Writing, Directing, and Producing Documentary Films and Videos

by Alan Rosenthal

Book Overview

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 technological advances and the growth of the documentary hybrid in the past five years, Rosenthal reconsiders how one approaches...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0809327422
• ISBN13: 9780809327423
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A good guide for those first starting....

In starting something new, the potential making missteps that can derail the whole process is always present. This book helps you avoid those and has advice on how you can develop a quality product that people will want to see. Very worthwhile.

excellent resource

Even while reading this book I was able to pitch an idea for an event and documentary project, my first, and gain acceptance for the project. The concepts are helpful as well as practical.I read a lot of books once I am interested in a subject and I would place this one at the top for documentaries.

FIVE STARS, excellent, excellent, excellent.

This book is a masterful resource for any filmmaker regardless of their expertise.No one has come close in their summation of the documentary process. It is 2001, the book was released in 1996, it is timeless. The best book on the market, a better book could only be devised by the author.Four years of preperation in one book. Every student, professional filmmaker, enthusiast should have it. I have even allowed persons/subjects whom I was documenting to read this book. It made the process that much easier. They were extremely thankful. PURCHASE THE BOOK.

Great source of info...

I find myself opening this book up over and over again . I have learned alot from the writer of this book . I would tell anyone who is going to make a documentary , they should have this book on there desk.

excellent source for beginner documentary makers

Before you pay a lot of money for a documentary filmmaking class, I strongly recommend this book. It seems to cover all the bases of the process (don't expect much info on equipment though) and includes insightful anecdotes from real situations. Rosenthal guides you through the entire evolution of a documentary from the conception of the idea, writing proposals, dealing with sponsors, locations and crews to distribution to the ethical responsibilities of a director. One distinguishing factor of this particular book in comparison to other books on filmmaking is its spectrum-from independents to corporate to public service films.