Documentary Film Concept Quiz
Even veteran filmmakers (including my ideal story consulting clients) can benefit from taking my Documentary Concept Quiz.
But first, a quick announcement. My Inner Cirlce has sold out. I am considering beginning a new Inner Circle and there are a few spots left. This 6-month program for documentary filmmakers begins January 31, 2012. Email me today to learn more. Or click on this link now:
newdocediting.com/land/innercircle
Back to the quiz…here are seven questions to ask about your core concept for your documentary-in-progress.
Take this quiz to see if your concept paper and treatment need to be tweaked (or revamped) to make an engaging, profitable documentary film:
1. Do you know about and are you structuring your film with one of the meta-templates used by 90% of commercially successful documentaries?
2. Is your topic visual (or would it work better as a magazine story)?
3. Does your topic or character really rock your world (and will it for the next 2-3 years)?
4. Can you get sufficient access to your characters, or are you dreaming?
5. Are you using cutting-edge visual devices or, better yet, re-creating the documentary form with a truly innovative stylistic technique?
6. Is your program “ever-green”, or will it be old news by next year?
7. Are you savvy to and prepared to fund the most expensive budget line items
(such as archival footage, music licensing, travel expense and editor fees) that can make or break
your project?
If you answered “yes” to six or more of these questions, congratulations! You likely have an engaging documentary, poised to attract funding, critical acclaim and large audiences. (Be sure to register your treatment with the Writer’s Guild to protect your intellectual property.)
If not, how can you turn each “no” into a “yes”?
In my six-month Inner Circle program, we take a candid, professional look at your core concept and see where tweaking or outright refashioning your film can help.
And if you’re making a character-driven documentary (my specialty), we’ll also ask one more important question: does action unfold on screen? If not, how can we replace some of your monotonous talking heads with events that develop in front of your viewers’ eyes?
Join my Inner Circle, beginning January 31th, 2012 and receive:
– Three One-on-One Story Consultations … aimed at structuring your film with a robust concept that provides a compelling dramatic experience for your viewer;
– Twelve Mastermind Calls … to provide peer support and feedback from fellow filmmakers;
– Unlimited Email Access… to my professional guidance for six months;
– Much more…check it out at:
newdocediting.com/land/innercircle
Note that my last two Inner Circle programs sold out. Here’s what some current members are saying:
“We needed help with our story and structure for our next film, and another filmmaker recommended Karen Everett and New Doc Editing. We’re half way through our 6-month course with the Inner Circle, and we have already learned an incredible amount about story structure that will help us shape our rough cut!”
– Judy Kohin, Producer, BAG IT, URANIUM DRIVE-IN, Reel Thing Productions
“Without having any footage for my film, it initially seemed unjustifiable to seek story consulting or a story editor. But by joining the Inner Circle, I’ve learning so much more about story crafting and editing which will definitely save a lot of time and money in production and post-production.”
– Valerie Camila Rhodes
If you are interested in the upcoming Inner Circle, please email me today at karen@newdocediting.com so we can discuss how your documentary can benefit!
