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Movies by Matt
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum. I’m curious what books you have written and if you could offer one piece of advice, what would it be?
Are your books based off of experience in filmmaking? If so, what films have you made? Do they talk about distribution and marketing or focus on pre-production and production?
What’s your favorite documentary movie? Favorite doc filmmaker?
Hello Matt.
Thank you for your question. Here are my answers:
I have written a trio of books, which will be released between late November 2024 and February 2025:
Social Impact and Activism Films: Strategies for Success
A comprehensive 650-page guide that offers step-by-step guidance on creating films that drive social change. It covers all aspects of filmmaking, from crafting compelling narratives to production, post-production, maximizing distribution, and sustaining audience engagement.
The Technology Revolution in Nonfiction Filmmaking and How to Harness It
This 650-page volume explores the evolving role of technology in nonfiction filmmaking. It addresses cutting-edge tools such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, immersive storytelling, and other emerging techniques, providing strategies and tools for integrating these innovations into the filmmaking process.
26 Game-Changing Trends in Nonfiction Filmmaking, and How to Unlock the Opportunities
A 400-page book that highlights the most influential trends shaping the nonfiction film industry. From the rise of docuseries to the increasing importance of social media in distribution, this book presents actionable strategies for filmmakers to capitalize on these trends and unlock new opportunities. Each trend is backed by examples, industry data, and expert insights, offering a roadmap for success in a rapidly changing landscape.
These books are based on my personal experience. After retiring from a 40-year career as a communications strategist for global Fortune 500 companies, I wanted to share what I’ve learned with filmmakers who are driven to use nonfiction films to create social change. My background spans corporate documentaries, advocacy films, and brand films. At one point, I served as the global brand strategy lead consultant for several Coca-Cola brands, reporting to Coca-Cola’s Chairman.
This book-writing project is not profit-driven—I’m retired, this kind of books make little to no money, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Ghetto Film School and Reel Works, organizations dedicated to helping underprivileged youth develop filmmaking skills.
As for my favorite filmmakers and films, here are just a few: Ava DuVernay (13th), Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line), Joshua Oppenheimer (The Look of Silence), Barbara Kopple (American Dream), and Yance Ford (Strong Island).
You asked if I have one piece of advice for nonfiction filmmakers. It is hard to narrow it down to just one. The pace of change in the industry is accelerating, and to future-proof their career, filmmakers must educate themselves and stay ahead of both trends and technology. Additionally, the ability to create films that engage audiences and generate lasting social impact will become increasingly valuable. Developing this capability involves many facets—hence why the first book alone spans 700 pages… ☺
Thank you for your question. Here are my answers:
I have written a trio of books, which will be released between late November 2024 and February 2025:
Social Impact and Activism Films: Strategies for Success
A comprehensive 650-page guide that offers step-by-step guidance on creating films that drive social change. It covers all aspects of filmmaking, from crafting compelling narratives to production, post-production, maximizing distribution, and sustaining audience engagement.
The Technology Revolution in Nonfiction Filmmaking and How to Harness It
This 650-page volume explores the evolving role of technology in nonfiction filmmaking. It addresses cutting-edge tools such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, immersive storytelling, and other emerging techniques, providing strategies and tools for integrating these innovations into the filmmaking process.
26 Game-Changing Trends in Nonfiction Filmmaking, and How to Unlock the Opportunities
A 400-page book that highlights the most influential trends shaping the nonfiction film industry. From the rise of docuseries to the increasing importance of social media in distribution, this book presents actionable strategies for filmmakers to capitalize on these trends and unlock new opportunities. Each trend is backed by examples, industry data, and expert insights, offering a roadmap for success in a rapidly changing landscape.
These books are based on my personal experience. After retiring from a 40-year career as a communications strategist for global Fortune 500 companies, I wanted to share what I’ve learned with filmmakers who are driven to use nonfiction films to create social change. My background spans corporate documentaries, advocacy films, and brand films. At one point, I served as the global brand strategy lead consultant for several Coca-Cola brands, reporting to Coca-Cola’s Chairman.
This book-writing project is not profit-driven—I’m retired, this kind of books make little to no money, and 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Ghetto Film School and Reel Works, organizations dedicated to helping underprivileged youth develop filmmaking skills.
As for my favorite filmmakers and films, here are just a few: Ava DuVernay (13th), Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line), Joshua Oppenheimer (The Look of Silence), Barbara Kopple (American Dream), and Yance Ford (Strong Island).
You asked if I have one piece of advice for nonfiction filmmakers. It is hard to narrow it down to just one. The pace of change in the industry is accelerating, and to future-proof their career, filmmakers must educate themselves and stay ahead of both trends and technology. Additionally, the ability to create films that engage audiences and generate lasting social impact will become increasingly valuable. Developing this capability involves many facets—hence why the first book alone spans 700 pages… ☺
Movies by Matt
Well-known member
Very hard to condense it into a few tips. Ive got about 50 pages on distribution and 75 pages on sustaining audience engagement... Sorry, but reducing this to a few tips would be misleading at best...This is why I write books and not blog articles, because ive been around long enough to know what cannot be reduced to a few tips even though bloggers want you to believe that...
NorBro
Major Contributor
the tip is buy the book when it's out, lol
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Welcome
Movies by Matt
Well-known member
I gathered that.
Hmmmm…definitely not relying on tips, I’m guessing you haven’t read my thread on the movie I’m currently making, it’s here:
DOC: - 'Showdown for Sheriff' a one man band documentary diary
CUE MUSIC: Cuckoo by Benjamin Britton from the Moonrise Kingdom soundtrack FADE IN (Aarrgghhh, I hate fades, do we have to start that way!?!?!): Me Matthew Marzano, typing a post to DVXUser rather than working on my music licensing contract Hello fellow DVXUsers, I'm making a feature length...
www.dvxuser.com
Like anyone who works on any craft, you evolve how you work based on your experience. I definitely work in a unique way but I have truck loads of tips to offer based off of my evolving production style. For example I literally just figured this out the other day:
I kinda hate having to do contracts. It makes me feel funky, especially if I’m asking a stranger to sign a release form (mainly because it signals a distrust of their word being good enough, when ironically I’m there to hear their words) but I found if I have a few signed release forms on my clipboard already and I move past them to grab an empty form, it makes it not as daunting for the person about to sign as they see many others have as well. A tip based off of experience 20+ years in the making (why that took me 20+ years to figure out is the real conundrum…but I digress). I hope someone’s craft can be improved by that tip.
If I were to make a social activist film I’d probably focus on large corporations that push sugar or corn syrup products on society and the link between those products and the neurological pathways to addictive behavior they create. Of course it would need to delve into the obesity epidemic that’s wreaking havoc in the USA today. And that it seems that society’s solution isn’t to eat healthier or exercise, but to take a pill, or get a shot. Sad and often tragic. It’s always shocking to compare photos of people from 100 years ago to today. What happened?!? It’s not that long ago.
I’d also focus on the people behind the scenes who have profited off of these products and how they live with themselves when they’ve spent the majority of their working life negatively impacting the world around them. Is it really much different than the Sackler family of Purdue pharma infamy? Who knows, maybe we can team up on it someday (now that you’re a fellow DVXUser)? As we all know, access is everything.
Good luck with the books, m-
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NorBro
Major Contributor
not my book
Never said it was.
CharlesPapert
Director of Photography
Coffee is for closers!