helped…
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Doc Plot Map Attached
September 14, 2013
I’m excited to share with you a tool that I use in my story consulting practice, which I call the “Doc Plot Map”. When I began my business of helping filmmakers structure compelling documentaries, I commissioned a professional designer to create a graphic of the three-act structure. You can use the attached Doc Plot Map to plot your own character-driven documentary. Click Here >> DocPlotMap Here’s how it works. The three blue arcs of the attached Doc Plot Map represent the ideal three-act structure. You’ll notice that the First Act peaks at the 25% mark, the Second Act climaxes…
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The Future of Filmmaking is Integral
September 11, 2013
I’ve recently fallen in love with Ken Wilber, the thought leader of Integral Theory, and I got to thinking, what would “integral filmmaking” look like? Integral documentary films would be less about blaming the bad guy and more about investigating solutions that are just now emerging. Without getting too nerdy about Wilber’s take on spiral dynamics theory…think about filmmaking sensibilities in terms of stages of human development. A modernist film (orange, if you’re familiar with the color-coded spiral dynamics model) would champion progress with a capital “P”. A post-modern documentary (green) would promote egalitarianism and critique the excesses of modernity,…
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Free Critique of Film Footage
September 9, 2013
I’m offering ten fortunate filmmakers a free critique of their footage. Want to throw your hat in the ring? Here’s how it works: If chosen for this complimentary mini-story consulting session, 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…
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Four Interview Tips and New Story Circle
September 5, 2013
Recently I had a rather unpleasant interviewing experience. My interviewee was nervous, and his way of coping was to object to nearly every question I posed. Worse, I had allowed the subject of my film, Barbara Marx Hubbard, to sit in on the interview. She observed his antagonism and my frustrated attempts to engage him. Before I reveal the lesson in this story, as well as four tips for interviewing documentary subjects, first an important announcement! I am offering six committed filmmakers an opportunity to join our New Doc Inner Circle 7.0. Learn more about how this popular story consulting…
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Three Templates for Creating a Great Film Pitch, Part 2
September 2, 2013
Still trying to create your film’s elevator pitch? More tips in a moment! First, I’m pleased to announce I’ve opened registration for our New Doc Inner Circle 7.0. This popular 3-month story consulting program begins September 30th, 2013. For more about joining this supportive group of filmmakers, go to: newdocediting.com/land/innercircle Now…I’ve developed some simple techniques to help you nail your documentary’s elevator pitch that have helped hundreds of filmmakers. If you can’t write out an engaging elevator pitch within 10 minutes after reading this short e-mail, then I suggest you spend time further developing your film’s structure. Here are three…
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Six Tips to Creating a Great Film Pitch, Part 1
August 25, 2013
I am thrilled to be at Burning Man practicing my film’s new elevator pitch! Since there are no elevators here, it’s my playa pitch. Have you been working on your film for sometime without creating your pitch? I confess that I have, and last week I nailed it. Why is nailing your elevator pitch so important? Because over the course of making your documentary, you will get asked hundreds of times, “What’s your film about?” And every time you answer that question, you have an opportunity to hone your film’s concept and tone for future viewers. If you can’t connect…
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Last Day to Register
August 17, 2013
Have you ever suffered the isolation of being a “solo-preneur”? Filmmakers often feel lonely, particularly during pre-production and post-production. In my next seminar, you’ll have the opportunity to meet like-minded filmmakers and join “The New Documentary Movement”. In addition to storytelling tutorials, you can ask questions that pertain to your project and increase your bond with other filmmakers. Don’t worry if you need to miss a live class; you can email questions in advance and listen to the recording later. We begin our first class tomorrow, Monday, August 19th. Register at: The Three Act Documentary
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