What's New at Desktop Documentaries?

Feb 3, Focus Forward Films | $100,000 Filmmaker Challenge

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:51:02 GMT

Focus Forward Films is a new documentary series of 3-minute films focusing on today's innovators. An impressive roster of documentary filmmakers are already

Feb 1, Looking for a camera, do you know much about Panasonic SD90?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:59:50 GMT

I browsed shops for cameras yesterday and the Panasonic SD90K was recommended by a guy who sounded like he knew his stuff. It was $654 in the shop, but

Feb 1, Life In A Day | Documentary Review

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:19:32 GMT

Wow! Just imagining the amount of video these guys had to sift through is mind boggling. If you are not familiar with this documentary, Life in a Day,

Jan 31, This Week's FREE Clip from Pond5 | Snowboarding

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:26:07 GMT

Every week Pond5 gives away a new free stock footage clip. This week it's a beautiful snowboarding shot. It's filmed in HD 1080 (1920/1080). They are also offering 25 FREE sound effects. In addition to the freebies, tons of amazing footage of anything you can think of. You can find the free downloads on their homepage: Pond5 Homepage. Enjoy!

Jan 31, Julian Assange: A Modern Day Hero? Inside the World of WikiLeaks | Documentary Review

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:18:32 GMT

I had high hopes for this film. I mean, you've got international espionage and intrigue. You've got Luke fighting the forces of the Empire. You've got

Jan 29, Revenge of the Electric Car | Documentary Review

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:59:54 GMT

If you saw Who Killed the Electric Car?, which was a tragedy in its essence, you want to watch Revenge of the Electric Car. This film, directed by Chris

Jan 28, Advice for Women Filmmakers | Sundance 2012

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:20:28 GMT

If you're a woman in the filmmaking world, take heart! Here's a string of quotes from women attending the Sundance Film Festival this year. This was shot at the Chicken and Egg party. Thanks Trixie Films for shooting this!

Jan 26, The Listening Project | Documentary Review

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:10:25 GMT

What a simple, yet profound idea. Travel the globe and ask people what they think about America. I was struck by some of the answers. Not that they were

Jan 25, Sundance Film Festival | LIVE News Feed

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:50:06 GMT

The Sundance Film Festival is underway in Park City, Utah January 19 - 29. Watch their live feed here.

sundancefest on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

Jan 25, Ace Youth | Documentary Idea

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:31:01 GMT

I discovered my asexuality in June of 2011. I spent most of my life wondering what was wrong with me, and convincing myself that I was just a late bloomer.

Jan 25, The Yes Men Fix the World | Documentary Review

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:13:21 GMT

Wow! What an undertaking to make this film. It's a bit of The Colbert Report mixed with Exit Through the Gift Shop with a touch of Occupy to round it

Jan 21, Write An Article - Promote Your Film, Grow Your Audience and Build Credibility

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:46:03 GMT

Write an article for Desktop Documentaries and build awareness for you and your film project. This is a great opportunity to promote your documentary, build credibility and grow your audience!

Jan 21, Amy Snowdens Life | Documentary Idea - Help!

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:38:53 GMT

Here is the documentary I put together. IT IS a true story about my life as a stand up comic.. I think I could make it better, but just don't have money

Jan 19, Press Pause Play Documentary | Free or Paid You Choose

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:03:25 GMT

Would you pay for a documentary if you had the choice or watch it for free? Technology is forcing new business models around filmmaking and other artistic endeavors. Press Pause Play is a documentary film that explores the changing landscape of art within the new digital culture. And the documentary itself is examining new forms of film distribution. Watch the full documentary here (free version) and join the conversation..

Jan 18, Page One: Inside the New York Times | Documentary Review

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:03:42 GMT

The world of journalism is changing. For the better? Only time will tell. But if powerhouse institutions like the New York Times were to falter, would

Jan 17, Roy W. Dean Film and Video Grants | Next deadline is April 30th

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:02:19 GMT

The Roy W. Dean Spring Film Grant is one of several grant award packages given out each year by Carol Dean and From The Heart Productions. There's a small cash prize and a slew of in-kind donations worth $30,000+. Even if you don't win, this is a great opportunity to get feedback on your documentary film proposal as Carol gives a free 15-minute consultation to everyone who applies!

Jan 17, Waiting for Superman | Documentary Review

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:04:25 GMT

Education is important. And the education system in the United States is broken. That's what I took away from Waiting for Superman, a documentary film

Jan 13, The Opposite of Super Size Me | Documentary Idea

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:20:38 GMT

Instead of starting off with a young healthy person who eats junk food to become unhealthy, this documentary will start off with a 70 year old former US

Jan 10, How to choose a title for your documentary

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:22:04 GMT

It's no secret that a great documentary title can help create buzz for your film. Here are a few tips for coming up with a catchy title and also checking legal use.

Jan 6, Fundraising Tools | Documentary Proposal and Budget Templates

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:09:07 GMT

Funding is often the biggest hurdle for documentary filmmakers. Unless you are independently wealthy, you're going to need to convince those with money that your project is worth their support. You may even be trying to convince a top notch film crew to help you make your film. How do you convince others to join your effort? A big first step is to put together a documentary proposal and budget... See special promotion..

Jan 3, Filming Sports | How To Capture The Extreme Shots

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:15:09 GMT

Filming sports and extreme action often requires a high amount of creativity, courage and specialty gear such as mini-video cameras, steadycams, underwater gear and cranes. Watch this cool trailer about "highlining" and then learn from the filmmaker how he did it. Learn how the filmmaker got those shots.

Dec 29, Best Documentaries | What Are YOUR favorite Docs?

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 00:01:46 GMT

How do you determine the best documentaries.. Is it the script? The impact on society? The entertainment value? Cutting edge effects? Innovative storytelling? Superb journalism. Was it a box office hit? Some or all the above? Join us as we explore some of the best documentaries and create your OWN "Top 10 Documentaries List"! Exit Through the Gift Shop - One of the top 50 documentaries to see before you die.

Dec 28, Best Documentaries of 2011 | POV Chart

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:37:10 GMT

What was the best documentary of 2011? The staff at POV (PBS.org) decided to try and figure that out. So they went to the top documentary festivals,

Dec 23, Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea | Make A Personalized Video!

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:46:40 GMT

If you've waited until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping, here's a quick and meaningful gift idea. Upload your photos and/or video clips to a very cool online editor called Animoto and within minutes you'll have a very cool personalized music video. It's FREE for mini-videos or as little as $3 to burn your video to a DVD. You'll be amazed how easy this is and how awesome your videos will look. Be sure to look for the special holiday-themed templates.

Dec 22, 2012 Vimeo Festival + Awards | Submissions Now Open

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:29:48 GMT

The Vimeo Festival + Awards is a celebration of the best original videos online. There are 13 categories, including documentary, music video, narrative and experimental. Each category winner receives a $5,000 grant and one overall winner receives a $25,000 grand prize.

Dec 14, What makes you happy | Documentary Idea

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:47:52 GMT

In about 3 months I will be hiking the Appalachian Trail. This trail goes from Georgia to Maine which is equivalent to 2,181 miles. I am new to long distance

Dec 10, Home Made Videos | Gift Ideas

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:37:17 GMT

If you're looking for some fun and creative Christmas gifts to give family and friends, what about a home made video? We did some brainstorming and came up with a fun list of ideas to get you started.

Dec 9, Confessions of a Filmmaking Amateur | My First Documentary

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:06:26 GMT

Guest Blog Post: I've been spending the past several months shooting footage for my first documentary at a mental wellness facility in my hometown. I say mental health because that has a more positive connotation than mental illness facility. And that is what it is referred to by the man who....

Dec 7, Gift Ideas and Holiday Deals on Electronics

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:57:38 GMT

If you're looking for a new gadget or filmmaking tool, there are tons of great deals right now for the holidays. Amazon is a great place to start and they've compiled a list of their best deals and best sellers. Gift Ideas in Electronics Shop Amazon's Camera and Photo Shop Amazon's Movie Best Sellers

Dec 5, Documentaries That Change Society | Video Commentary

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 01:28:07 GMT

When you make your documentary, you have the potential to change thousands of lives. Documentaries can be one of the most powerful mediums on the planet. Film Producer Sharon Reed explains what she likes about documentaries, covering three docs in particular that have made a significant impact on society. This video is part of a series from the Naked Filmmaker YouTube Channel.

Dec 2, Best Places To Watch Documentaries Online (And Off)

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:16:13 GMT

Ready to watch documentaries online or on television? There are thousands of free documentaries ready to watch right now if you just know where to look.

Dec 1, The Documentary Channel Best of Docs 2011 Kicks Off Tonight | Win Prizes for Watching

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:25:30 GMT

Starting tonight at 8pm EST and throughout December, The Documentary Channel will air one new "best of 2011" documentary starting with Oscar nominee "Operation Homecoming." And YOU can win prizes, such as iPads and camcorders, just for watching and voting for your favorites.

Nov 29, Buying a Camcorder for Documentary Filmmaking

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:48:04 GMT

Question: I need advice buying a camcorder. I'm going to be doing some interviews that I'd like to video record. Initially they'll appear only on the web,

Nov 28, Channel 4 BRITDOC | Documentary Film Grant

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:09:32 GMT

Looking for funding or distribution for your documentary? The Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation based in England has two funding programs for international documentary filmmakers.

Nov 18, Holiday Gift Guide for Documentary Filmmakers

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:25:32 GMT

New! 2011 Holiday Gift Guide Whether you're shopping for yourself or for someone else, here are some fun and practical gifts that every filmmaker would love. From camcorders to books to Hollywood celebrity gift packs, we did our best to pick a fun variety of items everyone would enjoy no matter their age or filmmaking skill level.

Nov 15, Behind the Scenes with Documentary Filmmaker
Kate Schermerhorn

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:46:18 GMT

Just one day after Kim Kardashian ended her 72 day long union, documentary filmmaker Kate Schermerhorn released her film "After Happily Ever After", a quirky thought provoking look at modern marriage. It's a great example of a documentary told from a personal point of view. Go behind the scenes with documentary director Kate Schermerhorn for an insightful Q & A on her filmmaking journey and lessons learned.

Nov 11, Filmmaking Amateur | Odd Two Camera Shoot (Day Fourteen)

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:05:19 GMT

I recently shot a couple of interviews for a video segment about Koinonia Farm, a small Christian community in southwest Georgia. This was the first time

Nov 9, IDA Documentary Awards 2011 -- You're Invited!

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:12:21 GMT

Want to hob nob with some of the biggest names in documentary filmmaking? Coming up on December 2nd in Los Angeles is the International Documentary Association's 27th annual fundraising event that celebrates outstanding achievements in documentary filmmaking. Director Les Blank is set to receive the Career Achievement Award from director Werner Herzog.

Nov 5, How should I proceed to make a documentary movie?

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:32:01 GMT

Question: This is the first time that we are making a documentary movie. We are not trained and we haven't studied film making as yet. But we are very

Nov 4, 10 Really Cool Video Apps for Filmmaking

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:22:08 GMT

Check out these really cool video apps if you're looking for cheap filmmaking ideas to make your documentary.

Nov 2, Video 101: Interview with Television and Video Producer Lisa Lubin

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:30:47 GMT

Lisa Lubin is a three-time Emmy Award winning television writer/producer/editor/video consultant with more than fifteen years of experience. For nearly ten years, Lisa produced an award-winning weekly lifestyles, travel, and entertainment magazine show on ABC Chicago. We asked Lisa to share a few tips and tricks for video and documentary newbies.

Nov 1, London Pub Culture | Documentary Idea

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:15:43 GMT

I am a student from India currently living in London and I wanted to make a documentary about the London pub culture. The only problem is that I don't

Oct 31, Children of Woodlands | Documentary Idea

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:40:54 GMT

This is a documentary that must be made. It's the story of the Woodlands School in BC, Canada -- where it's reported that unimaginable acts were made

Oct 31, The New Golden Age of Documentary Film

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:09:10 GMT

Documentaries are hot and Hollywood is paying attention. On October 26, 2011, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented a panel discussion entitled The Rise of Non-Fiction Movies. Hear from some of the top documentary filmmakers talk about the "new golden age of documentary film". From The Academy: The Rise of Non-Fiction Movies Moderated by R.J. Cutler ("The September Issue"). With Amir Bar-Lev ("The Tillman Story"), Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for 'Superman'"), Lourdes Portillo ("Senorita Extraviada" ("Missing Young Woman")), Ricki Stern ("Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work"), Molly Thompson ("Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer") and Diane Weyermann ("Casino Jack and the United States of Money").

Oct 31, How do I prepare a sales pitch for a documentary

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:32:59 GMT

Question: I want to sell a documentary movie that won awards to Arabic TV stations. How do I present it, what questions should I ask and how much do I

Oct 28, Crowdfunding - with Jennifer Fox and Katherine Nolfi

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:32:16 GMT

Jennifer Fox's newest documentary film MY REINCARNATION raised $150,456 via Kickstarter, more than any other completed film in the history of the crowdfunding

Oct 26, Romanian Gypsies | Documentary Idea

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:35:28 GMT

This documentary does not want to denigrate the gypsies, romanians or europeans! Just wants to show the truth, reality and differences between romanians,

Oct 21, Crowd Funding for Documentaries | Tips for Success

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:58:41 GMT

Crowd funding is fantastic way to jumpstart fundraising for your documentary. It’s a lot of hard work, but can pay off in the end if done right.

Oct 18, NEW | Documentary Budgeting and Template Pack

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:32:17 GMT

Just Released! If you're looking to take your documentary filmmaking to the next level and you need a budget, you are in luck! Announcing our brand new Documentary Budgeting E-Guide and Template Pack. Two FREE budget templates included for a limited time.

Oct 18, Win $1-Million in the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl Video Contest

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:41:58 GMT

It's baaaaaaaAAAck... Get out your camera, get creative and make a commercial! If your video gets picked to air during next year's 2012 Super Bowl, you win $1-million bucks. Imagine the documentaries you could shoot with that! Watch last year's winner and learn where to go to enter the contest...