Obtaining Films

Many documentaries are cited in this book. You can rent most of them from www.netflix.com, or purchase them from www.amazon.com or from other sources supplying new and used copies. The best-stocked supplier in America is the videoth é que Facets Multimedia at www.facets.org, which holds copies of many obscure or international films. Occasionally a film is only available by tracking down its maker via the Internet.

Before you order a film, check that your equipment can play disks of its designated region. Computers generally play any DVD, but manufacturers of dedicated DVD players lock them to a particular region. Look for your player’s unlock code via www.dvdexploder.com or by Googling “region free.”

Of Books, Boxes, Bullets, and Bibliographies

Books: This, the fifth edition, contains much that is new, and it is now divided into two levels:

• Book I: Fundamentals supplies what you need to get into action and learn from actual filmmaking. Each subject area suggests chapters where more advanced information is available.
• Book II: Advanced Issues contains information in depth that would only impede beginners. Chapter references refer you back to the fundamentals in Book I, should you need them.

Boxes: Embedded in the text are “Remember Boxes” containing important ideas or definitions. These keep bedrock truths in sight while you work through the details. At salient points you will also find “Project Boxes” suggesting you try a particular hands-on project—always the best way to learn. Most of the projects are in the Appendix with any notes and illustrations, but a few are necessarily embedded in chapters. For simplicity, project descriptions tend to be brief, in a common checkbox format, and gathered under five headings:

• 1-AP Analysis Projects (8)
• 2-DP Development Projects (6)
• 3-BP Budget Projects (2)
• 4-SP Shooting Projects (14)
• 5-PP Postproduction Projects (2)

Bullets and icons: In the text you’ll encounter bullet points and icons, each with a function that makes the book easier to navigate:

	Important fact or idea.
	Actions to take or questions to ask.
	Key concept to remember.
	Hands-on discovery project for you to make or do.
	Resource for greater information.

Bibliographies: Book and Internet sources are either embedded in the relevant text or under “Going Further” at the ends of chapters.

Getting Information Via the Internet

This book’s Web site: Go to this book’s Web site (http://directingthedocumentary.com) for downloadable information such as documentary film examples, production cycle “don’t forget” checklists, projects and useful forms, bibliography, list of films cited, etc.

If you are a teacher: See teachers’ notes for using this book at the book’s Web site. Consider downloading projects, forms, and project assessments so you can customize them for your own teaching purposes.

General information via the Internet: Here are some good resources:

• For biographies, definitions, or working principles, try starting with Wikipedia^® at www.wikipedia.com.
• For film information such as personnel, year, medium, genre etc., try the International Film Database at www.imdb.com.
• For a film and video resource directory, links to equipment providers, materials, software, facilities, and services go to the nonprofit University Film and Video Association (UFVA) at www.ufva.org. Also an excellent source for up-to-date festival, conference, and workshop information too.
• Find rare film copies or information by entering the title and director’s name in Google. This often leads to the film’s Web site, either put up by its distributor or its maker.
• See portions of films by entering the title in www.YouTube.com, though the quality may be poor. Watch out that someone hasn’t recycled a film’s material to make his own statement. Usually it’s evident when you’re not seeing the genuine article.
• For reviews and opinions try Rotten Tomatoes at www.rottentomatoes.com or simply Google the title of a film in quotation marks plus the word “review.”

Since Web users freely copy and exchange information, don’t bet the farm on anything that could cost you in time and money without first cross-checking that you’ve got the straight dope.

Technical information:

• Manufacturer Web sites offer FAQ (frequently asked questions) sections.
• Large supply houses are often a mine of good explanatory information.
• At user groups, those freewill areas in which people exchange problems and solutions, you can enter key words associated with your equipment or problem in “Groups” at the Google menu.
• For video and digital technical information of all kinds, try http://video.thedveshow.com where you can also find video tutorials and links.

Production information: There are many documentary interest sites, but especially helpful is the one founded by Doug Block and Ben Kempas called The D-Word at www.d-word.com (Figure 0-1). Its archives are a mine; discussions include every level of maker and cover every aspect of production and postproduction. It’s a work of enthusiasts—free, interactive, and with participants from all over the world.

FIGURE 1

The D-Word portal of entry—a helpful, multifaceted, and free Web site for production enthusiasts.