I'm New and would like to film a documentary!!help!!!!

S

sabeen

Hey everyone, I have no experience in filmmaking, but I have this suddent interest in it. I'm from Chicago, but ehtnicity is Pakistani and I am determined to go there during my winter break and film a documentary. I know it is going to be hard, but I have a lot of contacts in Pakistan, I just need to know where I can get some affordable camera equipment. Any bit of information could help right now, thanks!
 
Well, I just want to be more pro active in helping poor people in Pakistan. I just thought if I did something like this, it would be my way of helping. Maybe I'm being naive about this, I don't know the first thing about filming a documentary but I really want to learn and do it.
 
I wouldn't say naive. It's a very nice thing to want to help other people. That being the case what would you want to document about Pakistani life??
 
I'm trying to narrow that down right now. There are quite a few topics and places I can go to. I can go to some villages on the border of Pakistand and Afghanistan and show the kind of life those people live. I can follow up on the flood victims and see what is happening with them. I can document cultural activities that go on. There is a lot I can do I guess. I really would like to go to the remote villages on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, because nobody knows about these people, they don't have any facilities. There aren't any hospitals, schools, nothing.
 
Man, you filled out your location quite literally.

Make it a short documentary. I'm quite positive you can learn the skills needed to successfully shoot a short documentary, in the time-frame you have in mind. But don't think you can make a feature. I don't know what your plans are, I'm just putting that out there.

I, and a lot of other people on this forum will gladly offer our advice, and help you make this happen. But my first piece of advice is that you know what you can do and what you can't. As a beginner, you can absolutely learn how to, and make an awesome short documentary. Like, really short. Five to ten minutes long, maybe.
 
Okay, I dont know why i put my entire address in, just fixed that. Really? You think I could only do a 5-10 minute? I was thinking of doing something at least 30 minutes long. So what steps do I need to take, to just make this happen. Where would I get a good camera or would I just get one once I get to Pakistan. I don't know much about purchasing this kind of equipment.
 
sabeen said:
Okay, I dont know why i put my entire address in, just fixed that. Really? You think I could only do a 5-10 minute? I was thinking of doing something at least 30 minutes long. So what steps do I need to take, to just make this happen. Where would I get a good camera or would I just get one once I get to Pakistan. I don't know much about purchasing this kind of equipment.
Click to expand...

Dude, the amount of work involved in even a five-minute documentary is HUGE. To be honest, 5-10 minutes would be a giant leap for a first-timer. 1 minute is a better mark to start at. In fact, if you want to shoot this documentary in the Winter, right now is the time for you to start shooting a couple of really short documentaries. Make a mini-documentary about that dude who stands on the corner, or your mom, or your favorite teacher, or whatever. Get started now. You only need a cheap camera, and a little bit of research on the basics of camera-work.

To answer your question about purchasing cameras, my honest advice is that you just get something cheap and easy to work with, for like, a couple hundred dollars or less. Ebay. Just start making movies.

Beyond that, I'd love to share some actual documentary-making techniques with you, but I ain't gonna spend time typing, unless I get some kind of indication that you're actually following through on this.

Cheers, and I hope to hear more about this project in the future!
 
I'm completely serious about this. In fact I just called my aunt in Pakistan and she told me all I need to do is get there. She can get me a driver and security in case I go somewhere kind of dangerous. I'm going to try to stay go to the safer areas though. Thanks for your help, I'm probably going to need more of it, and I'll keep you posted with what I'm doing.
 
Hi Sabeen :)

I'm currently editing a documentary for an aid group that has been in Pakistan for years. It's a very different world, for sure.

The biggest issue I had was getting the tapes & footage out of the country to edit, believe it or not. Government censors are very interested in what you may have filmed there, when leaving.

Good luck with your project! :cool:
 
OKay I was gonna write this idea last nnight...but I was drunk and didn't know if it was a good idea or not. Now it's the next morning and I still think it's a good idea. So as you read further everything is completely serious, no jokes. Why don't you document the roads taken by different Palistanis in their immigration to The United States. More precisely those who end up working at the local convinience store or txai driver. I think this is a good "in" because it's already cliche and you'll get peoples attention. opnce you have their attention you can then illustrate that they weren't alway a taxi driver or clerk. That they came from X place in Pakistan. They did this. The problems there are these. Why did they leave. You could even call it something funny like, "Thank You, Come Again." Again, I am completely serious. Thereason for the subject matter and the title is to get peoples attention. Hit them with the serious stuff once you have them watching, but they must be watching first. Hope I didn't offend, it certainly wasn't my inttention.
 
Murdock said:
OKay I was gonna write this idea last nnight...but I was drunk and didn't know if it was a good idea or not. Now it's the next morning and I still think it's a good idea. So as you read further everything is completely serious, no jokes. Why don't you document the roads taken by different Palistanis in their immigration to The United States. More precisely those who end up working at the local convinience store or txai driver. I think this is a good "in" because it's already cliche and you'll get peoples attention. opnce you have their attention you can then illustrate that they weren't alway a taxi driver or clerk. That they came from X place in Pakistan. They did this. The problems there are these. Why did they leave. You could even call it something funny like, "Thank You, Come Again." Again, I am completely serious. Thereason for the subject matter and the title is to get peoples attention. Hit them with the serious stuff once you have them watching, but they must be watching first. Hope I didn't offend, it certainly wasn't my inttention.
Click to expand...

Actually, I think emigration can be an interesting subject matter. However, can't you make that documentary of here? If you're in Pakistan, I would think it beneficial to do a story on something that can only be told in Pakistan. Don't get me wrong, I like your idea, Murdock. I'm just saying that I would choose differently.
 
Cracker Funk said:
Actually, I think emigration can be an interesting subject matter. However, can't you make that documentary of here? If you're in Pakistan, I would think it beneficial to do a story on something that can only be told in Pakistan. Don't get me wrong, I like your idea, Murdock. I'm just saying that I would choose differently.
Click to expand...

Yea I agree with you. I was thinking of useing the story of the person to "go back" to pakistan and Illustrate their problems that way. If they are coming to America you can create empathy from Americans, common ground kinda thing. But I understand what youre saying. It might be too much for one documentary.
 
I don't exactly have a budget. What do you think I'll have to spend for everything? I found a simple HD camera, the canon zr800. It seems like it will get the job done. What do you think?
 
Hey sabeen...I dunno if your big on cricket or even understand it but read this kindly

http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?s...ort-dies-the-moment-cheats-join-the-game.html

I think a documentary that shows the current state of mind of youngsters in pakistan would be awsome. What are they thinking? Do they see a future or not?
cz thse extremely talented players are coming into their team at the age of 18-19 and are being touted to play atleast 15yrs of international cricket but after six months, they are selling their talent/national pride for money...when having a career for 15yrs wud guarantee them sooo much more money than bribes they take...
it has been going on in pakistan cricket since 94...
i think this issue goes beyond cricket but might have more to do it with the society-decay pakistan is gng thru...
if you can highlight the thought process of the next-gen of pakistan...we might be able to see what future does pakistan have...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top