Documentary Case Studies: Behind the Scenes of the Greatest (True) Stories Ever Told

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Description

Documentary students and fans revel in stories about filmmakers conquering extraordinary challenges trying to bring their work to the screen. This book brings vividly to life the sometimes humorous, sometimes excruciatingand always inspiringstories behind the making of some of the greatest documentaries of our time. All of the filmmakers and films profiled are Oscar-nominated or Oscar-winning. Documentary Case Studies walks readers through the fixes and missteps that today's documentary leaders worked through at all stages to create their masterworksfrom development, fundraising and pre-production, through production and then post. There are plenty of how to documentary filmmaking books in circulation, but this book will instead deploy a personal, intimate, and candid approach to unlocking the secrets of the craft and the business by meeting filmmakers who tackle production challenges in the most resourceful and unconventional ways.

Reviews

Documentary Case Studies is a great read for anyone who wants to seriously work in the world of non-fiction. Ive had the pleasure of working with Author Jeff Swimmer, and his skill sets and knowledge of every facet of the business were earned in the field as a working journalist. 'The real deal speaks the real truth!' " * Thom Beers, Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer of Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers and Storage Wars *
Jeff Swimmer asked the makers of top documentaries how they persuaded people to talk on camera, where they found financing, how they decided to frame their stories. These are crucial questions and the primary sources answer them compellingly. This book is a fascinating resource for aspiring documentarians, established filmmakers, and anyone with an interest in what it takes to make a great film during this golden age of documentaries. * David Brancaccio, Host of American Public Medias Marketplace Morning Report and Co-Executive Producer of Fixing the Future: The Documentary *

Author Bio

Jeff Swimmer is Associate Professor at Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in southern California, where he teaches Documentary Production and leads numerous international filmmaking programs. He is an award-winning Director and Producer of documentary films on both sides of the Atlantic. His programs have aired on BBC, PBS, NBC News, A&E, CNN, Discover, The History Channel, ARTE and others. His 2001 Northern Ireland: Dying For Peace (Supervising Producer, CNN) won a DuPont Award in Documentary.