The Documentary Producer - Documentary: The Objective Facts.

doc•u•men•ta•ry [dok-yuh-men-tuh-ree, -tree] - adjective 1. Consisting of, concerning or based on documents. 2. Presenting facts objectively without editorializing or inserting fictional matter, as in a book or film.

I got into the film industry after failing out of three majors at the Penn State University and was forced to make a decision that would impact the rest of my life….

When I arrived at Penn State, three thousand miles away from the safety net of my parents, I discovered late night parties, drunken escapades, free love and synchronized swimming. Within the first month of school I came down with Mono – the kissing disease – which I fondly recognize as the beginning of the end of what would have been my noble attempt at a “professional” career.

With two weeks left in the third semester, before I had to decide my career, I was given a little gift in the way of a dream. In this dream, my boyfriend and I were diagnosed HIV positive and I found myself standing in front of my mother at my funeral.

“What am I going to do without you,” she sobbed as her bulbous red nose dripped in time with the melancholy dirge.

As you get to know me, you will learn of my Hallmark disease, or in laymen’s term, my ability to cry at the drop of a hat. But not today. Today, there would be no tears.

“Mom, I am going to make a movie, and whenever you get sad or lonely, you can put it in the VCR (this dates me) and I will be there with you.”

So with that, I went knocking on the door of fate and here I am, ten years later, doing what I love best - producing and directing documentary films for the big screen.

My blogging journey will take you through the ups and downs of what it really takes to get a documentary seen by people and, for me more importantly, seen on the big screen.

My most recent documentary, As Seen Through These Eyes, is just starting its 2009 Oscar push and will be airing on The Sundance Channel in late fall. Our goal and journey is to get this Holocaust/Art piece in front of a theater audience.

With four other documentaries, ranging in budget from $1 – 1.5M you will see first hand what it takes to keep documentary filmmakers and their films on the emerging independent documentary film scene.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride…

This weeks RecDoc: Grey Gardens - by Albert & David Maysles. Not only a classic, but my favorite.