Hearing The Truth About Your Documentary, With Compassion
Last week many of my students at UC Berkeley kindly asked, “How was Sundance?”
“Great!” I replied, recalling the thrill of sharing the stage with director Tiffany Shlain and the crew of “Connected” (connectedthefilm.com).
I tried to explain to my students that while I enjoyed the ego-gratification of being on stage for the film’s Q&A’s, I enjoyed even more the camaraderie of being a valued member of a talented team. Part of Shlain’s success as a director stems from her ability to seek out, support, and solicit the best from industry professionals who specialize in different aspect of documentary filmmaking. She graciously shared the limelight, and even the microphone, with her team, allowing her co-producer, writer, editor, (shy) animator, etc. to speak about their unique contributions.
As you put together your own filmmaking team, bringing specialized talent to bear on your creative vision, it’s important to add to your editorial staff a story consultant (or “story editor” as the term is known in Hollywood).
I recently spoke with a talented director who received ITVS funding and is now trying, a bit belatedly, to wrangle funds for a story consultant, a line item she inadvertently admitted from her budget submission last fall.
A good story consultant will bring enormous clarity, as well as peace of mind, throughout the lifetime of your project. He or she will quickly see the film’s big picture, helping you shape your vision in broad structural strokes. A story structure guru will also confirm what’s working on a micro level, penetrate structural problems in a particular scene or misplaced soundbite, and suggest solutions for keeping your thesis or quest on track and rising in suspense.
A good story consultant will be well-versed in not only conventional narrative structures, but she will have the experience and know-how to veer toward the unconventional if your vision calls for an out-of-the-box flow. For example, I’m currently working with a director whose vision includes elements of a “Baraka-style” free-flowing essay. This is not a film that will fit into a classic three-act structure!
Finally, a good story consultant, like a good editor, will listen to the inevitable crises of vision that directors experience from time to time. They’ll lend a compassionate ear.
Having directed five of my own award-winning documentaries, I know how rough the road can get. If you’re wondering in pre-production whether your idea is worth committing to, or if you’re fearful that the footage you’ve recently shot may not sustain a film, or if you’ve lost faith in your vision at rough-cut stage, you need a trusted empathetic soul who can tell the truth in a way that inspires rather than drags you down.
For those directors who may currently be looking for a compassionate and inspiring story structure guru, I invite you to consider joining our upcoming “Inner Circle” for documentary filmmakers. I’m taking 3 to 5 qualified filmmakers into an exclusive six-month program that provides story consulting services for every stage of production, peer support from other filmmakers, and the most insightful online educational tutorials available anywhere.
The program begins next week, so please e-mail me today if you are interested. We’ll arrange to talk about your project and how your vision will benefit from a story structure specialist. I look forward to working with a few special filmmakers!
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