Problems and Cautions
Good interviewing is the hallmark of the best documentarists indeed, some have taken interviewing into the upper realms of filmic art. In England, one of the best practitioners of the form is Alan Whicker, whose series Whicker's World was essential and delightful viewing for years. Whicker was the urbane, soft-spoken, dark-suited interviewer who could go anywhere and ask the most outrageous questions. He got away with it because his questions were witty and down-to-earth, and wherever he went,...
Voice and Style
Before you actually begin writing the narration, you must consider what voice and style are most appropriate for the film. You probably thought about all these things very early on if that's not the case, you must think them through before committing yourself to the word processor. Is your style to be somber and serious, or are you aiming at a lighter and more folksy effect If you are doing a historical film, you will probably adopt the former. If you are doing a film on tourism or animals, you...
Shooting Abroad
When you shoot abroad, a tremendous number of extra problems arise, from different weather to extricating yourself from a revolution, and you must try to consider all the difficulties in the preproduction stage. Your aims are to shoot all you need, stay healthy, and come back with all your footage and all your crew. In most cases, you won't have a chance to retake, so your planning has to be especially good. The first thing to do is to hire a special production manager who is familiar with all...
The Budget
In budgeting, we are often faced with the eternal conundrum Do you budget according to script, or do you script according to budget There is no absolute answer, as the conditions under which you make each film will be different. Only one thing is important Your budget must be as complete and as accurate as possible. This point is more than important it is vital. If you make a mistake in budgeting, committing yourself to making a film for what turns out to be an unrealistic sum, you're likely to...
The Production Contract
Once you have done a realistic budget breakdown, you are in a good position to negotiate or finalize your contract with the sponsor. You may have made an informal agreement with them, but it's better to have a short memorandum in writing that records the basic terms of the agreement. This is much safer in the long run. It's also wise to exchange contracts before you begin shooting, though a surprisingly large number of people plunge into the film on the assurance of a mere handshake. I wouldn't...
Preproduction Survey
Once you have signed the production contract, you are ready to begin the film. You are now in for a period of work that can take anywhere from two months to a year or more and falls into three distinct sections pre-production, production, and postproduction. This chapter deals with the problems and tasks you are likely to encounter during the preproduction phase and all the arrangements you have to make before shooting. It assumes the script has been approved and you can move into action. This...
Audio Kco
hundred people. Hard workers most of them. Children in park. Children and town. On the main street, the old men sit on the porch of the hotel in the sunshine, and they talk about the old days . . . the good old days. And after the rain, there are always plenty of puddles to sail boats in. But I must tell you that this town where I spent my childhood isn't like any other town in the world. This is Dawson City, the center of the Klondike gold rush. History will never see its like again. Every...