The Art of Nonfiction Movie Making

"Rob and Jeffrey's documentaries have been inspirations for me since I first became aware of them as a teenager watching The Celluloid Closet at my neighborhood movie theater. Their work reflects a deep commitment to craft and to authenticity-qualities I experienced first-hand when we worked together on HOWL. This book-a guide-book, a how-to manual, and a filmmaking memoir-is a gift to anyone interested in making nonfiction films." -- James Franco, Actor and Director "The Art of Nonfiction Movie Making is an indispensable resource for documentary filmmakers-as well as directors of nonfiction dramatic narrative-whether just starting out or experienced. Full of detailed case studies, it provides insight into all corners of the production process from world-renowned filmmakers with over 30 years of experience." -- Kris Samuelson, Professor and Director of the Film and Media Studies Program, Stanford University

The past few years have featured such blockbusters as Super-Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, March of the Penguins, and An Inconvenient Truth. And as news articles proclaim a new era in the history of documentary films, more and more new directors are making their first film a nonfiction one.

The past few years have featured such blockbusters as Super-Size Me, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, March of the Penguins, and An Inconvenient Truth. And as news articles proclaim a new era in the history of documentary films, more and more new directors are making their first film a nonfiction one. But in addition to posing all of the usual challenges inherent to more standard filmmaking, documentaries also present unique problems that need to be understood from the outset. Where does the idea come from? How do you raise the money? How much money do you need? What visual style is best suited to the story? What are the legal issues involved? And how can a film reach that all-important milestone and find a willing distributor? Epstein, Friedman, and Wood tackle all of these important questions with examples and anecdotes from their own careers. The result is an informative and entertaining guide for those just starting out, and an enlightening read for anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes look at this newly reinvigorated field of f