dalethompson
Well-known member
I'm currently in the middle of filming my first documentary. It's a very original idea (it's in the medical field) and I've gotten really great feedback from the medical community as well as great feedback from the two documentary organizations I joined here in Toronto. I know it's a very good idea/concept and the footage I've gotten so far is pretty compelling too.
I went to a clinic the other night and was chosen out of 25 or so people to pitch my doc idea to the group as well as the three panelists of producers who were heading up the clinic. Yeah, I was nervous but I spent a lot of time preparing my pitch (at least the wording and background) and got it out. No negative feedback per se from the producers, but I'm feeling a little down now after giving it.
The problem is, every one of the producers said I would probably not get funding for it because I'm a first-time filmmaker. I understand this and probably thought I wouldn't get anything anyway. However, now I understand if I continue to film this and when it's finally done, because I couldn't get funding or a producer on-board for this, I will probably get nothing in terms of compensation if it ever does air.
As well, my idea was for the doc to run around 80-90 mins long. Every one of the producers said it was too long and for me to aim around 45 mins. I guess a pitch in 5 minutes couldn't possibly explain every single thing I would be filming (only the general outline) and I know by the end of filming, I will have anywhere from 80-100 hours of footage. As much as I'd love to say 45 could do it, there's no way with everything on this subject I've filming could possibly wrap it up nicely or tell the complete story in 45 mins at all.
I guess I'm down because I feel as though as much as I'm doing this on my own, funding it myself and trying so hard, it's not enough to make this film a possible success. I never set out to make tons of $$$ for this film, in fact, I thought if I broke even I would be doing OK for a first movie. However, I hate the fact that I would work so hard on this, I would get paid nothing for it, yet if it did air, someone would be making something, it just wouldn't be me.
Am I wrong to want to make this 80-90 mins long and not the 45 as recommended? If I cut it right down by half, honestly, so much of the story would be lost, the meaning would be lost too. I know every filmmaker says the same thing and balks at 2 mins being cut from their film. This is half my film though, I just can't do it. Should I just shoot this film the way I intended it, letting it be a possible catalyst for other projects in the future?
If anyone has tips or advice for me, it would be greatly appreciated.
Don't worry either, I feel down right now but I can take constructive criticism too.
TIA
I went to a clinic the other night and was chosen out of 25 or so people to pitch my doc idea to the group as well as the three panelists of producers who were heading up the clinic. Yeah, I was nervous but I spent a lot of time preparing my pitch (at least the wording and background) and got it out. No negative feedback per se from the producers, but I'm feeling a little down now after giving it.
The problem is, every one of the producers said I would probably not get funding for it because I'm a first-time filmmaker. I understand this and probably thought I wouldn't get anything anyway. However, now I understand if I continue to film this and when it's finally done, because I couldn't get funding or a producer on-board for this, I will probably get nothing in terms of compensation if it ever does air.
As well, my idea was for the doc to run around 80-90 mins long. Every one of the producers said it was too long and for me to aim around 45 mins. I guess a pitch in 5 minutes couldn't possibly explain every single thing I would be filming (only the general outline) and I know by the end of filming, I will have anywhere from 80-100 hours of footage. As much as I'd love to say 45 could do it, there's no way with everything on this subject I've filming could possibly wrap it up nicely or tell the complete story in 45 mins at all.
I guess I'm down because I feel as though as much as I'm doing this on my own, funding it myself and trying so hard, it's not enough to make this film a possible success. I never set out to make tons of $$$ for this film, in fact, I thought if I broke even I would be doing OK for a first movie. However, I hate the fact that I would work so hard on this, I would get paid nothing for it, yet if it did air, someone would be making something, it just wouldn't be me.
Am I wrong to want to make this 80-90 mins long and not the 45 as recommended? If I cut it right down by half, honestly, so much of the story would be lost, the meaning would be lost too. I know every filmmaker says the same thing and balks at 2 mins being cut from their film. This is half my film though, I just can't do it. Should I just shoot this film the way I intended it, letting it be a possible catalyst for other projects in the future?
If anyone has tips or advice for me, it would be greatly appreciated.
Don't worry either, I feel down right now but I can take constructive criticism too.
TIA
