Need a good starting direction

[tajdadon]

I'm not really into film making or directing, but I want to start a documentary about all the gangs and sets in my neighborhood. I will be recording and interviewing them in their neighborhoods and will let them explain there lifestyle and why they're living like that.

I have no equipment, not even a camera. Actually, I have no idea on what I should get. I don't need it to be on Gangland's or any History channel documentary worth but I want people to actually take it seriously when they watch it and not make it seem like I'm a crazy guy going into hoods with a cheap camera.

Could you guys make a list of all the equipment I'll need and a quick summary of how documentaries are made or point me to a right article which explains this.

- Thanks in advance

 

[directorik]

Can you give us a budget range?

I could take half an hour of my time to list all
of the equipment you need (which I'm happy
to do) only to find that your budget is much
less or much higher than my list of equipment.

 

[wheatgrinder]

seems to me, something like this is perfect pickings for a grant or community development fund. Check with your local police gang task force or what ever. I bet you can get everything you need donated.

What might help you is to focus on a "Plan." What is it you want to "document?" Come up with a simple statement, one or two sentences, that expresses what you want to say.

You might start very simple, maybe pick one true story, something that you know personally about, and document that.

You might consider finding someone to work with, maybe somebody is looking for ideas and you can be a producer.

I'm just guessing here, but Figure for every minuted of fished movie, you have 10 hours of film\editing\sound work likely much more.

http://www.cinereach.org/

http://www.amdoc.org/index.php

http://www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/incentives/made_ny_incentive.shtml