Gratitude

You never know how much you appreciate someone until you get a scare that they might be seriously sick. I am grateful to everyone for their positive thoughts. They worked.

Money.

Link to doc grant application from NEH:
http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/BridgingCultures_Film.html

FROM DOC MENTORS:

FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES - It's a great time of the year!

Roy W. Dean Grant LA
Film and Video grants - dedicated to supporting films that are unique
and make a contribution to society. These grants provide a vast array
of in-kind services for projects in production worth close to 100K. Deadline June 30th, 2010.

Sundance Documentary Fund
- supports both US and international documentary films that focus on
current human rights issues, freedom of expression, civil liberties and
exploring critical issues of our time. Four areas of funding are
offered - development, production, post-production and engagement and
impact. Deadline: postmarked July 7th, 2010.

Kroll Fund for Jewish Documentary Film - a
generous grant funding post-production in the amount of up to 50K for
original documentaries that explore the Jewish experience. Deadline July 27th, 2010.

NEH Funding Initiative - Bridging Cultures Through Film - supports
projects that examine international and transnational themes in the
humanities through documentary film. Projects must be analytical and
deeply grounded in humanities scholarship. Deadline July 28th, 2010.

ITVS Open Call
- ITVS's largest funding initiative, providing completion funds for
single non-fiction television programs on any subject, from any
viewpoint. For US filmmakers already in production. Deadline: August 6, 2010.

Pacific Pioneer Fund - for emerging filmmakers in CA, WA and OR, granting up to 10K. All subjects welcome. Deadline August 15, 2010.

The Fledgling Fund
- supports innovative media projects that can play a critical role in
social change. The grant's primary focus is community engagement and
outreach. The next application cycle opens August 23, 2010 and closes October 1, 2010.

Love.

First Amendment Claim: Relative Truth or "Crude" Consequences?

I'm not sure what to think about Berlinger's fight to suppress raw footage collected for his film Crude. Apparently, the Netflix online streaming version of Crude contained footage of Equadoran lawyers strategizing that the DVD version does not. Chevron's attorneys want to see all of that footage because they think it will help their case.

The journalist in me wants to defend his first amendment right to protect his "notes," which in the case of a documentarian, means raw footage. At the same time, I believe documentaries should reveal "truth." So, if the online version of the film shows the Ecuadoran lawyers making mistakes... and that's a more truthful version of the story than the DVD which does not contain the lawyer footage... what does that say about the manipulation of footage to create instead a less accurate "version" of the truth?

My sympathy, of course, is with the indigenous people of Ecuador who have clearly been screwed by Chevron. Further, the court's decision to force Berlinger to release his raw footage takes us down the slippery slope that could ultimately harm the protected sources of any journalist.

I guess I wish Berlinger had been more careful. Find the premise of your documentary, select the material that supports your premise, then stick with it. What bothers me most is one version of the truth online, and another on DVD. I'm afraid this damages the credibilty of his argument. I wonder what Michael Rabiger would say.

The downside of technology

This article about multi-tasking is worth reading all the way to the end without any interruptions from your cell phone, Facebook or email.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html

Doc Consultants

I've noticed quite a few "documentary consulting companies" popping up in links to sites I browse. Here's one of the latest: http://newdocediting.com/land/ultimate_documentary_guide/

People should just read Michael Rabiger's book. It only costs $50.

Documentaries by subject

This is a great link for those looking for other docs already done on their topic: http://documentaries.about.com/od/populardocsubjects/u/PopularSubjects.htm