How to plan an unscripted documentary

The Writers Store just published my article - How to Plan an Unscripted Documentary.

The article adds extra material to a similar chapter in Producing With Passion, a book that I co-authored with filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman.

Note:

Werner Herzog talking about planning his film "Encounters At The End Of The World" said, "I looked for people who fascinated me."

When planning an unscripted documentary, first look for what fascinates you. Then learn about it, experience it, and film it.

What is a Leica reel?

A Leica reel is a type of storyboard. A storyboard is a series of drawings that directors use as an inexpensive, quick way to visualize the scenes in a potential movie.

Here's an example of a Leica reel:

What is marketing?

Humanity makes sense of the world through stories.

Marketing is the process of creating and telling stories.

The successful marketer must:
1. tell an authentic story
2. identify the people who want to hear the story
3. get permission from these people to tell them the story
4. and finally deliver the story.

As a result of hearing the story, people will tell other people the story, and perhaps do something the marketer wants them to do.

At least that's my (very rough) understanding of Seth Godin's book, All Marketers Are Liars.

Movie Geek Guest List

A link to all 207 guests of MovieGeeks. Including yours truly.

John Klysinski Photographer

While having coffee in Napa California this morning, I met John Klysinsiki, photographer. John's work was hanging on the walls of the coffee shop. It is powerful work. It's so good that it reminds me of the greats, people like Edward Weston and Imogene Cunningham. His web site shows the photos, but the images I see on my laptop screen lack the powerful impact of the actual prints. This guy is good.

What can you do for the medium?

Seth Godin on the nature of social networks like Twitter.

"Traditional advertising is inherently selfish. It interrupts in order to generate money (part of which pays for more interruptions). That approach doesn't work at a cocktail party, or at a funeral or in a social network.

"This is the meatball sundae. Asking what the medium can do for you instead of what you can do for the medium."

Best chair for bad backs

I sat in a SwingChair at the mall last week. The inventor's wife was demonstrating the chair to holiday shoppers. Probably the best chair I've ever found for a bad back.

It's hard to tell you how good these chairs are. They are great.