documentary_guide

Anthony Q. Artis

Anthony Artis is a 15-year veteran of the film and TV industry whose features and shows have been screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, the IFP Feature Market, Slamdance, and on MTV. He is the manager of the Film and TV Production Center at New York University's renowned film school.

Features & Benefits

Pull off your vision in creative and cost-effective ways

Bonus DVD with video and audio tutorials, interviews, bonus pages with forms and checklists, and more

500+ full color illustrations: this book shows you, not tells you

Reviews

"Anthony Artis' "The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide" is a good primer for the entry-level documentary filmmaker, presented in a breezy, down-to-earth vernacular style."
-Thomas White, Editor of Documentary Magazine, a publication of the International Documentary Association.

"I vouch for this book...extremely helpful for the newborn documentary filmmaker." -Albert Maysles, Grey Gardens

"The book is a very easy, straightforward read with plenty of graphics to demonstrate proper and improper techniques…It is also extremely user friendly in its layout…. [It] will be helpful to you for many, many years to come." – Microfilmmaker Magazine

"The book has a luxury presentation that makes you feel like a successful filmmaker – or that you soon will be – from the word go...Carried out in full colour, which makes a relief from too many academic tomes, its 296 pages are chock-a-block with very useful illustrations. But the clincher seem to be the DVD which is all part of the package. You’re a filmlmaker, after all. A visual artist. Why would you want to spend all your time reading when you can be watching and learning." - British Film Magazine

"Anthony Artis has consolidated years of practical, professional experience into the quintessential blueprint for documentary filmmakers. I have used the techniques in this book on my documentary and narrative film projects, knowing that budget should never stop a filmmaker from seeing his or her vision through. I highly recommend this book if you want to turn your limitations into assets. Now shut up and shoot!" -Pete Chatmon, Writer/Producer/Director PREMIUM and 761st

"Plain and simple, nuts and bolts on making documentary films. It's told in a conversational manner with no wasted or minced words and most importantly no BS! Few books of this type would mention how important it is to take care of your crew and how that can dramatically improve the outcome of your film. Definitely told from an insiders point of view with useful and practical info that won't go over your head." -Cliff Charles, DP, When the Levees Broke, ThePeoplesDP.com

"The practical approach promised in the title is delivered fully by the text. Artis exposes the pitfalls that can swallow a beginning filmmaker and offers straightforward advice to avoid them." -Jonathan Luskin, Flying Moose Pictures, San Francisco.

Description

So you want to make a documentary, but think you don't have a lot of time, money, or experience? It's time to get down and dirty! Down and dirty is a filmmaking mindset. It's the mentality that forces you to be creative with your resources. It's about doing more with less. Get started NOW with this book and DVD set, a one-stop shop written by a guerrilla filmmaker, for guerrilla filmmakers. You will learn how to make your project better, faster, and cheaper. The pages are crammed with 500 full-color pictures, tips from the pros, resources, checklists and charts, making it easy to find what you need fast.

The DVD includes:

· Video and audio tutorials, useful forms, and interviews with leading documentary filmmakers like Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens), Sam Pollard (4 Little Girls), and others

· 50+ Crazy Phat Bonus pages with jump start charts, online resources, releases, storyboards, checklists, equipment guides, and shooting procedures

Here's just a small sampling of what's inside the book:

· Putting together a crew

· Choosing a camera

· New HDV and 24P cameras

· Shooting in rough neighborhoods

· Interview skills and techniques

· 10 ways to lower your budget

· Common production forms

Contents

CRAZY MAD THANX
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
1—PREPRODUCTION
GETTING STARTED
• Learning the Filmmaking Process
Film Books
DVD Extras
Podcasts
Workshops
Cable TV
Instructional DVDs
Web Sites
Crewing
Doing
• Been There, Done That: Why Make a Documentary?—Albert Maysles
• Doc Preproduction
Introduction
Documentary Goal

GETTING THE IDEA
• Brainstorming Your Idea
• The Importance of Research
• Been There, Done That: Research and Fact Checking—Safi ya Mcclinton
• Interview Subjects
• Approach and Storytelling
• Been There, Done That: Concept and Storytelling—Sam Pollard
• The Production Plan
GETTING THE MONEY
• Been There, Done That: How to Raise Money—Michelle Coe
• Budgeting Your Doc
Budgeting Forms
Budgeting Software
Estimating Costs
• Hot Tip: 4 Common Budgeting Mistakes
• Been There, Done That: Raising the M-O-N-E-Y—Rose Rosenblatt & Marion Lipschutz
• Hot Tip: 10 Ways to Lower Your Budget
• Where to Find Prices
• Budgeting—A Final Word
GETTING THE GEAR
• Choosing an Equipment Package
• Been There, Done That: Using and Learning the Tools of the Trade—Susan Buice and Arin Crumley
• Video Formats 101
What’s Up with High Def?
• A Quick Lesson in Tech Video
What Are Pixels?
What Is Resolution?
Progressive vs. Interlaced
HDV Image Size and Resolution
• Hot Tip: What to Look for in a Camera
• The Guide to the Camera Guide
• Camera Guide Key
Canon 3-Chip Mini-DV Camera Guide
JVC and Panasonic 3-Chip Mini-DV Camera Guide
Sony 3-Chip Mini-DV Camera Guide
• Buying vs. Renting
• Hot Tip: Educational Equipment Access
• Doc Equipment Packages
• Hot Tip: 5 Tips for Traveling with Equipment
• Before You Shoot
Be Practical
GETTING THE CREW
• The Doc Crew
• Good Crew, Bad Crew
Introduction
Good Crew Members
Bad Crew Members
• Been There, Done That: The Producer–Director Relationship—Christina Dehaven
• Assembling a Crew
• The Crew Meeting
• Feeding the Crew
• Hot Tip: 5 Down and Dirty Food Ideas

2—LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
MANAGING LOCATIONS
• Shooting on Location
Managing Arrangements with Your Subjects
Interview Locations
• Location Management 101
Introduction
• Sensitive Location Overview
• PR Reps and Media Liaisons
LOCATION LOGISTICS
• Hot Tip: How Not to Get Your Camera Jacked
Dealing with PR Reps and Other Media Liaisons
Doc Location Ethics
The Exception to the Rule
• Been There, Done That: Being Prepared for Remote Locations—Alrick Brown and Micah Schaffer
• Transportation Considerations
• Hot Tip: Stealth Shooting Tactics 101
OTHER LOCATION ISSUES
• Location Releases and Insurance
Location Releases
Location Insurance
• Insurance Issues
Do You Really Need Insurance?
Shooting Without Insurance
• Hot Tip: Shooting in Da ’Hood

3—IMAGE CONTROL AND CAMERA WORK
IMAGE BASICS
• Basics of Image Control
Introduction
• Focus
Hallmark of the Pros
Common Focus Hazards
• Exposure
Light Is Good
Aperture and F-Stops
• Zebra Stripes and Gain
Your Friend the Zebra Stripes
Using Gain to Boost Exposure
• Color Temperature
Color Temperature Basics (Very Basic)
• White Balance
When to White Balance
White Balance Special Effects
Mixed Sun and Indoor Lighting
• Shutter Speed Basics
Motion and Shutter Speed
• Shutter Speed and Movement
BEYOND THE BASICS
• Hot Tip: Creating a “Film Look”
• Manual vs. Auto Functions
Use Manual Controls
• When to Use Auto Functions
Auto Zoom vs. Manual Zoom
Surprises and Panics
Run-and-Gun Shooting
• Been There, Done That: Capturing Truth—Albert Maysles
• Using the Zoom Control
Adjusting Your Shot
Using the “Digital Zoom” Function
• Handheld Secrets of the Pros
Forget the Tripod and Go Handheld
Handheld Editing Considerations
Motivation and Style
• Handheld Camera Positions
OTHER CAMERA CONSIDERATIONS
• Using Tripods
Introduction
General Tripod Tips
• Pre-Roll and End-Roll
Pre-Roll and End-Roll for Each Shot
• Set Recording Protocol
• Color Bars
Why You Should Use Color Bars
How to Adjust NTSC Color Bars
• Labeling Tapes
Pre-Labeling Blank Tapes
Record Tabs
• Hot Tip: Cleaning Your Lens

4—LIGHTING
SAFETY AND TOOLS
• Electricity and Safety
Electricity Considerations
Safety Considerations
• Lighting Safety Tip Sheet
• How Not to Blow A Circuit
• Lighting Tools of the Trade
3- AND 4-POINT LIGHTING
• Interview Lighting Setups
Introduction
Learning and Mastering the Craft
• The Key Light Light
Setting Up Your Key Light
• Hair Light and Backlight
Hair Light
Background Light
The Cookie Effect
• The Fill Light
Fill Light Alternatives
• Controlling Light Intensity
• Down and Dirty DV Gel Guide
• Anatomy of an Interview Kit
• Hot Tip: 3 Tips for Shooting in Low Light
• Miscellaneous Lighting Tips
• Setting Up Lights in 5 Easy Steps
• Lighting Cookbook
Practical Lighting Setup
4-Point Lighting Setup
Simple Lighting Setup
Window Lighting Setup
Anonymous Lighting Setup
2-Subject Light Setup
Blacklight Setup

5—SOUND RECORDING
SOUND TOOLS OF THE TRADE
• Basic Sound Package
• Intermediate Sound Package
• Microphones—Boom Mics
Introduction
Boom Mics
• 8 Quick Tips aor Better Booming
• Good Boom, Bad Boom
• Booming Technique
• Microphones—Lavs and Handhelds
Lavalier Mics
Handheld Mics
Wireless Mics
• Mounting a Lav Mic
Handling Subjects
RECORDING TECHNIQUES
• Hot Tip: 2 Subjects, but only 1 Lav Mic
• The Right Mic for the Job
• Recording Sound Levels
Riding Levels
Where Should Your Needle Peak?
Beware of Prosumer Camera Audio Meters
• Why Use a Mixer?
• Using a Field Mixer
• Other Mixer Features
Limiter
Lo-Cut Filter
Pan Knob
Monitor In
Tone Generator
Slate
• 5 Sound Rules to Live By
• Location Sound Recording
Don’t Just Look, Listen to Your Location
• Location Sound Hazards
OTHER SOUND TYPE STUFF
• Down and Dirty DV Cable Guide
• Miscellaneous Sound Tips
Breakaway Cables
Coiling Cables
Hiding Mics
• How to Use Sound Blankets
Shooting in Rooms with Echo
How to Eggroll a Sound Blanket

6—COMPOSITION AND COVERAGE
WHAT IT LOOK LIKE?
• Aspect Ratios
Which Aspect Ration Should You Shoot?
Widescreen Options
• Shooting Widescreen DV
• Hot Tip: Down and Dirty Widescreen
• Composition Basics
Introduction
• Composition Tricks
Hiding Undesirable Backgrounds
Cheating Backgrounds
• Lens Focal Length
• Telephoto and Wide-Angle Lenses
• Don’t Just Tell ’Em, Show ’Em
The Audience Wants to See Your Story
POV Shots Put the Audience There
• The Visual Language of Docs
Cover Your Scene (and Your Butt)
Establishing Shots
The Establishing Sequence
Wide Shots (WS)
Medium Shots (MS)
Close Ups (CU)
1-Shots
2-Shots
Over the Shoulder Shots
Reaction/Reverse Shots
Dutch Angles
Dolly Shots
The Full Tilt Boogey
Dramatic Zooms
Executing the Move
Cutaways
• Storytelling and Cutaways
How to Shoot Cutaways
MORE VISUAL STORYTELLING TOOLS
• Your B-Roll Is Your “A” Roll
• Been There, Done That: Doc Storytelling with Animation—John Canemaker
• Depth-of-Field Demystified
Racking Focus
• Hot Tip: Shallow Depth-of-Field
• 10 Tips for Shooting Live Events

7—INTERVIEW PREP
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
• All About Interviews
Introduction
Get Yourself Together
• Final Preparations
Equipment Prep
Travel
• Arriving at Location
Setup Time
Warm ’Em Up
• Choosing Interview Backgrounds
Storytelling Through Framing
Using Props and Cheating Background
Using Depth and Busy Backgrounds
• Hot Tip: Easy Do-It-Yourself Backdrops
MAKING THEM LOOK GOOD
• Positioning and Eyeline
Subject Positioning
Interviewer Positioning and Eyeline
• How Do I Look?
Clothing
• Video Clothing Issues
• Fixing Faces
• Hot Tip: Easy Powder Makeup
WORKING WITH SUBJECTS
• Talent Releases
Get a Signed Talent Release Form
Getting Release from Major Figures
Verbal Releases
• Been There, Done That: Fair Subject Portrayal and Releases—Albert Maysles
• Briefing Your Subject
• Instructing Subjects
• Hot Tip: Keepin’ It “Real”
• Been There, Done That: When Subjects Want to Walk—Rose Rosenblatt & Marion Lipschutz

8—CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
• Asking Questions and Responding
Introduction
• Form of Questions
• Logical Order of Questions
INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
• Been There, Done That: Interviewing Resistant Subjects—Safi ya McClinton
• Hot Tip: How to Work a Press Conference
• Interview Preparation and Warm Up
Brainstorm and Write Out Your Questions
Warm ’Em Up
• Listening Skills
• Responding to Your Subject
• Been There, Done That: The Thin Line of Exploitation—Sam Pollard
• The Soapbox Question
• Hot Tip: Interviewing Celebrities
• Monitoring Technical Issues
Interrupting Your Interview to Solve Problems
Using a Monitor and Headphones
Other Things to Look Out For
• Interview Hazards
• The Wrap Out
Before You Call a “Wrap”
Thank Everyone…Profusely
Packing Up

9—POST-PRODUCTION
PREPARING TO EDIT
• The Post-Production Process
It’s All About Post
• Viewing & Taking Notes
Viewing All Your Footage
• Logging Footage
Why We Log
Organizing Your Shots
The Log Sheet
Technological Advances in Logging
• Hot Tip: “Automatic” Tape Logging • Transcribing Interviews
EDITING ISSUES
• Who Should Edit Your Film?
• Been There, Done That: Working with Editors—Sam Pollard
• Time Code and DV Tapes
A Quick Lesson on DV Tape
Time Code Problems
• Stock Footage and Music
• Been There, Done That: 7 Commandments of Archival Footage—Rick Prelinger
GETTING IT OUT THERE
• Hot Tip: 5 Reasons to Get Down with Podcasting and Video Sharing
• Been There, Done That: Finding an Audience Online—Susan Buice and Arin Crumley
• Film Festival Strategy
• Been There, Done That: Passion, Business & Filmmaking—Adrian Belic
• 7 Ways to Work a Film Festival
• Been There, Done That: How to Hustle at Sundance—Rebekah Sindoris and Christie Pesicka

ANTHONY’S RECOMMENDED READS
GLOSSARY
INDEX