Our Blog
Blog
Blog
Thirty Percent Off Story Consulting Service
May 22, 2023
Yikes! My summer travel plans to Japan have unexpectedly changed. So, I’m offering 30% off my Story Consulting fees to fill three slots quickly in June! Want your rough cut reviewed by a professional? Check out current Story Consulting rates here and take 30% off. This offer only applies to films in post-production. And it ends as soon as these three slots are filled. Please email today if you’re interested to reserve your discounted story consultation. Thank you to director Jessica Moore for this testimonial about Story Consulting: “Nearing the end of my project, I still had some unanswered questions…
Read More...
Announcing New Staff Story Consultants
April 18, 2023
Last fall our business tripled after a series of webinars. I couldn’t handle all the work so I delegated some requests for story consultations to my senior staff editors. I trained these already deeply experienced editors in New Doc’s methods. Why should you care? This is a big benefit to directors who want to work with us but who may not be able afford my personal rates. Thank you to director Aymee Cruzalegui for this recent testimonial about one of our staff story consultants: “As a documentary filmmaker trying to make sense of a giant puzzle, it’s crucial to have…
Read More...
Follow up on Navalny Oscar Controversy
April 6, 2023
I received several thoughtful responses to my blog: Why Did Navalny Win the Oscar? Here are a few editors and filmmakers who gave permission to weigh in on the controversy. I loved what editor Ken Schneider said, “I have a different take. Navalny was structured as a classic thriller, a la Jason Bourne et al…Wonderful cinematic experiments like Time or Fire of Love rarely win. BTW, I think it is a mischaracterization to say that FoL is about documenting the volcano. I’d say it is a love story against the canvas of volcanos erupting. A truly innovative piece, which guarantees that it wouldn’t be selected.” Next up is Julie A.…
Read More...
Why Did Navalny Win The Oscar?
March 21, 2023
This year I kept my Oscar predictions to myself, still smarting from my incorrect 2019 guess, RGB. This season, it turns out, my top pick was right! So why did Navalny, a film about a poisoned Russian presidential candidate, win Best Documentary Feature in 2023? I’d love to hear your opinions. Here’s mine. First, let’s look at the other four candidates. Judging from their loglines, all of these nominees embody the predominant structural form to emerge from the golden age of documentaries. They are character-driven documentaries–stories that follow a protagonist on a quest–rather than essay-style films that are structured around…
Read More...
Documentary Predicts Invasion of Ukraine
March 7, 2023
Back in 2015, I had planned to go to the Sundance Film Festival until a consciousness-training workshop in New York sabotaged my annual trek. In the middle of this heart-opening seminar, I heard news that a documentary I’d been story consulting on won the Grand Jury Prize! I shared the happy news with the group and suppressed my regrets about not being in Park City. That award-winning film was The Russian Woodpecker, and its director Chad Gracia has just announced a new distribution deal with Espresso Media & Kino Lorber. The re-release is timely. The Russian Woodpecker reveals secrets of…
Read More...
Intentional Filmmaking Class 2023
February 15, 2023
Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions, is starting her 10th year of her Intentional Filmmaking Class February 27th. Her co-instructor is producer/director Tom Malloy and together, they will guide you in creating a plan for funding your film and instill in you the confidence to successfully carry it out. If you are seeking help getting your film funded, I highly recommend this class. Carole has helped her fiscally sponsored filmmakers raised over $30 million for their films. Tom raised over $25 million to produce his own movies. They will show you how to find and land the funding…
Read More...
Creative Editor Available
February 9, 2023
Now that she’s caught her breath after a marathon edit, my staff editor (since 2018) is available to help another director convey their vision. She’s picked up many tricks from editing television shows in LA, along with several docs. This cross-genre perspective makes her exceptionally creative. Check out what the director had to say about her: “Thank you, Karen, for assigning us the perfect editor. Her work has been outstanding. Numerous times she went above and beyond what was asked to help us meet deadlines. She was always sensitive to the subject matter and happy to try out different ideas.…
Read More...
Cyber Monday Documentary Seminar Sale
November 27, 2022
This Thanksgiving, I’m especially grateful for our wonderful staff at New Doc Editing. They work hard to implement the storytelling principles for which we’re known. Learn all about documentary editing in our filmmaking seminars. It’s a three-for-one sale! Buy The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary for $50 here (formerly $297). You’ll receive our popular seminar Editing the Character-Driven Documentary (valued at $97.97). You’ll also get my new video tutorial “Trailer Editing: Seven Essential Rules”. This offer comes with a 100% money-back guarantee! Click the yellow “Add to Cart” button at the bottom of this page.
Read More...
Black Friday FILMMAKING Sale
November 24, 2022
Hi Everyone, Happy Thanksgiving! In appreciation of all the courageous documentary filmmakers on this newsletter list, I’m offering a three-for-one sale on our filmmaking seminars. Buy The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary for $50 (formerly $297), and get Editing the Character-Driven Documentary for free (valued at $97.97). You’ll also receive my acclaimed new video tutorial “Trailer Editing: Seven Essential Rules”. 2022 has been a successful year for many filmmakers with whom we’ve worked (seven documentaries on PBS!) That’s thanks in no small part to my talented staff of editors and story consultants. Thank you! Here’s what one Emmy-Award-winning director…
Read More...
New Tutorial on Trailer Editing
September 21, 2022
Hi Everyone, Last month’s webinar with distribution consultant Keith Ochwat (Show&Tell) received so much positive feedback that I decided to create a supplemental video tutorial. You can download this 22-minute video for free: Trailer Editing: Seven Essential Rules. You’ll receive the most detailed, visual, and comprehensive trailer editing instruction you’ve ever seen! (And if you see something better, please let me know, as I’m always learning.) Also, we now have a special Trailer Editing services page with rates and options!
Read More...