What is "The Long Tail?" In the world of content makers and distributors, it's a new buzz word that's making the rounds.Now, before you start getting images of a surgically enhanced pet, let me put your mind at ease. The Long Tail refers to the shelf life of content. And it's based on an article in a recent issue of Wired magazine, written by Chris Anderson.The idea is simply that old media marketing is a based on squeezing dollars from a handful of big hits at the top of the charts: best-selling books, blockbuster movies, Top 40 pop singles. But there's evidence that the future of content isn
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Copyright clearance seems like the weather. You can complain about it, but you can't do anything about it. Or can you? When we did some research at American University (with funds from the Rockefeller Foundation) on the problems documentary filmmakers have with copyright clearance, we discovered some weather patterns that are worth paying attention to—and doing something about. We wanted to know how the current restrictive interpretations of copyright law—especially those that ignore the longstanding right of "fair use" without licensing of material under some limited circumstances—affect
The sit-down strike of 27 prisoners at the Presidio Army Stockade following the killing of a prisioner by a guard. From Zeiger's Sir! No Sir!. Courtesy of National Archives "You find out that it's all lies; they are just lying to the American people. And your silence just means you are a part of keeping that lie going...I couldn't be quiet. I felt I had a responsibility to my friends, and the country in general. And to advocate for the Vietnamese fighting for their country." -GI activist David Cline From David Zeiger's Sir, No Sir! "It is the same shit, all over again," observes Kyle, a US
Cianna Stewart weighs the options of forming a nonprofit or for-profit production company--or freelancing.
"Never spend money on your one sheet," advises James Lewis of the publicity firm mPRm. Having worked on films like March of the Penguins and Dust to Glory, Lewis can tell you that in today's market a distribution deal puts you in the fortunate position of having a marketing campaign created for you by the distributor, usually financing posters, press kits, electronic press kits (EPKs), event screenings and the services of veteran publicists. If you're picked up by an outfit like the award-winning PBS series P.O.V., your benefits will also include a "community engagement" campaign with
Editor's note: This article was revised for the Winter 2019 issue, adapted from the session Getting Real '18. Since then, a second revision was published in December 2024. A well thought-out budget is a clear plan for making a film. And a good budget reveals a lot about how a film is going to be made, what kind of story you'll be telling, what kind of crew you plan to use and what sort of equipment you've selected. But how do you prepare a budget that fits your documentary? This article provides a nuts-and-bolts primer on documentary budgeting. Preparing to Create a Budget It is often said
Making a film is a huge undertaking, and definitely not for the faint of heart. A major part of the work--more than you ever imagined--is the process of generating funds from various sources to get it done. So the first big decision is about how to do that, what kind of help might be needed, where to go looking for dollars and, most important, the difference between the budget you would like and the budget you can live with. Fundraising these days is tougher than ever; the competition is fierce and the funders are smart and savvy. There is not and never will be enough money out there for all
Michael Tucker' and Petra Epperlein's 'Gunner Palace' gets an 'R' for language.
A profile of the documentary community in Finland.