New Inner Circle for Filmmakers

Last year I was sitting on the beach feeling lonely. Since retiring from teaching at the graduate documentary program at UC Berkeley, I missed the support and thrill of intellectual camaraderie. I was in the process of making my sixth documentary. I longed for a filmmaking community with whom to collaborate on a weekly basis, not just an evening workshop. Where could I go to get help with the dozens of decisions I needed to make, from raising funds to hiring an animator to judging if my narration was working?

I decided then and there to create the filmmaking group that I was looking for. I upgraded my New Doc Inner Circle and vowed this seventh circle would be the most successful yet. For three months, it would provide the essentials that I was seeking–support from like-minded colleagues–as well as the expertise I could provide–in story structure and coaching.

Last year, my dream came true, and seven filmmakers made significant progress on their documentaries. It’s time to make it happen again! If you are feeling isolated or just need some editorial perspective on your film, consider joining our Inner Circle 8.0 which begins November 5, 2015. Learn more at: New Doc Inner Circle 8.0

Here are some breakthroughs from participants in our last Inner Circle:

Pam restructured her rough cut and received a $35,000 grant from the Center for Asian American Media.

Jill retooled her shot list for an observational documentary. She later wrote an extraordinary treatment that revealed a dramatic narrative arc as well as the larger societal implications of an individual’s story.

After trying a couple essay-style structures, Kathy has explored including her personal story to add narrative juice to a topic that could have been a dry downer.

I would love to hear about your project and see if the Inner Circle might be a fit. Documentary filmmaking can be a lonely—and fatiguing—process. I’m always eager to lend an ear, and I would be delighted if you chose to join the Inner Circle community.

Bonus: I’m offering Inner Circle members a free flight to our one-day Filmmaker’s Retreat in San Francisco (up to $400). Learn more about at:  New Doc Inner Circle 8.0