So you want to make your own documentary? You’ve got a great, innovative idea? So now what? First-time filmmaker Marisa Miller Wolfson, director of Vegucated, gives FilmBuffs a few words of advice on getting started and making it big.
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When it comes to documentary filmmaking, ignorance is bliss… at first. If I had any idea when I set out to make Vegucated what all it would entail, I wonder if I would have made it. In that sense, thank goodness I was clueless. But in other ways, knowing a few things in advance would have saved me some heartache.
If you’re considering making a doc, here are some tips to have in mind before you start:
DO pick a subject that you are so passionate about that makes you spring out of bed every morning, eager to tackle the next challenge.
DON’T expect filmmaking to be sexy and glamorous. Meaningful and rewarding—yes. Sexy and glamorous—no.
Clogging the line at the post office is one "glamorous" task to look forward to, especially if you do a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.
DO estimate the worst case scenario for how long you think it will take you to make the film, then consider multiplying it by about five. The average documentary takes 5-7 years to complete. As Jonathan Reiss says in his book Think Outside the Box Office, you can’t make a film that’s fast, good, and cheap. You get two out of the three, but not all three. By the way, cheap is relative, given that the average documentary costs $350,000.
DON’T settle for a less than optimal crew or equipment. If you have to spend a year raising money, do it. There are no retakes in documentary film, and you’ll just make it harder in post-production.
DO go the extra mile to find compelling film subjects. Feature those whom you care about and focus on their stories, not just on information you want to convey.
DON’T think you’re finished editing when only your film team has seen it. The true editing begins when you start screening it.
DO reach out to other filmmakers in your community for help and feedback. Joining the FilmShop filmmakers collective was the single smartest choice I made.
The FilmShop filmmakers collective meets once a week and gives people the chance to get feedback and help from peers.
DON’T just screen it for your friends or fellow activists. They will be nice. You don’t need nice; you need honest.
DO engage your audience in your process. Marketing starts when you start working on the film, not when you finish it. Kickstarter and IndieGoGo are great ways to raise not just funds but also a fan base.
DON’T expect to be done when the film is finished. Making the film is half the time/money; releasing it is the other half.
DO consider “four-walling” or renting theaters for premieres around the country if you don’t get a traditional theatrical release.
Recruiting local activists and experts to help with regional premieres is key. Here vegan cookbook author Robin Asbell introduces the film at the Minneapolis premiere.
DON’T stop at theatrical, given the many ways to connect with your audience, whether it’s through community screenings or digitally.
DO know that, if you feel stuck in the muck during the long process, there will be a moment someday when you’re sitting in your premiere watching the film you made with the amazing team you gathered, and there will be no feeling like it in the world.
Want more? Check out this collection that includes Vegucated.
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