2 things happened recently that inspired me to get my finger out and start work on a doc project that has been festering for a few weeks now.
Firstly I attended Down and Dirty DV talk in Filmbase with Anthony Q. Artis. The message of the day? Shut Up and Shoot. Film-making is not rocket science. It is merely a skill that can be learned. The technology today is such that anyone can shoot and get their story into the public arena. Decide on your subject. Get the resources you need. And do the best you can. If you think that you have something to say, the only thing stopping you is yourself.
Secondly I rang a friend who works in a production company I used to do work experience for and I said I was interested in getting involved again. ‘Whats the best way of doing that?’ I asked. ‘Shut Up and Shoot’ he said. Get your story together, grab a camera, rent some gear and do your best. You cant argue with that.
So this thread is about me making a short doc entitled ‘State of Separation or: Why Our Generation Will Never Get to Show Any Real Respect for the Earth’. Its about the contemporary relationship between our way of life and the earth and the hills we will have to climb in order to evolve one of respect.
Ill be following the Down and Dirty DV film-making process step by step.
Stage 1 – Get the idea down on paper.
Stage 2 – Get the gear.
Stage 3 – Get the crew.
After that its all one great mystery wrapped in a riddle. But that’s the fun of it. Right?
Stay tuned and wish me luck.
Filed under: Portfolio | Tagged: Documentary, film-making
Thanx for the mention. I’m glad the seminar inspired you and I hope the book does the same. Your friend was right on point.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes- in fact make them faster and learn from them Better yet, try to learn as much as you can from OTHER people’s mistakes along the way and you’ll be considerably better off than those who sit on the sidelines “studying” the game for years before leaping out.
I am confident that you can pull it off. Keep me posted. Best of luck.
-Ant.
Author, “The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide”