Frederick Wiseman: 11 Doc Lessons
Realscreen is a useful source for information on what is going on in – that’s what they call it – non-fiction. Normally it is short news, sometimes however longer articles of fine quality like the one from May 1st by Kevin Ritchie that I would recommend you to read because it conveyes an old master’s wise words – Frederick Wiseman being interviewed at Hot Docs by CBC journalist Piya Chattopadhyay, to the left on the photo with his producer and distributor Karen Konicek to the right. Lessons on how to stay independent, quite an inspiration.
Here are the headlines of what the reporter calls ”11 Doc Lessons”, read them all, link below:
1. A good idea can come anytime, anyplace.
2. In Jackson Heights is about the “new face of America.” (In Jackson Heights is a new film project that Wiseman pitched at the Hot Docs).
3. Wiseman gets permission by asking for it.
4. Raising money is the most “demeaning” part of making a movie. 5. His shoots generally last four to six weeks.
6. Half of documentary filmmaking has nothing to do with filmmaking.
7. The filmmaker’s point of view exists between literal and abstract levels.
8. He never does research.
9. He never cuts a film to meet the needs of a broadcaster.
10. Self-distributing his films on DVDs has been successful.
11. The key to longevity in film is a good producer.
Words to all of us, who run around teaching what to do and what not to do, and how to pitch and how not to pitch from the man who has given us ”the other side of America”.
http://realscreen.com/2015/05/01/hot-docs-15-11-doc-lessons-from-frederick-wiseman/
