"Self Filmed" One Person Documentaries at DVinfo.net

James Darren · December 29th, 2005, 02:09 AM

Has anyone produced a "Self Filmed" doco, ie: where they are a presenter in a doco, filming themselves (using the flip out screen etc) or know of any examples of this type of doco?

I'm interested as i'd like to do something along these lines...

Dylan Couper · December 29th, 2005, 11:07 AM

Not doc's per se, but for self filmed examples, check out my entries from DV Challenge #2 and DVC #4.

Sean McHenry · December 31st, 2005, 04:26 AM

Mine too. Several of us in the DVChallenges are a one man operation. Check especially the current DVC4 entry. All me, sorry in advance... Any segments of "Secrets" with the man - self shot, composed, me on camera (again, sorry). Likewise with "Frame 37". Any shots of me are all self done.

Catch my shorts here:
http://www.surgetechservices.com/smchenry

Sean

Andrew Todd · December 31st, 2005, 08:39 AM

check out "grizzly man" It won a bunch awards this year. The filmmaker actually lives with grizzly bears in alaska for a number of years and films it all himself. Him and his girlfriend get eaten by a bear. Its pretty much just him and the camera. amazing docu.. my new fav.

Jim Feeley · December 31st, 2005, 09:58 PM

Grizzly Man was made by Werner Herzog. He's still alive and worked with a crew. But hte subject of the film did shoot a lot of video by himself (and get eaten by a bear).

I can think of some films that were shot by a single person (The Cruise by Bennett Miller was--I think). But besides the challenge docs, I can't think of any that got a general release that were shot and edited by a single person who was also the presenter. Would love to hear of some...

Jim

James Darren · December 31st, 2005, 10:18 PM

yeh i've been thinking of trying to do a self filmed doc... maybe about travelling to some location where i was a presenter also...

Adam Keen · December 31st, 2005, 11:05 PM

I saw a show on TV about Timothy Treadwell who shot the bear footage. I didn't think his idea of living with bears was a good one. It also left me with a negative impression of Treadwell. Of course it is TV, juxtapose the right clips together and you can create anything.

It's possible to shoot something with a cast and crew of one. It leaves a lot of work for one person. Any shots with yourself in them will probably be stiff if the camera is on a tripod.

Quito Washington · January 1st, 2006, 10:00 PM

you lose the one of the most important visual effects...the moving camera...no dolly, no tilting, no panning...your shots become really static....of yourself, you can do all that when you are shooting something else for the video
Q

Daniel Riser · January 25th, 2006, 11:47 PM

Oh contraire' that is the beauty of this style of filmmaking (yes I consider a style all its own) besides the fact that the great Sidney Lument was known for keeping his camera static (and still telling a compelling story) if you are creative enough you can have lots and lots of moving shots in your "one person" film.

It's funny this post should reach me as I am in the final stages of launching an online film festival specifically for this type of film. It will be catered towards empowering children to be able to make movies regardless of their friend's participation, but all ages will be accepted.

It's called LONER FEST and the site will be up and running in less than a month!

It's tough and tedious but quite rewarding and there is absolutely no way anyone could claim that you are not the "author" of your work.

No actors or crew... Just one person: writer, producer, director, cameraman and star!

Email me if you have suggestions or interest

reelvisionfilms@gmail.com

Highest Regards,

Daniel Riser

Richard Alvarez · January 26th, 2006, 07:51 AM

My documentary "American Jouster" premiered at the Breckenridge Festival of Film in Colorado last September, and is being sold through an international catalogue.

It was shot, edited, and 'marketed' (such as it was) all single handedly. This was really a budget and logistics decision. Had I the money, I would have preferred to hire at the VERY least, a sound man. It's very difficult to shoot, keep track of the audio, AND conduct an interview all at the same time. You have to pay attention to the questions, think ahead to the next question while being open to pursue whatever course their answers may open, watch your framing and ride the sound all at once. NOT the ideal way to work, but it is challenging and ultimately, rewarding.

Probably the biggest challenge when conducting interviews, is giving the subject a sightline to address. If you don't want them talking directly to the lens, you have to give them a sightline to talk to while answering your questions. Some subjects will be fine looking 'at that chair over there' while they answer your questions. Some will feel silly, so you might need to put a warm body in the chair for them to talk to.

Mike Teutsch · January 26th, 2006, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quito Washington

you lose the one of the most important visual effects...the moving camera...no dolly, no tilting, no panning...your shots become really static....of yourself, you can do all that when you are shooting something else for the video
Q

Oh don't give up so easily! Check my entry for DV#4, Alone For The Holidays, and you will see dolly shots and a tilt shot done without any others there. A little ingenuity goes a long way! :)

Mike

Daniel Riser · January 26th, 2006, 10:52 AM

This is great that people are involved in this kind of filmmaking. That's why I want to have a venue for these films. I love reading stories of how different tricks were accomplished. Things that a crew takes for granted.

James Ewen · January 27th, 2006, 02:15 AM

Benedict Allen has produced some interesting one man docs that have made it to broadcast in the UK

Check the link for details-

http://www.benedictallen.com/benedic...ideos-dvds.htm

J

Joe Kras · February 3rd, 2006, 01:49 PM

Ross McElwee seemed to do a pretty good job with "Sherman's March". He wrote, directed, and shot the film. He did have help editing, though.

Michael Pace · February 3rd, 2006, 07:30 PM

you beat me to the punch on McElwee, Joe. 'Sherman's March' is to me the gold standard for subjective-camera documentary. The bulk of the film is McElwee commenting while operating the cam, and in a few shots he puts it on sticks and gets in front for a bit (and yes he includes the take from starting the camera to walking back to the camera to turn it off!)

Subject matter may not hit everyone, but the technique is riveting. It may be hard to locate this one for rental though.

happy producing,

MRP

December 29th, 2005, 02:09 AM	#1
James Darren Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 235	"Self Filmed" One Person Documentaries Has anyone produced a "Self Filmed" doco, ie: where they are a presenter in a doco, filming themselves (using the flip out screen etc) or know of any examples of this type of doco? I'm interested as i'd like to do something along these lines...

December 31st, 2005, 04:26 AM	#3
Sean McHenry Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hilliard, Ohio Posts: 1,193	Mine too. Several of us in the DVChallenges are a one man operation. Check especially the current DVC4 entry. All me, sorry in advance... Any segments of "Secrets" with the man - self shot, composed, me on camera (again, sorry). Likewise with "Frame 37". Any shots of me are all self done. Catch my shorts here: http://www.surgetechservices.com/smchenry Sean __________________ ‘I don’t know what I’m doing, and I’m shooting on D.V.’ - my hero - David Lynch http://www.DeepBlueEdit.com

January 1st, 2006, 10:00 PM	#8
Quito Washington Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Darwin, Australia Posts: 34	one person shooting you lose the one of the most important visual effects...the moving camera...no dolly, no tilting, no panning...your shots become really static....of yourself, you can do all that when you are shooting something else for the video Q __________________ http://www.quitofilms.com brash raw and fully independent

January 25th, 2006, 11:47 PM	#9
Daniel Riser Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vista, California Posts: 51	Oh contraire' that is the beauty of this style of filmmaking (yes I consider a style all its own) besides the fact that the great Sidney Lument was known for keeping his camera static (and still telling a compelling story) if you are creative enough you can have lots and lots of moving shots in your "one person" film. It's funny this post should reach me as I am in the final stages of launching an online film festival specifically for this type of film. It will be catered towards empowering children to be able to make movies regardless of their friend's participation, but all ages will be accepted. It's called LONER FEST and the site will be up and running in less than a month! It's tough and tedious but quite rewarding and there is absolutely no way anyone could claim that you are not the "author" of your work. No actors or crew... Just one person: writer, producer, director, cameraman and star! Email me if you have suggestions or interest reelvisionfilms@gmail.com Highest Regards, Daniel Riser __________________ "I'm making excellent progress cause' pretty soon when I sit on this couch I won't have to wear the lobster bib" - Woody Allen "Annie Hall"

January 26th, 2006, 10:52 AM	#12
Daniel Riser Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Vista, California Posts: 51	This is great that people are involved in this kind of filmmaking. That's why I want to have a venue for these films. I love reading stories of how different tricks were accomplished. Things that a crew takes for granted. __________________ "I'm making excellent progress cause' pretty soon when I sit on this couch I won't have to wear the lobster bib" - Woody Allen "Annie Hall"

December 29th, 2005, 11:07 AM	#2
Dylan Couper Wrangler Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 8,314	Not doc's per se, but for self filmed examples, check out my entries from DV Challenge #2 and DVC #4. __________________ Need to rent camera gear in Vancouver BC? Check me out at camerarentalsvancouver.com

December 31st, 2005, 08:39 AM	#4
Andrew Todd Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Saint John, CANADA Posts: 633	check out "grizzly man" It won a bunch awards this year. The filmmaker actually lives with grizzly bears in alaska for a number of years and films it all himself. Him and his girlfriend get eaten by a bear. Its pretty much just him and the camera. amazing docu.. my new fav. __________________ video : xl2 / letus35xl / bogen 503 photo- canon 1dmkII - bronica etrsi

December 31st, 2005, 09:58 PM	#5
Jim Feeley Supports LPFM Radio Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern California USA Posts: 170	Grizzly Man was made by Werner Herzog. He's still alive and worked with a crew. But hte subject of the film did shoot a lot of video by himself (and get eaten by a bear). I can think of some films that were shot by a single person (The Cruise by Bennett Miller was--I think). But besides the challenge docs, I can't think of any that got a general release that were shot and edited by a single person who was also the presenter. Would love to hear of some... Jim

December 31st, 2005, 10:18 PM	#6
James Darren Major Player Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York, NY Posts: 235	yeh i've been thinking of trying to do a self filmed doc... maybe about travelling to some location where i was a presenter also...

December 31st, 2005, 11:05 PM	#7
Adam Keen Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 49	I saw a show on TV about Timothy Treadwell who shot the bear footage. I didn't think his idea of living with bears was a good one. It also left me with a negative impression of Treadwell. Of course it is TV, juxtapose the right clips together and you can create anything. It's possible to shoot something with a cast and crew of one. It leaves a lot of work for one person. Any shots with yourself in them will probably be stiff if the camera is on a tripod.

January 26th, 2006, 07:51 AM	#10
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	My documentary "American Jouster" premiered at the Breckenridge Festival of Film in Colorado last September, and is being sold through an international catalogue. It was shot, edited, and 'marketed' (such as it was) all single handedly. This was really a budget and logistics decision. Had I the money, I would have preferred to hire at the VERY least, a sound man. It's very difficult to shoot, keep track of the audio, AND conduct an interview all at the same time. You have to pay attention to the questions, think ahead to the next question while being open to pursue whatever course their answers may open, watch your framing and ride the sound all at once. NOT the ideal way to work, but it is challenging and ultimately, rewarding. Probably the biggest challenge when conducting interviews, is giving the subject a sightline to address. If you don't want them talking directly to the lens, you have to give them a sightline to talk to while answering your questions. Some subjects will be fine looking 'at that chair over there' while they answer your questions. Some will feel silly, so you might need to put a warm body in the chair for them to talk to.

January 27th, 2006, 02:15 AM	#13
James Ewen Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 91	Benedict Allen has produced some interesting one man docs that have made it to broadcast in the UK Check the link for details- http://www.benedictallen.com/benedic...ideos-dvds.htm J __________________ Natural History Cameraman Earthmedia Film, Oslo, Norway

February 3rd, 2006, 01:49 PM	#14
Joe Kras Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 54	Ross McElwee seemed to do a pretty good job with "Sherman's March". He wrote, directed, and shot the film. He did have help editing, though.

February 3rd, 2006, 07:30 PM	#15
Michael Pace Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: La Florida Posts: 68	you beat me to the punch on McElwee, Joe. 'Sherman's March' is to me the gold standard for subjective-camera documentary. The bulk of the film is McElwee commenting while operating the cam, and in a few shots he puts it on sticks and gets in front for a bit (and yes he includes the take from starting the camera to walking back to the camera to turn it off!) Subject matter may not hit everyone, but the technique is riveting. It may be hard to locate this one for rental though. happy producing, MRP