The purpose of “Documentary Directing and Storytelling,” is to offer a learning experience and an exploration into directing documentary story projects. Secondly, to offer fundamental and advanced ideas about actuality documentary filmmaking and nonfiction storytelling of all types using film, video, multimedia and other mediums. Finally, this book is a great read for anyone with a strong interest in documentary or nonfiction storytelling. There are many critical reviews of documentary films and the stories they tell from a directing and filmmaking perspective.
The best directors understand the traditions and aesthetics of the medium in which they are working. They also have an understanding of the crafts involved and may have worked at some of those jobs themselves. The focus of “Documentary Directing and Storytelling,” is on directing, but also includes information that experienced directors should know about the process of constructing a documentary story.
“I think it’s inevitable that people will come to find the documentary a more compelling and more important kind of film than fiction. Just as in literature, as the taste has moved from fiction to nonfiction, I think it’s going to happen in film as well. In a way you’re on a serendipitous journey, a journey, which is much more akin to the life experience. When you see somebody on the screen in a documentary, you’re really engaged with a person going through real life experiences. So for that period of time, as you watch the film, you are, in effect, in the shoes of another individual. What a privilege to have that experience.”
—Albert Maysles
About The Author
James R (Jim) Martin is an Emmy award-winning Director, Writer, and Producer of Film, Television, Video,Multimedia and Digital Media. Professor Martin has taught Film and Video Production at Columbia College Chicago, Directed the Documentary Course at Full Sail University and taught Directing at University of Central Florida. He is the Author of Create Documentary Films, Video and Multimedia, also Actuality Interviewing and Listening and recently Listen Learn Share. He has worked as an independent producer/writer and director of national network documentaries as well as other documentary and fiction productions.
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