Documentary Filmmaking

A Contemporary Field Guide

Second Edition

John Hewitt and Gustavo Vazquez

Documentary Filmmaking: A Contemporary Field Guide, Second Edition, is a skills-oriented, step-by-step guide to creating documentary films, from the initial idea phase to distribution. Thoroughly updated to highlight the effects of technological advances and social media, this compact handbook offers something for all types of students: documentary recommendations (for the film buff); illustrations, examples, and commentary from working documentary makers, producers, editors, and distributors (for the more grounded, visual learner); the latest trends in Internet video (for the more "techie" documentarian); and practical financial tips, fundraising ideas, and legal considerations (for the more idealistic-and not always realistic-visionary).

New to this Edition:

A look at innovative uses of Facebook, YouTube, and file sharing sites
Coverage of groundbreaking new ways to fund projects, including the use of crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo
Analysis of the prevailing effect of technical advances--DSLRs, LED light panels, smart phone video, Bluetooth microphones, and 3D--on production
Discussion of the role of short-form documentaries in this new interactive and social-media-fueled culture
Illuminating Interviews and commentary from producers and directors of recent works, including CJ Hunt, Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, Barbara Grandvoinet, Ken Kobre, John Leaños, and Jennifer Maytorena Taylor

Documentary Filmmaking

A Contemporary Field Guide

Second Edition

John Hewitt and Gustavo Vazquez

Description

Documentary Filmmaking: A Contemporary Field Guide, Second Edition, is a skills-oriented, step-by-step guide to creating documentary films, from the initial idea phase to distribution. Thoroughly updated to highlight the effects of technological advances and social media, this compact handbook offers something for all types of students: documentary recommendations (for the film buff); illustrations, examples, and commentary from working documentary makers, producers, editors, and distributors (for the more grounded, visual learner); the latest trends in Internet video (for the more "techie" documentarian); and practical financial tips, fundraising ideas, and legal considerations (for the more idealistic-and not always realistic-visionary).

Previous publication dates

October 2013, February 2009

Documentary Filmmaking

A Contemporary Field Guide

Second Edition

John Hewitt and Gustavo Vazquez

Table of Contents
PART ONE: GETTING STARTED
1. Develop Your Idea and Investigate Your Access
2. Building Characters and the Visual Story
3. Preparing for Collaboration
4. Paying For It: Fundraising
PART TWO: PREPRODUCTION
5. Preparation for the Long Haul
6. Planning for Effective Interviews
PART THREE: PRODUCTION
7. Sound Considerations
8. Natural or Portable Lighting
9. Production: Shooting the Documentary
10. Producing for Small Screens and Mobile Devices
PART FOUR: POSTPRODUCTION
11. Using Music in Your Documentary
12. Finding Structure for Short and Feature Docs
13. Editing the Documentarty
14. Starting the Buzz and Going to Festivals
15. Distribution
Appendix 1 Documentaries to See

Documentary Filmmaking

A Contemporary Field Guide

Second Edition

John Hewitt and Gustavo Vazquez

Author Information

John Hewitt is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts at San Francisco State University. His 2012 documentary on photojournalists, Deadline Every Second, appeared on public broadcast systems in Australia, Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Gustavo Vazquez is a Professor in the Department of Film and Digital Media at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His latest documentaries on popular culture, Que Viva la Lucha and Playing with Fire, have screened in film festivals in the United States and internationally.

Documentary Filmmaking

A Contemporary Field Guide

Second Edition

John Hewitt and Gustavo Vazquez

Reviews and Awards

"Documentary Filmmaking is well-written, pragmatic, down to earth, and at the same time inspiring. It is written to teach, inform, train, and help students succeed in making their own documentaries. It is the best book in the field today."--Ramon Soto-Crespo, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

"This book is an ideal text for an introductory documentary production class. It will work for a student who will only make one documentary and for someone who is embarking on a career in documentary filmmaking."--Ben Levin, University of North Texas

"This is a very thorough and clear explanation of documentary filmmaking from initial conception to finished product. I highly recommend it."--Sally Rubin, Chapman University