I have a question. What if you were making a full length documentary that you are seriously passionate about, You put the work in, doing pre-interviews and scheduling, but only to find out someone made a shorter version of it on RUclips? How to you.move ahead with the project and stear clear of comparion
Thanks Luc for the great content ! I would like to know ; what’s wrong with having a topic without an story, like making a documentary about a subject like illegal trafficking or people getting scammed??
I can think of at least one exception of well received a documentary that had only a topic and no real story at all. That's Sacro GRA. However, Gianfranco Rosi is a very exceptional filmmaker, and he has often spent years filming a single project. While making Sacro GRA he spent about three years in a trailer along a single highway.
Thanks for those great beginner videos! I would be highly interested in a video on how "to choose a topic" in terms of in which current state something is in the moment. Hard to explain, i´ll try examples: If you meet an athlete right before he´s trying to get qualified to world champs for the first time and want´s to win those, most of the story will be happen in the future. But what if you meet/find this athlete while he already is in semifinals or maybe even a couple months after the world champs. How to approach Stories that are already ongoing? I think it´s really hard (and not the reality) to always find a story that is completely ahead in the future, right?
We seem to be in the same boat as novices. You may well be more experienced than I am, but I'm sure we can learn from each other. Happy to subscribe to your channel.
Its the holy trinty of documentary - It's interesting though how if you know a good character you probably have access or at least an crack in the door which means you most-likely have a story but topic is the guide road to keep the story on. My last doc lacked a topic more truthfully it had to many and it showed - keep learning growing and on to the next one...
Thanks for your video, the "topic vs story" it's really the most importan thing to understand for those who want to make a documentary. I have a story and access for a documentary I want to make about a b-girl (a girl breakdancing) want to go to Paris 2024 Olympics. Will be almost 1 year and half of shooting but my worries are not about how shoot the documentary but how I can finance it and where it will be broadcast. Personally for me these are the most difficult parts. I've seen your videos where you talk about how you got to shoot for big names like NG or Netflix but It's difficult to put your advice into practice, at least for me.
Yeah, I can understand that. Unfortunately there's no step by step process to repeat, it's just about practicing and networking, and then repeating. Keep it up, it took me years!
"Access is hardest for the beginners..." @lucinematic said it well. ...and insecurities about a shotgun approach. If you don't rock up with a big crew (IMO) people will simply tell you to go sit on the fence. 😊
Yeah, that can be a real challenge. I think the only solution there is to be persistent and convince them you are the real deal. Easier said than done though!
Sometimes just acting as if you are goes a long way. I should know; I had to do that when making my first short doc to gain access to the law enforcement department my main character was a part of. It's possible, though, with persistence! I ended up getting my short doc into SXSW and a bunch of other festivals, with only a crew of 3 people too. Don't give up!
hi , first of all thank you for your video , i am trying to do a documentary on with a canon c300 (first edition) i have a 24-105 lens , a sony uwp d11 , a monopod manfrotto pro500, a sennheiser mke 600 and a fstop tilopa , i have also a mavic air , i am very new on the field can you tell me if i do need something else for run and gun type of shooting ? and also is there any tips to keep more battery life frome the camera . thank you for your work and for sharing it .
@@LucForsyth @Luc Forsyth Al contrario! se me hase una idea increible! las historias que deben tener, el estilo de vida, si tienen familia o no. Yo vivi un tiempo en un pueblo chico y ahi todo se escucha. Especialmente cuando matan a gente y todos corren la voz de que fue por narco menudeo. Se me haria algo increible tener esa oportunidad pero creo que mi corazon estaria a 1,000 por hora de la adrenalina. Saludos! Muy buen contenido que llevas aqui ;)
Jaja, tienes razón. Los narcos tienen vidas personales como todo el mundo, y para mi es la cosa más interesante. Muchas gracias y tal vez nos vemos en rosarino algún día
My grandma had 7 siblings and they all had interesting sides to similar stories growing up. Currently 3 have passed away including my grandma and I want to document the stories of the 5 remaining for family archiving It feels like the best opportunity to get my first documentary checked off. Hopefully it’s good enough
love this! we need people making better decisions for story before they start the film rather than fixing it in the edit!
Exactly! Definitely learned it the hard way myself
I am not documentary filmmaker but it is actually really good advices. Access is hardest for the beginners I think. And storytelling of course
I have a question. What if you were making a full length documentary that you are seriously passionate about, You put the work in, doing pre-interviews and scheduling, but only to find out someone made a shorter version of it on RUclips? How to you.move ahead with the project and stear clear of comparion
I've been hyping myself up to shoot a documentary and your videos have been a real gift. Thanks Luc!
That’s great to hear! Good luck!
Thanks Luc for the great content !
I would like to know ; what’s wrong with having a topic without an story, like making a documentary about a subject like illegal trafficking or people getting scammed??
The idea is always the hardest 😫😅😂
agree! until you actually go and try and make the thing!
So much great stuff in here Luc, thanks!
You’re very welcome Scott!
I can think of at least one exception of well received a documentary that had only a topic and no real story at all. That's Sacro GRA. However, Gianfranco Rosi is a very exceptional filmmaker, and he has often spent years filming a single project. While making Sacro GRA he spent about three years in a trailer along a single highway.
Yeah, there are exceptions for sure - good call! Speaking more to the norm here
Thanks for those great beginner videos! I would be highly interested in a video on how "to choose a topic" in terms of in which current state something is in the moment. Hard to explain, i´ll try examples: If you meet an athlete right before he´s trying to get qualified to world champs for the first time and want´s to win those, most of the story will be happen in the future. But what if you meet/find this athlete while he already is in semifinals or maybe even a couple months after the world champs.
How to approach Stories that are already ongoing? I think it´s really hard (and not the reality) to always find a story that is completely ahead in the future, right?
Really good advice, thank you!
You’re welcome!
We seem to be in the same boat as novices. You may well be more experienced than I am, but I'm sure we can learn from each other. Happy to subscribe to your channel.
What are you working on at the moment Andy!?
Its the holy trinty of documentary - It's interesting though how if you know a good character you probably have access or at least an crack in the door which means you most-likely have a story but topic is the guide road to keep the story on. My last doc lacked a topic more truthfully it had to many and it showed - keep learning growing and on to the next one...
Yes, this is the most important thing of all...
Thanks for your video, the "topic vs story" it's really the most importan thing to understand for those who want to make a documentary. I have a story and access for a documentary I want to make about a b-girl (a girl breakdancing) want to go to Paris 2024 Olympics. Will be almost 1 year and half of shooting but my worries are not about how shoot the documentary but how I can finance it and where it will be broadcast. Personally for me these are the most difficult parts. I've seen your videos where you talk about how you got to shoot for big names like NG or Netflix but It's difficult to put your advice into practice, at least for me.
Yeah, I can understand that. Unfortunately there's no step by step process to repeat, it's just about practicing and networking, and then repeating. Keep it up, it took me years!
Hey Luc! Thanks for sharing!! I would like to know the tripod you use for the FX3, please. Thanks a lot
This is my main tripod: amzn.to/3TMPZ9G
and this is the small one just for the fx3: amzn.to/3TFTMpb
"Access is hardest for the beginners..."
@lucinematic said it well.
...and insecurities about a shotgun approach. If you don't rock up with a big crew (IMO) people will simply tell you to go sit on the fence. 😊
Yeah, that can be a real challenge. I think the only solution there is to be persistent and convince them you are the real deal. Easier said than done though!
@@LucForsyth true story! Thanks.
Sometimes just acting as if you are goes a long way. I should know; I had to do that when making my first short doc to gain access to the law enforcement department my main character was a part of. It's possible, though, with persistence! I ended up getting my short doc into SXSW and a bunch of other festivals, with only a crew of 3 people too. Don't give up!
Great video, have subbed.
Welcome aboard!
As usual, way more information then I deserve. Spellcheck @ 1:40 “como”
Last chance is so great. Great, clear description and explanation.
Good catch!
Nice!
hi , first of all thank you for your video , i am trying to do a documentary on with a canon c300 (first edition) i have a 24-105 lens , a sony uwp d11 , a monopod manfrotto pro500, a sennheiser mke 600 and a fstop tilopa , i have also a mavic air , i am very new on the field
can you tell me if i do need something else for run and gun type of shooting ? and also is there any tips to keep more battery life frome the camera . thank you for your work and for sharing it .
Sounds like a great set up to me. I think you might want a tripod for interviews, but other than that it’s solid!
I cant believe you literally hanged out with narcos and filmed them! I am from Rosarito mexico and they can be crazy!
Si, pero si tienes el permiso de ellos no es TAN peligroso como crees…pero tienes razón, no es una buena idea!
@@LucForsyth @Luc Forsyth Al contrario! se me hase una idea increible! las historias que deben tener, el estilo de vida, si tienen familia o no. Yo vivi un tiempo en un pueblo chico y ahi todo se escucha. Especialmente cuando matan a gente y todos corren la voz de que fue por narco menudeo. Se me haria algo increible tener esa oportunidad pero creo que mi corazon estaria a 1,000 por hora de la adrenalina. Saludos! Muy buen contenido que llevas aqui ;)
Jaja, tienes razón. Los narcos tienen vidas personales como todo el mundo, y para mi es la cosa más interesante. Muchas gracias y tal vez nos vemos en rosarino algún día
@@LucForsyth seria un placer trabajar contigo 😉 vivo en San Diego, soy cinematografo para una marketing agency. Saludos!
My grandma had 7 siblings and they all had interesting sides to similar stories growing up. Currently 3 have passed away including my grandma and I want to document the stories of the 5 remaining for family archiving
It feels like the best opportunity to get my first documentary checked off. Hopefully it’s good enough
Sounds like a pretty great story to me!