i want to make a film

I've been accused of being random so I'll put this in point form. 1.There are tons of resources available online on 'amateur film-making'. 2.Avid is the premiere editing software out there, and they have a free downloadable version for Mac or XP. They also have tutorials available at their website. 3.Short historical docs are good practise ones using audio and non copyrighted photographs from the national archives. You can also think of doing audio docs to save money, there's also lots of info on that online. 4.If you are looking to be in The Corporation's league or Michael Moore's you will be disappointed. Moore had millions from previous films and distributors, while The Corporation had money from just about every distributor/government body that there is, mainly because he has a lot of clout from his earlier doc "Manufacturing Consent" and it was taken from a book that had recognized 'street value'. Aim more at "Supersize Me" level. 5. In a nutshell all it takes is money. You can 'sell' it to investors, and a good website can help with that, or you can 'sell' it to government bodies of various levels. . 6. Many are simply releasing them online where there is a potential for more exposure and money-but only to certain demographics. From emule I've downloaded several documentaries that I found to be better than either of those you mention, but neither had significant air play. One is "The revolution will not be televised" and the other "Orwell is spinning in his grave". There is actually another one that was interesting, but I can't remember the name of it, I believe it was done by Steven Spielberg's company and was about filmmaking, but you could download it from the site for about ten bucks. 7. You can also consider doing a Flash site if you want to 'compose it as you go' and make it an ongoing project. Canadian economics is a pretty broad topic though, so you may want to narrow it down or at least be more specific if you are here looking for help or ideas. 8. Search the NFB or other places because one often finds a documentary already in existent. NFB and CBC do a horrible job advertising their products, and doing a website directing people to an already completed documentary could save a lot of time. It depends WHY you want to do it, whether because you want to get into the industry and need an idea, or want to push a specific agenda. To push a specific agenda you can contact organizations who share your point of view, most won't have money, but may provide any number of resources, research, photos, etc. 9. My first advice would be to check out one of the many books on the subject from your local library, or a magazine or website. Camera crews are VERY expensive, and if you want government money you'll have to become an accountant because they provide money in good part to provide work for people in the industry. You can have the best idea in the world, but if you're doing it yourself then they probably won't even take you seriously.

i don't think any of moore's more recent documentaries would be realistic & i was thinking of something with people talking to the camera & explaining stuff anyway.(corporation-style) i wish i had a couple other people to work with on it because i don't think i could do everything myself. i just thought it would be a really good way to get a message out to people since 'ordinary' people seem to be watching lots of documentaries & interested in what's going on in the world these days. i was thinking of something about the canadian capitalists & how they sell us out & what that means for the economy, canadian sovereignty, etc. (basically vivelecanada.ca stuff) maybe i could ask the people on the film what they'd think of foreign ownership regulations, a national power grid, national energy program, etc etc.

I think it is a great idea! I have been feeling the same way, we need something big, as for the doc style, John Riddell, did quite a few, so you might be able to connect with him. He has a link on this site, on one of his stories I believe. I don't have any skills in film, but I also believe that besides the doc type, we need something more, something which shows what has happened in Canada, and what is being planned for Canada. I think that the populous needs to be entertained while getting a message, mystery, heroism, etc just like any good story, and if it was told that way, people might undertand it. I think it is great to post your idea here, and you never know who might also be thinking like you, but has some skills in that area. Rev Blair is a photographer, I believe, maybe he knows something about film, or maybe he knows someone who does? Just some suggestions.

All documentaries are heavily editorialized, you need to decide *specifically* what you want to say. I'm currently working on several small docs for my upcoming website and campaign in direct democracy, so anything I pick up I can pass along to you. I'm using photographs and effects and stock footage because the docs are literally 'showpieces' available for free so I'm not sinking money into it (my wife would kill me). Your idea still seems too vague though. Which canadian companies? What do you mean by selling out? I think the Corporation quite accurately portrayed the essential problems inherent in the corporate entity, are you thinking of close ups of various canadian companies? Is it a 'profile' of certain canadians and them making comments on anything they want? I can think of two dozen specific documentaries on the topics you mention, but I may be thinking of a different idea of 'selling out'. As you pointed out in your first post, canadian companies have been 'selling out' for a long time. Personally, I see this as a global movement, but then I'm not making the doc<img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'> To cut to the chase: 1. Do you want a partnership? This may often mean losing some creative control, especially if you bring less expertise to the project. Many partners can be found at indie websites, and often local cameramen, like those who shoot weddings, will offer deals or even free work if the work is interesting and important to them (and a cut of the profits). You can take it to the CBC and if they like it they will assign a producer to work with you. You can go to Mandy.com to find pros in your area. 2. People are pretty supportive here so you can post as much stuff in a topic thread as you like to have people help 'flush it out' (sort of a communal documentary). As you noticed there is an interesting story on the 'money creation issue' on the topics page, but there is actually a documentary done on that which you could help bring people to. 3. If you can't shoot a camera you have two choices: learn or hire. If your funds are limited you can either dig up investors or put the money in yourself. Obviously if you have money you have different concerns, getting money is a big project in itself and tons of people will have advice variant on "find somebody with money". 4. Most small cities have a film co-op where you may get access to people for cheap (but usually unprofessional), and if you want to learn, most community cable channels (like Rogers) are leaning towards volunteers. This is how my sister got started, she did a little volunteer work, then they got her to host a couple of shows, then produce some small vignettes and she's trying to progress to the point of getting her own camera and editing suite (she also just finished school so has no money). If its just certain information you want out, a website may be better, it takes far less funds and a lot less work. Or you could just print brochures for Vive and hand them around your neighbourhood. There's a reason why everybody is not doing documentaries, because they're a LOT of work, like most projects it never seems that way at first, but boy is it. The technology has made it a pretty reasonable venture though. The motto in the industry is "If you dig up money, they will come to you" PS: I am very much a crusader for direct democracy and that's why I come here, the place is a veritable feast of information on 'why the system doesn't work' and I've met a lot of contacts for direct democracy, so many of these issues DO show up in documentaries, and WILL in the future (certainly mine, but probably not in the way most here expect)-there are many people thinking along similar lines in this country, some own cameras and production companies. Check out your local university audio-visual department and you'll find TONS of docs on the topics you mention. You may be better off pointing people to the direction of the production companies website-you'd have to do that for your own anyway. If you have a newer PC you could help 'the cause' by investing three hundred dollars and digitizing docs from the library and sharing them on peer to peer services. While 'technically' illegal, so is taping television shows onto a VCR tape and nobody seems concerned about that, my feeling is that the intent of producing a doc is to educate 'the people'. The CBC and NFB are failing in their taxpayer funded duties by charging thirty, forty, sometimes fifty dollars for docs that most people wouldn't watch for free. I think this is important information that NEEDS to be out there for a functioning democracy to work (that's my argument and I'm sticking to it<img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'>

OK...ok....ok: Well maybe I can lend a hand here, or two, or three! Broadcasting diploma and all. Email me, let's [email protected]. I have some ideas, equipment, and know-how. -RobF PS - Thanks 4Canada for the heads up on this post!

Terrific! Can't wait! Go Canada!

Anyone talk to our resident filmmaker, Flick Harrison? He may have some input and thoughts you can use . . .

I thought about this film idea a while ago too, but I'm quite busy right now..... www.ericblumrich.com has mastered the quick, economical flash stuff. For a documentary, yeah talk to John Riddell, Flick Harrison, etc..... This being said, I think any documentary should also stress political involvement as well, as nothing will happen if we don't pester our government and get involved in the political process at the party level. I'm firmly convinved that Michael Moore won't be able to save the United States. The "Corporation" may help Canada much more..... We can try to embarrass our ruling class, but if they don't believe in countries, then will they care? Canada culturally is not what it used to be in many of the old guard's opinion, so they may think we're not worth the effort.

[QUOTE BY= robert_fisher] OK...ok....ok: Well maybe I can lend a hand here, or two, or three! Broadcasting diploma and all. Email me, let's [email protected]. I have some ideas, equipment, and know-how. -RobF PS - Thanks 4Canada for the heads up on this post![/QUOTE] You're back.

Yeah, I think for a documentary you have to have a specific point you're making, in an interesting or clever way (Super Size Me was about how McDonald's food is unhealthy, but what made you watch was his idea to use himself as a human guinea pig). Think of it as an argument--when it's done it should start with your thesis, and compelling build evidence towards your point. Very similar to writing a paper in university or an article for a paper--find a narrow "angle" on a broad topic, and present "evidence" from primary and secondary sources. (You can figure out the final point of it all when you're done gathering the evidence.) Incidentally, I've casually thought many times "What if someone made a documentary about the process of deep integration in Canada? esp since Sept 11? That would be great". So my (VERY biased) vote is for a documentary showing what deep economic integration is, who's advancing it (CD Howe, Fraser, etc), the progress of it so far (Waco summit, etc), and what it actually means (loss of political and democratic independence). I don't know if anyone is ever going to get talking about it in the mainstream without a documentary or something big on TV; and no one else has done it yet, so that's a bonus. But either way, yeah, you need some more specific ideas, especially on how to present it visually. Speaking of which, I came across the Common Frontiers flash animation re the Waco Summit the other day (it's kind of gross at the end, fair warning): <a href="http://www.commonfrontiers.ca/Single_Page_Docs/SinglePage_1col_docs/Dung_Rocket.html">Paul Martin's Big Texas Adventure</a>

ok here's what i'm thinking. the film would basically be a 'tribute' to the people who have written about the so-called "new canadian political economy", who (like chomsky in the US) have been pretty much ignored by the media for the last ~50 years. i want it to cover the following: -- foreign ownership & where it came from (some economic history) -- making all-canadian industries (cars, ships, aircraft... everything) -- a national power grid, as opposed to the current situation where individual provinces export directly to the US -- an analysis of canada's business community by sociologists -- 'canadianizing' oil & gas, & the national energy program which would have made us self-sufficient in oil & totally debt-free by 1990 & i'd like to talk to the following people, some of whom are probably familiar to people on this site: -- Robert Brym (U of T sociology, author of "The Structure of the Canadian Capitalist Class") -- William Carroll (UVic sociology, author of "Corporate Power & Canadian Capitalism", winner of the John Porter book prize from Canadian Sociology & Anthropology Association) -- Wallace Clement (Carleton U poli sci, author of "Continental Corporate Power" student of John Porter himself) -- Daniel Drache (U of T politics & policy) -- Karl Froschauer (SFU sociology, author of "White Gold" containing the best info on a national power grid, worked for BC Hydro for 25yrs) -- Gordon Laxer (U of A sociology, author of "Open for Business" & winner of the John Porter prize) -- James Laxer (York poli sci, author & part of the NDP waffle faction) -- Tom Naylor (McGill econ, author of "The History of Canadian Business 1867-1914") -- Jorge Niosi (UQaM management & technology, author of "Canadian Capitalism", Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada & winner of the John Porter prize) -- David Orchard (I don't know whether he'd indentify with the rest of these people but I would say that the things that he likes sure put him in this category) -- Glen Williams (Carleton poli sci, author of "Not for Export", has collaborated with Wallace Clement on lots of stuff) -- Stephen Clarkson (U of T poli sci, Rhodes Scholar, ex-husband of Adrienne Clarkson, winner of the John Porter prize, author of "Canada & the Reagan Challenge" containing the best info on the NEP & FIRA, & "Uncle Sam & Us") -- Duncan Cameron (U of Ottawa political studies) -- Mel Watkins (U of Toronto economics & economic history)

NSAy, sounds like a fantastic project, and you have a lot of great people listed, but I think you should also talk to William Krehm, economist, author of 'A Power Unto Itself, The Bank of Canada' subtitled, 'The Threat To Our Nation's Economy' COMER, Committee on Monetary and Economic Reform. There is a website(www.comer.org) you can contact him, I don't know if you would be interested, but he certainly is a wise fellow and could probably shed some light on the business end of things.

i'm somewhat familiar with that comer site but it's been a long time since i visited there. i have heard of krehm & read whatever gets posted on vivelecanada.ca by him but haven't read any of his books. it couldn't hurt to read up on that stuff, since apparently what he suggests is stuff that the bank of canada used to do & the governments of new zealand & great britain still do (although not as hardcore as they used to)

NSAY, Mr.Krehm has a new book out, and I'll get the title for you, as soon as I can. I have written to him and suggested that you might be interested in talking to him. I think he would appreciate hearing from you direct. I believe you can contact him through the COMER website email address.