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Making Documentary Films and Videos: A Practical Guide to Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries » (Revised and Expanded)

Book cover image of Making Documentary Films and Videos: A Practical Guide to Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries by Barry Hampe

Authors: Barry Hampe
ISBN-13: 9780805081817, ISBN-10: 080508181X
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Holt, Henry & Company, Inc.
Date Published: December 2007
Edition: Revised and Expanded

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Author Biography: Barry Hampe

Barry Hampe has made more than two hundred documentary films and information videos as director or scriptwriter or both.

Book Synopsis

The classic guide to making documentaries, now revised and expanded for today's filmmaker

The second edition of Making Documentary Films and Videos fully updates the popular guidebook that has given readers around the world the knowledge and confidence to produce their first documentary film. It traces two main approaches—recording behavior and re-creating past events—and shows you how to be successful at each. Covering all the steps from concept to completion, with chapters on visual evidence; documentary ethics; writing for documentaries; budgeting; assembling a crew; film and sound recording; casting and directing actors and nonactors; and editing for the audience, this book can help you successfully bring to life the documentary you want to make.

The second edition includes

• a discussion of truth, "reality," and honesty in the current filmmaking environment

• new advice on how to get started in documentary filmmaking

• an expanded section on researching and writing the proposal,

treatment, and script

• an exhaustive list of resources

School Library Journal

YAA comprehensive and well-written introduction for aspiring filmmakers. Every aspect of production is covered, from conceptualizing an idea to seeking distributors for the final product. Technical aspects of video and film equipment are touched upon, but are not covered to such a degree that they become laborious. For instance, the subject of lighting, which could easily be a book unto itself, is addressed in a few pages. A filmography of classic documentaries and an appendix describing how to join the International Documentary Association are included. An invaluable tool for future producers and an excellent title to supplement videography and film-production classes.John Kiefman, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Table of Contents

1It Looks So Easy3
2How Things Got This Way15
3Reality Is Not Enough30
4Recording Human Behavior36
5Visual Evidence49
6Verisimilitude in Documentary69
7Ethics in Making a Documentary77
8Steps in Producing a Documentary93
9The Documentary Idea103
10Writing a Documentary119
11Scouting142
12The Documentary Crew151
13Equipment164
14Scheduling173
15How Much Will It Cost?185
16Recording Picture and Sound199
17Working on Location218
18Building an Invisible Wall222
19Directing People Who Are Not Actors235
20When You Must Work with Actors247
21The Documentary Interview263
22Some Other Production Considerations272
23Preparation for Post279
24Editing the Documentary287
25Finishing the Production309
Appendix315
Filmography319
Bibliography326
Index329

Subjects