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Screen Your Documentary at a Conference?

January 14, 2022

I met filmmaker Keith Ochwat long before he began his successful platform for filmmakers, Show&Tell. Even then, I was impressed with his ability to make money from his own documentaries. Now he’s guiding other filmmakers to do the same. Please join us on January 20th for an interactive webinar: Conferences: your Fundraising Secret Weapon. We’ll discuss where to find conferences that will pay to screen your film, how long a conference doc should be, and how to edit the perfect conference cut—from a feature or from scratch! Register here to participate live and/or receive the recording. This webinar is free.

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Screen Your Documentary at a Conference?

Link to Film Funding Trailer Webinar

December 1, 2021

I’ve received several requests to view the Film Funding Trailer Webinar that I did with Carole Dean last week. You can view the entire seminar here. Scroll down to Part 3; my tutorial begins at 6:30. Participant Helen Hunt emailed Carole, “It’s the first time I’ve experienced a demonstration in ‘real time’ of a trailer editor actually editing a trailer.” Also, see chapters 23 and 24 in my free e-book Documentary Editing for information on editing other lengths of your feature documentary: a Sample Reel for grants, a Community Screening version, or an “hour” for television.

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Link to Film Funding Trailer Webinar

Thanksgiving Seminar Sale Extended

November 28, 2021

I’m extending our Thanksgiving sale seminar of “The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary” for another 24 hours. Initially selling for $297, our most popular and comprehensive seminar reveals how to structure any style of documentary. Now you can buy it for $50 during our Black Friday Seminar Sale!  Purchase here. You’ll also receive for free my seminar on “Editing the Character Driven Documentary” (formerly $197). In the unlikely event that your expectations aren’t met, I will immediately give you a full refund, no questions asked. Just email me within one year of purchasing for a complete refund!

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Thanksgiving Seminar Sale Extended

Black Friday – Documentary Seminar Sale

November 26, 2021

To celebrate Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day, I’m offering a Black Friday sale on two of my popular documentary seminars. Click here to buy The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary (formerly sold for $297.97) for $50. With your purchase, I’m also including my second seminar “Editing the Character Driven Documentary” for free. Here’s what Emmy-Award-winning director Paige Bierma had to say about The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary: “This class was invaluable for bringing into crystal clear focus the three-act structure as it applies to documentary filmmaking.”

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Black Friday – Documentary Seminar Sale

Trailer Editing Webinar is Tomorrow!

November 17, 2021

Thank you to the many filmmakers who sent me their fundraising trailers! I’ve picked one to critique in tomorrow’s free webinar “Editing Your Film Funding Trailer”. Join me with experts Carole Dean and Breianne Pryse to discuss how to structure a riveting trailer.  We’ll also explain best lengths, projected costs, and what materials to give your trailer editor. If you can’t make it live on Thursday, November 18th at 10 a.m. PT, no worries! Register anyway to receive access the webinar recording. Live participants will be able to ask questions. To prepare for this webinar, please download for free my…

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Trailer Editing Webinar is Tomorrow!

Editing Your Film Funding Trailer

November 9, 2021

I’m excited to announce a free webinar next Thursday: “Editing Your Film Funding Trailer”. My brilliant colleague Carole Dean and I will discuss how to create an eye-catching trailer that can raise money for your film. I will also critique a fundraising trailer, pointing out what’s working and what’s not. If you would like to be considered for this critique, please send me your fundraising trailer (up to 4 minutes). You can register here. If you can’t make it live on Thursday, November 18th at 10 a.m. PT, register anyway so you can access the recording. We will take your…

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Editing Your Film Funding Trailer

Beloved Friend Debuts Documentary Photography

October 14, 2021

We’ve been so busy that I haven’t posted a blog/newsletter lately, other than to announce our new podcast The Art of Documentary Storytelling, which is getting rave reviews! However, I wanted to make a special announcement for my beloved friend and New Doc Editing assistant, Phyllis Christopher. She is an intrepid artist who is being “discovered” in her 50’s. Her new photography show Contacts debuts later this month at the prestigious Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in the UK. And I’m flying there next week for the big event! Phyllis’s show is an intimate documentation of the lesbian community in…

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Beloved Friend Debuts Documentary Photography

24 Hours Left for Documentary Labor Day Sale

September 6, 2021

Happy Labor Day to my U.S. readers! Our holiday sale on my popular documentary seminars officially ends in 24 hours.Click here to buy The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary (formerly sold for $297.97) for $50. With your purchase, I’m also including my other seminar “Editing the Character Driven Documentary” (currently $79.97) for free.Topics include how to launch your film, build momentum, craft a climax scene, and structure a documentary with multiple protagonists.

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24 Hours Left for Documentary Labor Day Sale

Labor Day Sale on Documentary Seminars

September 4, 2021

We’ve had a very busy summer here at New Doc Editing! To celebrate American Labor Day, I’m offering a two-for-one sale on my popular documentary seminars.   Click here to buy The Ultimate Guide to Structuring Your Documentary (formerly $297) for $50. You’ll also receive for free Editing the Character-Driven Documentary (now valued at $79.97).If you live outside the U.S., please email me for special instructions on how to purchase.Here’s what one Emmy-Award-winning director had to say about Editing the Character-Driven Documentary:“This class was invaluable for bringing into crystal-clear focus how to bring a 3-act structure to a documentary film. Karen is inspiring…

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Labor Day Sale on Documentary Seminars

Lion, Bones & Bullets in Monte Carlo

July 22, 2021

I’m happy to announce that the world premiere of Lions, Bones & Bullets outdid our expectations! From the Monte-Carlo Television Festival’s red carpet to the lively Q&A, press and participants examined how to create new conservation models for lions that are being farmed for food in South Africa. I really enjoyed working with the production team which included Penguin Random House author Richard Peirce.  Thank you to the film’s New Zealand producer Jasmine Duthie for this lovely testimonial: “Karen showed us where we could increase depth in our film, build on our protagonist’s journey, while at the same time, making…

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Lion, Bones & Bullets in Monte Carlo