Documentary Approach Brainstorm Session....Suggestions Appreciated!!!

wabbit said:
He was diagnosed sometime just around 3 years old, I believe it was a tad before his 3rd birthday. He didn't need any speech therapy but they do have a counselor who specializes in Aspergers who has provided them the feedback on how to keep him focused and behaving.

They also have a younger son who does not have Asperger, it is amazing to watch how they adjust their reactions to the two brothers behavior. With Asperger they need to be much more firm and really force his attention; giving very specific instructions and definitive actions and consequences. But again, to an outside observer you wouldn't even notice that he needs special care.

He does recieve special tutoring in addition to attending class with the rest of the students. I haven't been tracking his report cards but I am told he is doing extremely well. The dietary part I have not heard of, I will ask my sister about that (my sister's family has always eaten like saints straight from the food pyramid bible).

One of the things all of us have noticed is he has a strong bias towards the creative arts. Becoming a rocket scientist might not be in his future (not impossible but probably not playing on his strengths) but I can see him becoming a truly gifted artist...maybe even a indy director :)

Good luck and post a link when you get that blog started
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Thanks wabbit, great to hear things have gone well for him. My daughter does show a leaning towards the arts, loves painting watercolors so much I started buying the tubes instead, as she kept running out of yellow, and it actually works out to cheaper to buy the tubes, and you get better watercolors taboot.
 
I dont know if this has been brought up yet, but do some research on Temple Grandon. I think that's the right spelling of her name. She is a relatively famous and well-accomplished woman with Aspergers. PBS did a special on her a few years ago. She designed more humane mechanisms for slaughterhouses to process livestock and has an interesting story. who knows, maybe you could get her to appear in your doc. At any rate, hope that helps and best of luck.

J
 
Duct Tape Films said:
Despite my background professionally, it's kind of hard to think about exactly how I would execute a doc about my family without it seeming home videoish.
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I wouldn't worry too much about prodution values beyond the basics - get the shot, and most importantly get good audio. For this kind of project, the story is the thing. You mention elsewhere having come from a Pennebaker tradition. How did Pennebaker/Hegedus/Maysles/Kopple make such great films? More than anything they fell in love with the people they were filming. You have a big head start on them.

Duct Tape Films said:
Also, it would require a certain stealthiness to shoot my daughter in her element, without being "daddy". I know there's a story to be told here - I'm just having a little brain constipation as to how to best execute it. If you had a story that involved you and your immediate family, how would you best go about telling it in documentary form?
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My experience taping my family is that the camera disappears from their awareness after a relatively short period of time. If this were my film, I'd *want* to always be the daddy. If you let it, the film could be as much about you as about your daughter. You're going to change as you experience her challenges. If you come from a verite tradition, maybe you're not so comfortable with being in front of the camera and/or narration; but I'm a huge fan of personal narrative docs by guys like Ross McElwee and the kind of commentary you get in This American Life (now on Showtime!), which succeed for me because the observations tie the little things to the big things in a way that purely brings the audience along for the ride.

Duct Tape Films said:
Another question I have is the scope - should I be including more families touched by autism other than my own, or should I keep the focus narrow? Thoughts anyone?
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Shoot a bunch of stuff and find the story. Then you'll know if and what you'll need to bring in to make the story work.

O.k., so that's my 2 cents. But I have to include a quick disclaimer. I just got into filmmaking after running a business for 20 years and I haven't shot anything I'm willing to show anyone yet. So I don't know if I'm talking to your situation or trying to convince myself... I guess I'm trying to say that if I were you, there's a lot of other guys who've made great comments on this thread whom I'd listen to first...
 
JBurkey said:
I dont know if this has been brought up yet, but do some research on Temple Grandon. I think that's the right spelling of her name. She is a relatively famous and well-accomplished woman with Aspergers. PBS did a special on her a few years ago. She designed more humane mechanisms for slaughterhouses to process livestock and has an interesting story. who knows, maybe you could get her to appear in your doc. At any rate, hope that helps and best of luck.

J
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Thanks so much, J.

I've haven't read "Thinking In Pictures" yet, although I plan to. That, in and of itself, would actually make for an excellent narrative I've been made aware - and I would imagine that someone owns the film rights already - and if not, they soon will with how much more attention this has been given recently. I'm kind of thinking I want to focus on pre-school age kids on the Autism Spectrum, because, especially with girls, they are under-represented.
 
Jonathan_P said:
I wouldn't worry too much about prodution values beyond the basics - get the shot, and most importantly get good audio. For this kind of project, the story is the thing. You mention elsewhere having come from a Pennebaker tradition. How did Pennebaker/Hegedus/Maysles/Kopple make such great films? More than anything they fell in love with the people they were filming. You have a big head start on them.
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As I've thought about this further, I am thinking more of "Capturing The Friedmans" approach with HV20's, supplemented with sit down interviews with an A1/G1/H1 - I have done many of those before on EPK/BTS stuff for feature films, although it hasn't been my style to use sit down interviews with my own films thus far. As far as a direct connection to the topic, that's an especially kind thing to say. Much appreciated.

Jonathan_P said:
My experience taping my family is that the camera disappears from their awareness after a relatively short period of time. If this were my film, I'd *want* to always be the daddy. If you let it, the film could be as much about you as about your daughter. You're going to change as you experience her challenges. If you come from a verite tradition, maybe you're not so comfortable with being in front of the camera and/or narration; but I'm a huge fan of personal narrative docs by guys like Ross McElwee and the kind of commentary you get in This American Life (now on Showtime!), which succeed for me because the observations tie the little things to the big things in a way that purely brings the audience along for the ride.
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I'm still thinking maybe I can keep it narration free - hang on to that last thing I consider "my style", since this is going to push me outside my comfortable preferences. About being in front of the camera, it's very true - the exact reason I got into this business was so I wouldn't have to be in FRONT of the camera. So much for that. Guess I'll get used to it after a bit.


Jonathan_P said:
Shoot a bunch of stuff and find the story. Then you'll know if and what you'll need to bring in to make the story work.
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My experience has always been that the story finds me, but I have to know where to be looking in the first place.

Jonathan_P said:
O.k., so that's my 2 cents. But I have to include a quick disclaimer. I just got into filmmaking after running a business for 20 years and I haven't shot anything I'm willing to show anyone yet. So I don't know if I'm talking to your situation or trying to convince myself... I guess I'm trying to say that if I were you, there's a lot of other guys who've made great comments on this thread whom I'd listen to first...
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I asked for a brainstorming session, have received more great responses than I could have possibly imagined, and credentials don't make or break that in the least. It's great to have it from all perspectives, from rookies to sages - sometimes even a sage can get so stuck in their ways that they NEED a rookie to straigten them out, and give them a new way of looking at something. Welcome to filmmaking. Even if this is new to you, I'd say having experience running a business, even non-related, for 20 years is nearly as important, if not more so, than technical skill going in. You can aquire technical skill - if need be. Many of us can't even make heads or tails of a budget - let alone stick to it. Seriously consider producing - running a business successfully (and I'm just imagining if it was twenty years, you had to have done something right) - wow, that's a lot harder to come by than someone who knows the ins and outs of every camera. You've got a head start on a lot of us. Films are simply a new product being rolled out, from a business perspective that is. Your experience base is rare.
 
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I vote for filming your own family. I think it will be more compelling this way, your personal involvement will add to the film. Maybe it will take you a few practice runs to figure out your method, but the fact that your relationship with your daughter will come through (in the viewing) can only be a plus. The more honestly emotional a film, the better, in my humble opinion...
 
sharky said:
I vote for filming your own family. I think it will be more compelling this way, your personal involvement will add to the film. Maybe it will take you a few practice runs to figure out your method, but the fact that your relationship with your daughter will come through (in the viewing) can only be a plus. The more honestly emotional a film, the better, in my humble opinion...
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Thanks sharky. I'm thinking now that will be the best approach as well, shooting intimate moments with the HV20, and supplementing with XH-A1 interviews for things where no documentary evidence exists, as well as things that happen in the present tense. Getting at the honesty when it's me in front of and behind the camera, that is going to be the challenge - and one I'm looking forward to.
 
For those interested in following the progress of this film, I have finally started a blog, "One In A Million Movie". Here's the link until I get a more direct domain name.

http://oneinamillionmovie.blogspot.com/

My first post is the rough draft treatment, sans shotlist, which I plan on adding. I also have a 4 page project description I plan on putting up tomorrow. As the treatment is in rough draft stage, comments will be appreciated. Keep in mind that techniques, what I'll be shooting with, etc., is not part of the treatment, instead is part of the project description. This is just to give a feel to the backstory, introduce some of the documentary subjects, including myself, and present a view of my goal with the film. Towards that end, any improvements will be much appreciated.
 
Just here to echo AshG. And to send my support. "TV Junkie" was very moving and I feel that your project would also benefit from a personal take on your situation. AshG mentioned the "persoanl video diary" and I agree.

I think you'll find the hardest part will be picking up the camera when it seems like the last thing you want to do given what's going on.

"TV Junkie" really shows the guy's demise and how brave (crazy?) he was to shoot some of the very peronal and tragic material that he did. Granted, he's obsessed with being on-camera but he never shied from taping the tough stuff.
 
Hello Duct tape Films,
First let me say that I am sorry for your news about your daughter. This can be a challenging documentary for you being that you will have to be in the documentary. I would watch the documentary STEVIE if you haven't already. The filmmaker produced a documentary that included himself. I know that Stevie is not his son, but he was a big brother to stevie for years and I thought that the filmmaker did a good job.
 
fevercity said:
Just here to echo AshG. And to send my support. "TV Junkie" was very moving and I feel that your project would also benefit from a personal take on your situation. AshG mentioned the "persoanl video diary" and I agree.

I think you'll find the hardest part will be picking up the camera when it seems like the last thing you want to do given what's going on.

"TV Junkie" really shows the guy's demise and how brave (crazy?) he was to shoot some of the very peronal and tragic material that he did. Granted, he's obsessed with being on-camera but he never shied from taping the tough stuff.
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I've partnered with another co-director/co-producer (in the true meaning of the words, not the Hollywood heirarchy lingo) to help out. Also plan on actually hiring a seperate DP, and Editor. I have shot some test footage, and have decided the best thing to do IS shoot it like the crappy home movies we all hate, including me saying stuff off camera, just like any dad would. It seems appropriate in the context.
 
JAPWOLF said:
Hello Duct tape Films,
First let me say that I am sorry for your news about your daughter. This can be a challenging documentary for you being that you will have to be in the documentary. I would watch the documentary STEVIE if you haven't already. The filmmaker produced a documentary that included himself. I know that Stevie is not his son, but he was a big brother to stevie for years and I thought that the filmmaker did a good job.
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Thanks,

I will take a gander over at STEVIE. Perhaps it will give me a little more insight into how you shoot your family, trust me folks, it's actually harder than it sounds when you're used to the types of shoots I'm used to.

Todd
 
Stone122 said:
there's a documentary out there called "Jackson Sandwich" which was done by a man whos son is autistic, he narrates, shoots, edits and comments in the film, you should check it out for ideas. heres a link:http://www.wfu.edu/wfunews/2005/090605j.html
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Thanks, glad to know others have gone where I'm going - and that I will be able to add another volume to our knowledge of the Autism SPECTRUM, meaning that just as no two people are alike, no two autistics are alike. I will check out the link later on today. Damn, EVERYONE here is so damn cool, and I cannot thank you enough for the resources you're providing me. Almost makes me want to include everyone here who has contributed with a Associate Producer credit - have to talk it over with my partner, but really, thanks so much to everyone from the bottom of my heart.
 
We're kind of running into some of the same problems. We're doing a doc about ourselves living in an RV and exploring the hobo communities of past and present. As it's turned out a lot of it is me filming Jeff or vice versa, which often sucks. We've got our DVX, but we also are using a single chip, and all kinds of cameras.
Basically, as acting DP for the project, i had to decide whether the whole thing was going to be this choppy, yet personal doc, or a better looking/less personal doc. We're going to interview each other. I think it's good to allow the viewer to pull out and rest for a second. Good looking b-roll, interview, or whatever.
I love the idea of you playing as father and cameraman. Break some rules. There's a great story in there, just bring it out and don't worry about the logistics for too long. That was our problem. Or, i've been listening to too much Woody Guthrie.
Sorry for rambling. Good luck.
 
Vern said:
We're kind of running into some of the same problems. We're doing a doc about ourselves living in an RV and exploring the hobo communities of past and present. As it's turned out a lot of it is me filming Jeff or vice versa, which often sucks. We've got our DVX, but we also are using a single chip, and all kinds of cameras.
Basically, as acting DP for the project, i had to decide whether the whole thing was going to be this choppy, yet personal doc, or a better looking/less personal doc. We're going to interview each other. I think it's good to allow the viewer to pull out and rest for a second. Good looking b-roll, interview, or whatever.
I love the idea of you playing as father and cameraman. Break some rules. There's a great story in there, just bring it out and don't worry about the logistics for too long. That was our problem. Or, i've been listening to too much Woody Guthrie.
Sorry for rambling. Good luck.
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Thanks, Vern. Hopefully the four way divide between Super-8 or home video style (using HV20's) b-roll, mounted cameras in the house (DVX-100's blown up), sit-down interviews (XH-A1 / three point lighting), and glidecam "verite'" (XH-A1 with good stabilization for stuff that could be otherwise verite', should provide for some diversity and lift what could be entirely a home movie to the more professional level I'm used to working at. Knowing that all these elements are in play for us should make it easier for the audience to accept that it is a piece of professional work and not just someone's home movies.
 
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