Hello everyone,
I've been using IndieTalk for many years now. I don't post too much on here, and usually only in the screenwriting sub-forum, since that's where my background is in film. I have a very good understanding of the craft and what it takes to tell a good story, but alas, my heart has wandered over the past year, and now a new project consumes my desire.
This documentary started out as a small personal project, just me putting together clips on my home p/c on Adobe Premiere Pro. From there it grew until I wanted to tell a story. I have access to a recording studio, and ... well ... I have a great voice too (I used to be a radio broadcaster). So from there I decided I wanted to record V/O narration and really start to put together a story the way I wanted to tell it. My documentary was born.
Unfortunately
my ambitions have only grown over time, and now I'm not sure if I can accomplish my vision for this project all on my own. I've vacillated on whether I should persevere and realize this project solo, or whether I should try and work with other people and really make a movie. I am pretty committed to somehow someway making this film one way or another, but I'd like for it to be made with the quality that it deserves.
-----------------------------
Here's where I'm at right now:
(and where should I go from here?)
This story is a biography. The subject is a famous person, but there have never been any feature length documentaries made about this person. I have put in hundreds if not thousands of hours of research and amassed a large collection of media clips, interviews, and the like. Ideally, I'd like to shoot my own footage and license other stuff I want to use (probably going to be expensive). I have a very strong and compelling outline, an outstanding and interesting main character, and a creative vision for telling my story. I absolutely want this particular story to be my first film. I'm just wondering what steps should I take to make it happen? Who should I start contacting? How to go about pitching, fundraising, reaching out to fellow filmmakers who might be interested in working on the project, etc?
For instance, there is a creative person close to my subject. I have considered writing this person and trying to meet with them to pitch my vision for the film. Is that a good idea?
If someone (like me) has decided to make their first documentary, without prior directing or production experience, but with a very clear vision of what they want to do and how they want to accomplish it, where should I go from here?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
I've been using IndieTalk for many years now. I don't post too much on here, and usually only in the screenwriting sub-forum, since that's where my background is in film. I have a very good understanding of the craft and what it takes to tell a good story, but alas, my heart has wandered over the past year, and now a new project consumes my desire.
This documentary started out as a small personal project, just me putting together clips on my home p/c on Adobe Premiere Pro. From there it grew until I wanted to tell a story. I have access to a recording studio, and ... well ... I have a great voice too (I used to be a radio broadcaster). So from there I decided I wanted to record V/O narration and really start to put together a story the way I wanted to tell it. My documentary was born.
Unfortunately

-----------------------------
Here's where I'm at right now:
(and where should I go from here?)
This story is a biography. The subject is a famous person, but there have never been any feature length documentaries made about this person. I have put in hundreds if not thousands of hours of research and amassed a large collection of media clips, interviews, and the like. Ideally, I'd like to shoot my own footage and license other stuff I want to use (probably going to be expensive). I have a very strong and compelling outline, an outstanding and interesting main character, and a creative vision for telling my story. I absolutely want this particular story to be my first film. I'm just wondering what steps should I take to make it happen? Who should I start contacting? How to go about pitching, fundraising, reaching out to fellow filmmakers who might be interested in working on the project, etc?
For instance, there is a creative person close to my subject. I have considered writing this person and trying to meet with them to pitch my vision for the film. Is that a good idea?
If someone (like me) has decided to make their first documentary, without prior directing or production experience, but with a very clear vision of what they want to do and how they want to accomplish it, where should I go from here?
Thanks in advance for your replies!