Filmmakers Steer Clear of Big Easy Clichés

Five years ago, the worst natural disaster ever to hit the United States struck southern Louisiana, forever altering the face of America’s most unique and freewheeling city, New Orleans. While the news media revisits the Crescent City to find out what has changed and what hasn’t, a team of filmmakers working with ITVS is documenting the real story of the resurrection of a metropolis with a long history of coming back from the dead with inimitable style.

Their documentary-in-progress Getting Back to Abnormal by former New Orleans residents, Louis Alvarez, Andrew Kolker, Peter Odabashian, and Paul Stekler, explores the state of New Orleans politics and culture five years after Hurricane Katrina.

Set against the backdrop of the 2009-2010 local political season, the election of the first white mayor in a generation, and the triumph of the city’s erstwhile worst NFL team, the Saints, Getting Back to Abnormal will frame its story via the city’s complicated and ever-present issues of race.

The film was one of several to receive Open Call funding from ITVS in the most recent round. At the producers’ orientation last month, filmmakers Andrew Kolker and Paul Stekler spoke about what New Orleans means to them and why it was important to get the story right.

Tags: hurricane, ITVS, Katrina, New Orleans, nola, PBS, public television

Advice for Filmmakers from Doc TV’s Peter Hamilton

Peter Hamilton, editor and publisher of documentarytelevision.org

Peter Hamilton is a former executive with CBS International, New York. He is the editor and publisher of DocumentaryTelevision.com, which analyzes deals and trends in the ever-changing business of factual television. Because we know many of you are independent filmmakers trying to navigate the complex world of distribution, we spoke with Peter Hamilton last week to get some insights.

More than 25 years ago you co-authored a book titled Off-Hollywood: The Making and Marketing of Independent Films. How different might that book look if it were published today, and what about it would still hold up?

That’s a very good question. Off Hollywood was a groundbreaking work supported by The IFP (Independent Feature Project) and Sundance to provide the emerging independent film community with hard numbers about the production, distribution, and exhibition of independent films.

That was in the analog era when there were few windows available for independent filmmakers. Now, there are many more distribution platforms, television networks, DVD options such as Amazon, Netflix, pay-per-view, online, and many others. › Continue reading

Tags: cbs, com, digital distribution, distribution, doctv, documentarytelevision, independent filmmakers, indie films, ITVS, network, PBS, peter hamilton

Inside Indies: Ask Vilmos!

If you could ask acclaimed cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond a question, what would it be?

The beloved co-subject of NO SUBTITLES NECESSARY: Laszo & Vilmos, Zsigmond is a legend for his fine camerawork, having shot films such as The Deer Hunter and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

For our Inside Indies feature, we’ll be talking to Vilmos and asking him questions from filmmakers and audiences worldwide. His answers will be posted on Inside Indies later this month.

Submit your question now >>

Tags: cinematographer, filmmaking, Vilmos Zsigmond

Inside Indies: Filmmaker Marjan Tehrani Discusses Favorite Films

We recently caught up with ITVS-funded filmmaker Marjan Tehrani (ARUSI PERSIAN WEDDING, P-STAR RISING) to talk about her favorite films and how they’ve influenced her style of filmmaking. Check out her top favorites below and tell us what you think.

What are your three favorite films of all-time and why?

1. Salesman by the Maysles brothers is one of my all-time favorites! I love this film because you truly feel like you are right there with these salesman as they go door to door and live on the road away from their families. The cinematography is amazing and the pace of the editing is well done. The Maysles have definitely influenced my style of filmmaking and has inspired me to follow in the style of direct cinema (cinema verité).

2. When We Were Kings is another classic documentary that has taught me so much about the craft of filmmaking. It is entertaining like docs should be! It has incredible storytelling with a great arc and footage that is so special and unique. This story and footage is something that I think any filmmaker would love to get their hands on.

3. Amores Perros –– I love this style of filmmaking that Alejandro González Iñárritu has brought to American Cinema. Other films that I greatly appreciate like Traffic have also used this storytelling method of interweaving different plots to tell a riveting and though provoking story. I hope to make a fiction film one day that has complex layers such as this film to make people think but also allow them to enjoy their movie experience.

What is your favorite film you’ve seen recently and why?

I would have to agree (that is with the million awards that this film received!) that Slumdog Millionaire is one of the best films I have seen recently. Danny Boyle did an amazing job directing this film. The casting was brilliant with the children and the the backdrop of India was exciting to see. I was on the edge of my seat through the whole film and I loved the game show story line. I am also a sucker for love stories and this was a good one.

See other filmmakers favorite films in the latest edition of Inside Indies >>

Tags: Amores Perros, film resources, filmmakers, Maysles, Slumdog Millionaire

Inside Indies: Filmmaker Johnny Symons Discusses Favorite Films

What are your favorite films? It’s a difficult question and oftentimes nearly impossible to narrow down.

We recently asked ITVS funded filmmaker Johnny Symons (ASK NOT, DADDY & PAPA) to talk about his favorites and why.

Check out his video response:

Visit Inside Indies to find out about other filmmakers favorite films >>

Tags: film resources, filmmakers, online video

Inside Indies: Filmmaking Tips and Tricks of the Trade

How do they do it? Go behind the scenes and get real-life examples from documentary filmmakers. Sit in on conversations between up-and-coming indies and seasoned professionals as they share their personal take on tricks of the trade. From stop-motion animation and using archival footage, to gaining trust and telling personal stories, learn how independents meet creative challenges to get their story told in compelling ways.

Watch these clips and learn more >>

Tags: film resources, filmmakers, independent film

Inside Indies: Inside Filmmaking

Native American poet and activist John Trudell.

What inspires indie filmmakers to persevere?

Heather Rae who spent 13 years making TRUDELL, a film about Native American poet and activist John Trudell, talks about her desire to share Native stories and the challenges of filmmaking on a shoestring. Barbara Multer-Wellin and Jeffrey Abelson, filmmakers of PAUL CONRAD: Drawing Fire, which explores one of the most distinguished editorial cartoonists in the world, discuss the challenges of condensing Conrad’s five-decade-long career into one hour and how they made static, black-and-white images come to life. And Brad Lichtenstein and Lisa Gildehaus, filmmakers of ALMOST HOME, which follows the daily lives of residents and staff at a retirement community in Milwaukee, WI, speak about why they chose to address issues of aging and some of the special challenges they faced while focusing their lenses on elderly, often fragile subjects.

Get the inside scoop >>

Tags: film resources, filmmakers, independent film