Math question?

B

Brian Schiller

Member
Hi, I've been filming a feature length documentary (for which I have grants to make) for about 5 months (with my dvx). I have close to 100 mini dv tapes that I've shot. If I shoot one more month, I think I can finish with somewhwere between 130-150 tapes. My question is, this being my first documentary, how many tapes do you think I'll need to end up with, to confidently be able to move back home, and go into editing?

I do have high hopes for this documentary as far as pursueing the upper echelon film festival circuit.

I know this figure must vary. I'm willing to be bet that some documentaries shoot thousands of hours and some might shoot as little as 100 or even less. I think it probably hs to do with the kind of story you're trying to tell and all the elements that are involved. So there's probably no easy answer for this question. Or is there? I'd like to get some feedback if possible. Thanks.

Brian
 
If you want a good documentary you absolutely need 800 tapes at the least.
I think it really depends on the content. If youve covered all aspects of the story its up to you.
 
moviemaker999 said:
If you want a good documentary you absolutely need 800 tapes at the least.
I think it really depends on the content. If youve covered all aspects of the story its up to you.
Click to expand...

I realize this thread is over a week old but I hope this is a joke. You can't be serious. There's no set shooting ratio for anything (doc, spot, feature, music vid, whatever). The mere notion that you "absolutely" need over 800 tapes for 'a good documentary' is ludicrous.

Forget tape numbers - you need to be thinking story points, writing and cutdown interviews (if you have them). Have you ever seen a footage count in a credit roll?
 
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I think it really depends on the content. If youve covered all aspects of the story its up to you.[/QUOTE]

thats why I said this, yes it was a joke.
 
It all depends on the topic as said. As one example. a friend of mine edited Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedian" from 500 hours of source material into an 82 minute documentary. Listen to the commentary on the film. But there is no set rule for anything -

Michael
 
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