Filmmaking

Would you like to make a Documentary film but have little or no money for a budget? I did and I’ll share with you how I did it.

I was reminded recently about the importance of sharing knowledge. Although I’m not a big Hollywood filmmaker (by choice), that doesn’t mean that my methods and particularly my early methods of filmmaking are of no use to anyone. So I decided to write a post about how I filmed my first documentary. Hopefully this post with help anyone trying to get started in filmmaking with little or no money.

First things first… Back in 2002, I impulsively decided to film a documentary on Black Homosexuality covering topics I felt were important. I don’t even remember what motivated this decision. All I know is that in the end I had a three volume documentary and a trip to Ghana, West Africa.

Over the years I’d acquired a great deal of information on most of the subjects I was going to cover so I felt I was doing a story about something I was already very familiar with. Then I put an ad on Craigslist and tons and tons and tons of Yahoo Groups. I also connected with a local group for LGBT people of color. Hooking up with this group was what jump started my project. There were my first interviewees. I was also able to get a few people from my ads on Graigslist and the Yahoo groups. A gentleman who answered my Cragislist ad was hosting an after party for an annual conference dealing with the issues of black gay men. He invited me to this party and set me up in one of his bedrooms where party-goers could come up and do an interview. This was just what I needed. They would come in, sign a release form and sit down for an interview. Easy as pie.

I interviewed a straight woman who was raised by a lesbian mother which added a different dimension to the film. I also interviewed a woman in D.C. because at the time, I was going to D.C. a lot to visit my cousin. The woman I interviewed in D.C. was an older lesbian who had a lot of information to add about being a lesbian in the 70′s and also spoke about the gay issue in regards to Africa. She took a group of black women to Africa twice a year. The first trip was a “Welcome Home” trip and the second was always a medical relief trip where supplies and help would be brought to villages in need. So after I was done filming, I went to Africa with one of her groups. This helped me see for myself the atmosphere in which homosexuals in Ghana lived. One couldn’t speak for the whole of Africa but it was interesting to be able to report on the one place.

What I really want to share in this article is information about what equipment I used because this seems to be what keeps people from making the films they want to make. You must understand that everyone has to crawl before they walk. Do not be ashamed of growth.

I filmed my three volume documentary on a Panasonic PV DV100. At the time, this was a $400 camcorder I bought at Devil-Mart (Wal-Mart). I wanted three things in particular out of a camera: Manual Focus, an External Mic Jack and a Firewire Port. This camera had it, I went with it. I also bought a $3 external shotgun mic on Ebay. Actually it was this Sima SZM but it was being offered for cheap on Ebay. I bought a bunch of MiniDV tapes and gathered up a couple of those “burn your face off” halogen work lights from Home Depot.

Here is the trailer from the film: Shades of Love: Black Homosexuality

The interesting thing about this is, at the time you have to understand that I did this on impulse and didn’t approach it with the same limitations that one may put on themselves if they were waiting for say the “right” camera, the “right” mic, the “perfect” whatever. Even on my limited knowledge this doc still came out pretty good. Also, at the time, I only used Adobe Premier and it wasn’t very sophisticated. I wouldn’t even touch Adobe After Effects.

If I knew then what I know now about editing, this film would have looked a lot better than it does using the same equipment. Had I learned Adobe After Effects then, I could have fixed 99% of the problems I have in this video; color correction in particular.

So my advice to you would be to use what equipment you already have and what you can afford and spend more time making sure you have well composed shots (i.e. no talking heads in the center of the frame), all the B-Roll footage you need, clear audio (this wasn’t an issue on this film), and learn how to effectively use Adobe After Effects for color correction and camera movement.

The biggest differences between my first film and my new films are:
1. More pauses between answers to interview questions which is necessary for editing
2. More B-Roll footage so the entire film doesn’t consist of “Talking Heads”
3. Color Correction, color correction, color correction
4. Better shot composition
5. Professional camera movement (created in Adobe After Effects)

Although I did end up upgrading my equipment, I still have and use my old camera. But the point is, upgrade when its time to and when you can afford to but don’t let equipment keep you from making great films. I could have just as easily bought a more expensive camera and made terrible films with it.

In addition, don’t be afraid to make your film whatever you want it to be. For instance, if it’s “too long” make it more than one volume. These do well when selling to academic institutions. It is helpful to plan to sell to academic institutions anyway. There is always some Humanities or Social Science class out there in need of good documentary media for learning. If you don’t want to add music, then don’t. Just make sure your documentary contains interesting information. I noticed on some HBO documentaries they will have an entire doc without any background music and its just as captivating. You can too!

In Summary:
If you have little or no money, you can still make a great documentary film. Buy, borrow, or rent a camera and mic you can afford. Learn how to use it well and learn it’s limitations. Decide what story to film and put out free ads on Craigslist, Yahoo Groups, MySpace, etc. Once you get responses, schedule interview times and places and shoot your film. Be sure to compose your shots well. There are many sites online that will tell you how to compose shots. It’s pretty easy. Be sure to light your interviewees well. This is critical. Lighting can ruin an entire film. I would not recommend using the Halogen lights I used but you can if it is all you have. Just use light sources that will allow you to light the subject pretty well with little or no harsh shadows (I don’t like them). When the film is shot, cut it in Adobe Premier or an editing program of your choice and rock it in Adobe After Effects. The best site to learn how to use Adobe After Effects is VideoCopilot.net. Once you are done, burn it to DVD, promote it, sell it, share it!