In addition to making my own feature docs, I've produced and consulted for many other filmmakers over the years. I've also moderated 20 years worth of work and life discussions on The D-Word with doc professionals the world over. With coaching, I'm utilizing all of the hard-earned, first-hand experience I've accumulated in that time to work with filmmakers on a one-on-one basis.
Making a documentary can be a long, lonely, frustrating process. It's easy to get lost in the weeds of endless to-do lists, pressing deadlines and constant rejection, to the point where your confidence is shaken and you lose touch with the passion and blind faith that drove you to make your film in the first place.
What I offer is a combination of encouragement, support, business strategizing and creative coaching. I'm part sounding board, advisor, mentor, taskmaster, cheerleader and manager. I can certainly advise on the projects you're working on, but I'm more concerned with how they fit into the long-term career and life you want to build for yourself. I work with you to define and prioritize your goals, and, in the process, help get you unstuck, unblocked and fired up to move forward.
If all this sounds good and you're seriously interested, just get in touch and we can set up a free half-hour consult by phone or Skype. I'd be happy to explain my methods in more detail, answer any questions and even begin to do some coaching, by way of example.
Meanwhile here are links to blog posts, articles and interviews I've done over the years where I give some advice. Hope you find it helpful.
The Ten Rules of Personal Documentary Filmmaking
Producing 201: The Five Biggest Mistakes a Producer Can Make
Producing 201: The New Audience
Werner Herzog: "Be the hornet that stings"
POV
An article I wrote about the documentary film Sherman’s March
Meridian Hill Pictures
An article by student in a master class I taught
On Personal Documentaries
Video Interview
C-Line Films
Video Interview
IDA Doc U: The Art of the Personal Documentary Part I and Part II
Video Interview