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The Crowdfunding Success Summit
November 19, 2010
I am really excited to announce the upcoming online event, The Crowdfunding Success Summit which is taking place on December 5th, 2010. I think that Crowdfunding has emerged as one of the most exciting developments in Independent Filmmaking recently, but there seems to be a lot of confusion about which platform to choose and how to set up campaign parameters to ensure success. Many crowdfunding campaigns struggle to meet their dollar targets and it can be really frustrating for filmmakers to see the promise but not to reach the goal. The Summit is set up to help you break through…
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Can’t Afford a Story Consultant?
November 16, 2010
I just heard that the 2011 Sundance Film Festival has chosen New Doc Editing for its outreach table. So if you’re going, please drop by and say hi! I hear from a lot of filmmakers who would love to hire a story consultant, but who can’t afford the service at the moment. So I’ve created a way to help filmmakers who find themselves budget-challenged. Launched just last week, “The Story Doctoring Kit” is an online program that can help you solve your documentary’s biggest quandaries. If you’re puzzled by structural or storytelling problems, you’ll learn how to: Use cinematic language…
Read More...Announcing The Story Doctoring Kit
November 11, 2010
I’m thrilled to announce a new online program, “The Story Doctoring Kit,” which draws from twenty years experience helping documentary filmmakers craft exceptional films. Created specifically to guide filmmakers in transforming a clunky rough cut into an elegant locked picture, “The Story Doctoring Kit” allows you to become your film’s own story consultant. Priced at $77.97 (for early birds), “The Story Doctoring Kit” contains more than three and a half hours of video tutorials, as well as articles, worksheets and audio interviews that will help you: Craft emotionally compelling narration and a musical score Solve your film’s structural problems Implement…
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How Much Should I Charge?
November 9, 2010
I’ll be announcing my new online program for documentary filmmakers on Thursday! I’m excited, given the great feedback on my previous online seminars, to be introducing a brand new program. But first I’d like to get your input on what price to offer it at. I’ve created a new set of tools, including more than three and a half hours of video tutorials, to guide filmmakers who are in post-production. You’ll be able to use these videos, worksheets and case studies from more than forty award-winning documentaries to transform a messy rough cut into an elegant fine cut. Considering that…
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Pinpointing Your Film’s Frailties
November 6, 2010
I received some great questions this week from readers of this column that I’ll use as I finish my new documentary post-production guide. Stay tuned for the announcement next week. I’m very grateful for readers’ input because many of the problems that filmmakers face in post-production are universal, and the input will make this new program even more effective. To that end, I want to share a story that you may be able to relate to. One of my story consulting clients held a disastrous rough cut screening earlier this year. He had invited several filmmakers to watch his provocative…
Read More...October 26, 2010
A string of top-tier film festivals are approaching: Sundance, Berlin and Tribeca. Two of the projects we’ve been honored to work on are racing toward the Sundance Film Festival deadline. In the past few months, I’ve been collaborating with directors and editors to synthesize feedback from those all-important rough cut screenings. We’ve had many breakthroughs of which I’m very proud! I’ll be sharing strategies to trouble-shooting and generate structural breakthroughs in a new information product I’m working on for documentary filmmakers who are in or approaching post-production. Next week I’ll be holed up in a Florida retreat, putting the final…
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“Waiting For Superman” Left Viewer Needing Rescue
October 19, 2010
First, I want to announce that one of our most experienced and talented editors has become available. This is a rare opportunity to line up a great member of your post-production team. If you’re looking for an editor, I’m happy to arrange for you to talk with him about how he can craft your project into a compelling, highly watchable film. His credits include HBO, MSNBC, PBS and many other well-known broadcast outlets. Last night my girlfriend and I saw the Sundance hit “Waiting for Superman”, which is now playing in theaters nationwide. I enjoyed the film, while she left…
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Story Consulting for Lifetime of Your Documentary
October 12, 2010
My work at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism is getting interesting right now. All of last year’s documentary students, who graduated from the #1 documentary program in the country (headed by veteran filmmaker Jon Else), are applying to the Tribeca Film Festival, one of the top festivals for documentary and narrative filmmakers. I’m looking forward to seeing many of their projects get accepted! Good luck, graduates! I’m also delighted to report that Vicki Abeles documentary “Race to Nowhere”, on which I had the honor of story consulting last year, is doing phenomenal in the press and in screenings across…
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New Storytelling Instruction at New Doc Editing
October 7, 2010
I’m currently in development on several new projects at New Doc Editing that I’m excited to share with you. But first… yesterday I received a phone call from a client that touched me deeply. She had just watched her documentary prior to submitting it to the Sundance Film Festival. “It went to a whole new level!” she said. And it did. I’m feeling particularly appreciative for the vision of a great director, the insights I’ve been able to share as a story consultant, and the opportunity to work with a terrific filmmaking team. I have no doubt her film will…
Read More...Crafting the Schmaltzy Film Ending
September 30, 2010
Is it OK if my documentary has a happy ending, or will audiences think it’s too schmaltzy? The simple answer is yes it’s OK, and no they won’t. Before I explain why and under what circumstances I give this advice to my story consulting clients, a quick but important reminder: Today is the last day to get the new version of “The Ultimate Guide To Structuring Your Documentary” at a $100 discount. To find out how this 12-week self-study class can help you craft an engaging documentary, go to: https://newdocediting.com/land/ultimate_documentary_guide/ Now…back to the schmaltzy ending…I recently wrote about the movie…
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