Desktop-Documentaries.com – Documentary Tips Newsletter

Issue #7 – November 9, 2011 – www.desktop-documentaries.com

Announcements

Documentary Budgeting Template Pack - New!

The reviews are already coming in!

"This is a great pack, which if used correctly should ensure that any production can be accurately budgeted! Would definitely recommend!" -- Chris Dodd (via Facebook)

How To Survive The Making Of A Documentary

There are all kinds of devilish issues that can sabotage your filmmaking efforts. Here's a list of some of the most common pitfalls new documentary filmmakers face.

Common Pitfalls of Documentary Filmmaking:

• Lack of funding
• Little or no training in filmmaking and storytelling techniques
• Confusion over what kind of equipment to use
• Getting caught up in the latest and greatest gear instead of focusing on the storytelling
• Lack of connections to mentors, advisors, crew
• Losing momentum and getting discouraged
• No interest and therefore no understanding of business/marketing which is a crucial factor in getting your movie seen and sold (ie distribution)
• Legal pitfalls and copyright issues
• Navigating from one stage to the next which often requires a wide variety and often conflicting set of skills (proposal/budget/grant writing, fundraising, tech/equipment savvy, production, scriptwriting, storytelling, editing, distribution, sales/marketing, social media, internet marketing, web site building, etc)

Tips for Getting UnStuck and Surviving the Documentary Making Process:

• Ask yourself exactly what it is that's stopping you from moving forward. Break the problem down into manageable bits. For example, if you need $25,000 and are stuck finding someone who can donate that amount, ask yourself how you can get ten people to give $25.00. It's not $25,000, but it's a start and gets you moving in the right direction!
• If the issue is more psychological (for example if you are no longer feeling the passion for your story or you're lacking focus), think back to your original excitement and remember what made you so interested in the topic in the first place. Even if you can't re-ignite that passion, ask yourself what small step you can take right now to move the project forward. Movement has a funny way of getting you back on track.
• List "Five Quick Wins" and "Five Bold Moves". This tip is from Morrie Warshawski in his wonderful fundraising book Shaking The Money Tree. For example, raising $250 would be a quick win. Having these mini-successes can play a big role in boosting morale.

Of course, there's always the chance that your original documentary idea is not panning out to be what you envisioned. And it's perfectly okay to cut your losses and try the next idea. Just make sure you're quitting for the right reasons. Sometimes the beauty of a documentary is that it turns out completely different than what you thought and can still be a great story.

So keep your head up, face your problems head-on and keep moving forward. If you do that, you have a great chance of surviving the documentary filmmaking process.

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What's New at Desktop Documentaries?

New Release | Documentary Budgeting Template Pack

New Release!

If you're at the beginning stages of your documentary and looking for funding, you're going to need a proposal and a budget.. We recently released our Documentary Proposal Template (below) and now we've just completed the Documentary Budgeting Template Pack. For a limited time, both the proposal and budgeting packs are available at nearly 50% off!

Documentary Budgeting Template Pack

New Release | Documentary Proposal Template

New Release!

If you're staring at a blank page and wondering how to get started on your documentary proposal, this template is a life saver. Everything is already formatted and ready for you to input your own text and information. In addition to the template, you get a complimentary proposal writing guide.

Documentary Proposal Template

Coming Soon | Documentary Fundraising Guide Book

Coming Soon!

This is a 200+ page detailed fundraising guide designed specifically for documentary filmmakers and helping you get the funding you need for your project. Set for release in 2012.

Stay Up To Date:

Until next time, keep dreaming!