Subjects are all around us… literally…

From Grandma’s neurotic dog Poker, to the Iraq War. With so many choices, how do you know when you have finally landed on a good one?  You test it.

As simple as that sounds, it is the best advice I can give. Remember! The key issue is here “What can I show?” about behaviors, interactions and situations all directly relating to your subject. This is a film, not a novel.

So, let’s say for instance you have found yourself incredibly passionate about the two above mentioned topics and just can’t decide which one to invest a your life into… Here are some guidelines that may just help you make a decision.

Drum roll please….

~ What do you want to say? This answer may change when you are knee deep in your subjects shit, but intention is your greatest device and ultimately intention will help to keep you focused. Know it now!

~ Can you paint a picture with your subject? A teacher once asked me if I thought my short doc could be viewed without sound. At first I didn’t get it, but over the years it has become crystal clear. People relate to other people’s actions, which awakens their own feelings. Simply put, words alone fall on deaf ears far too often.

~ Be wary of worlds you have never encountered before and are difficult to access (literally and figuatively).  Iraq is a distant place and most of us rely on other sources to acquire a general knowledge of the country. Grandma’s house is over the hills and through the woods and you have probably been there multiple times.

~ Avoid “typical” or “mundane”. The key is to find a character/situation that is totally unique who can become the portal to your message. And, we do have a message, right? Think long and hard about what you really want to say.

~ If there already a clear solution to the problem you are addressing? If so, your audience is probably already on to you…

~ Think BIG thematically. This is the best way to reach a large audience. Now this doesn’t mean the Iraq War piece is necessarily a better choice because it is already a big topic. Local or small subject matters, like Poker, can shine the light on a huge theme such as companionship in older age.

~ Finally, is this really something you want to eat, breath, drink and shower with for an undisclosed amount of time? A “Yes” is necessary here to travel any further. If not, go straight to jail and don’t collect your two hundred dollar salary. It is time to start over.

This week’s MUST SEE is Baraka. Go on, you tell me why.

So who really cares? And why should they?

That is the real question….

As hard as it was to finish As Seen Through These Eyes for the various reasons I have discussed, my director picked the right way into subject that has been done to death.

How do I know this? We just keep winning festivals – audience choices – which means we are connecting to people who are buying the tickets. This week we won the Thessalonniki International Documentary Film Festival!

It was, in fact, such a surprise that Hilary had already left town. The festival found her in Athens… they flew her back for the occasion! In no way is it that we don’t think this film deserves the attention it is getting… it is really touching and very well made. BUT we do fall into the category of Holocaust Film. Unfortunately, a lot of people that matter, distributors, sales agents, etc, find this as a huge disadvantage and we are overlooked.

Our showings, fortunately, are proving different!

So, back to picking a great subject… if you do feel so inclined to make a film, you just have to go for it. But consider your subject fully.

When Hilary decided to make As Seen Through These Eyes, she realized that the angle of surviving art and artist was never really explored and chose to enter this door into the Holocaust. Then she had the insight to find characters that people can’t help but fall in love with. And finally, she worked and worked and worked and worked the story until it matched the rest of the pieces and, boom, a great film.

The challenge also was to not exclude people once they heard the dreaded words – this is a Holocaust Film. Our exec producer, Jerry Offsay, came up with the brilliant idea of asking Dr. Maya Angelou to narrate.

We have been asked multiple times “Why Dr. Angelou?”  Simple answer is that this film is a film about triumphing over all odds through the use of art… THIS thesis, theme, statement, makes As Seen a universal film and Dr. Angelou’s words capitalize that idea.

So bluntly, you are the filmmaker, sure. You get to push the buttons and make this happen, BUT consider!!!!!!! what you are doing. And who you are making this for!!!

The bottom line is you want your film seen, right?! You want to make a difference or impact a culture. Or at the very least… entertain.

Ask yourself the right questions… So who really cares? And why should they?

Now a days, anyone can make a movie.

The consumer has every tool at her fingertips. Chances are though, it’s gonna suck. Now hold on a hairy minute, I am not saying anything about you or your talent, necessarily, but modern day conveniences have made it too easy.

Tom, Dick and Harriet are out there pointing cameras every which way and taking their miscellaneous footage home to cut on one of those paper thin Macs –just cause they had to have one. I, personally, miss the days of the squawk box and moviola.

Today, I ran into an Ol’Time Producer in the elevator. And I couldn’t help but think to myself… either he really loves what he does or he has got himself into an uncomfortable position later in life where this is the only thing he knows how to do. My gut says the latter.

We got to talking and he remarked that “Things are peculating, but in this biz you can have a child faster than you can get a project up.” He then smirked and looked down at my stomach. Last time he had seen me I was in my best summer shape – tanned and relaxed.

I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy for him. He is completely reliant on other people and their subjective objective view. But yet everyday he goes to work, sits at a desk and takes “no” for an answer until that elusive “yes” pops up. He has been doing this for decades, maybe he is used to it. Maybe, not.

But what I so admire about him is that he has been through it and keeps coming back for more. He is a true warrior of the process.

Documentary Filmmaking is also a process. It is not computer software that has neat dissolves and cool effects. Please, remember that.

It starts with a subject, an idea… and requires ones full attention and focus. All the great documentaries have great subjects… And behind those lenses reside great minds that have enormous passion and respect for that which is being exposed.

This is Step One in Amy Janes’ guide to Great Documentary Filmmaking – for those of you that are paying attention – take note.

Next week, we will take a look at your subject and who, frankly, is going to give a damn.

But until the, go out and rent yourself THE FOG OF WAR by Errol Morris. You will see what I mean.

A crossroad in my life as a Filmmaker…

This week I find myself at a really remarkable crossroad in my life as a Documentary Producer/Filmmaker…

Last week we secured a theatrical distributor for my most recently completed doc, As Seen Through These Eyes. What an awesome feeling! We will be opening in six cities across America and Canada. Sure not a huge release, but you know what… for a small film on the surviving art and artist of the Holocaust, I am going to say – NOT BAD!

And this week I am sitting at my editing studio sorting through hours of tape searching for that illusive through line for the next doc which I shot, directed and am producing.

I think I can hear you thinking… “Yeah, so what?” And my answer for that is “I don’t know.”  I guess I can only answer that question with another question - “Am I really ready to do this all again?”

Let me tell you… the ASTTE was no walk in the park. I was pregnant during the financing and breastfeeding during the post. Yes, I was that woman; sitting in the corner with breast pumps a-pumping asking my male editor not to turn around for twenty minutes so I could relieve myself. In some weird way, it was a blessing that I had to fire three editors (all male) before I figured out that my director could really only work with a woman pushing the buttons. (This goes back to my rant about one getting ones MD!)

“T” finally came into the picture and my inhibition went out the window. I was free to roam around the room holding two megaphones cupped to my breasts.  Ahh, that spells relief.

But … it didn’t make it any easier that I had to spend those three months up to my ears in footage of the most horrific images anyone could possible dream of, with a huge deadline looming and a director who was not mentally prepared to finish her film…

Get the picture?

Good. We can move on…

So now, here I sit - pregnant for the second time and as big as a house - about to give birth to a bouncing baby boy… and another documentary. You know, I don’t know which one is harder. Or what keeps me coming back for more.

Yeah, you’re right, it’s the kids we produce. And as they say – No pain, no gain.

This week my hat goes off to all you mothers and fathers out there who are sticking with this crazy BIZ we call LIFE.

Cheers!