This is a great discussion, and this list is pretty spot on from my perspective. At one point or another each one of these points has stopped me from following through on an idea. I think it comes down to credibility, perceived or real. I remember from my student filmmaking days that approaching a propietor about using their location to shoot in was often received with a "who the fuck are you small fry" mentality. We got blown off more times than I care to remember.
While 'true' (for want of a better word) documentarians like Ken Burns or Robert Greenwald may be a far cry from a Michael Bay type of filmmaker, they still carry that heavy credibility with them. They also probably have PR and agents that do that type of dirty work for them. For little independent artists (videobloggers) I think it is not only intimidating to try and carry or fake that type of credibility, but the reality is few will have the proper approach to following through on something large scale. As someone trying to put together a local motorcycle lifestyle show around Orange County, I've found its hard to approach local dealerships and businesses to get any kind of involvement. I guess it comes down to exposure. Why would they be interested in supporting my venture if I can't prove I have a widespread reach. If a nationally recognised filmmaker were to be in my shoes I'm sure their response would be different. I can see this obstacle being typical for many videobloggers and documantarians. But what to do about it? What is the flipside of each of the points on that list I wonder? -adam --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Jay dedman <jay.ded...@...> wrote: > > > This all just comes back full circle for me what I was talking about in > the > > video conference - how do we bridge the gap between documentarians and > > videobloggers? > > And to flip it around....what barriers keep videobloggers from working on > longer projects like documentarians? > Rupert and I were just talking about it and he sent me this list ( > http://videoblogginggroup.pbworks.com/Barriers): > > > - 1) having an idea that you want to put energy into > - 2) asking permission / rejection - the fear that people will not want > someone videoing them and/or publishing it online > - 3) respect/authority - the fear that people will ask who the fuck you > are, and why they should talk to you. "Um, i have my own videoblog that's > watched by, like, *dozens* of people!" > - 4) self-consciousness - most people feel awkward about filming > themselves, and feel awkward filming anything in public, or in front of > other people, because they're drawing attention to themselves especially if > they haven't asked permission > - 5) law - with the police harrassing photographers & videographers > everywhere, the position of legality of filming people and things is > unclear > to most people > - 6) audience - you put all this effort into something, and it'll be seen > by a few hundred people. to build an audience, you got to keep plugging > away, and most people are doing it in their spare time - so in a way, > you've > got to have a) an issue or a subject that you're passionate enough about to > keep pushing. There's a guy who writes an ultra-local blog in my > neighbourhood - shepherdsbush.wordpress.com - and he has been working > hard at it for four years to get 3000 visits a month. it's a real > commitment, and most people are afraid of those kind of commitments. > - 7) the technology - not as much of a barrier as it used to be, but > still requires a level of confidence to follow a project through from start > to finish - even a home movie. > - 8) fear of failure - what if it's shit, or boring, or no one watches > it? > > I must give filmmakers and documentarians quite a bit of credit for > investing a ot of time in a project they believe in. Often with no > guaranteed reward. Some of my favorite films probably never made anyone any > real money....but the cultural capital it created has been enormous. You do > it because it has to be done. > > Jay > > > -- > http://ryanishungry.com > http://jaydedman.com > http://twitter.com/jaydedman > 917 371 6790 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >
