Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos Third Edition - Softcover

Rosenthal, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809324482 ISBN 13: 9780809324484

Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press, 2002

Synopsis

As Alan Rosenthal states in the preface to this new edition of his acclaimed resource for filmmakers, Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos is a book about storytelling how to tell great and moving stories about fascinating people, whether they be villains or heroes.”

 

In response to the technological advances of the last six years and the demands of cable TV stations like Discovery and A&E, Alan Rosenthal reconsiders how one approaches documentary filmmaking in the twenty-first century. Foregoing theory and hardware, Rosenthal tackles the day-to-day problems from initial concept through distribution, emphasizing the research and writing approach. 

 

He offers examples of interviewing, narration writing, and the complexities of editing. Simply and clearly, Rosenthal explains how to write, direct, and produce the documentary, whether film or video. New aspects of this third edition include nonlinear editing techniques, a complex budget example and its analysis, plus a chapter on Staying Alive,” which details how European and U.S. stations approach documentary and how the Internet can help filmmakers find new markets. A new chapter has been added to address the growing genre of family films.

About this title

About the Author

Alan Rosenthal was born in England, studied law at Oxford, and has made over sixty films for television. His books include New Challenges for Documentary, Why Docudrama? Fact-Fiction on Film and TV, and Jerusalem: Take One! Memoirs of a Jewish Filmmaker. He received a Peabody Award for Journalism and the International Documentary Association’s award for scholarship. Currently he divides his time among projects in Jerusalem, London, and New York. His most recent film is Adolf Eichmann: The Secret Memoirs.

Review

I can hardly praise this book enough. Should every documentary student read it? Certainly. Should every documentary filmmaker, no matter how experienced they are, read it? Certainly.” Film Quarterly

Just as Rosenthal’s books and films are about ideas, so his book is about above the neck’ (as distinct from hands-on’ skills). . . . The book is a major contribution to the literature of film teaching.” International Documentary

Any writer entertaining thoughts of turning computer work to camera work would do well to read this classic guide.” Clockwatch Review: A Journal of the Arts  

Edition details

• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0809324482
• ISBN 13: 9780809324484
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 416