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What are the challenges of making a documentary?

Stephen Cardone
Professional Photographer
Stephen Cardone is the COO of NY Headshots, a New York City-based studio that specializes in shooting and producing headshots for individuals and businesses. Stephen has over four years of professional photography experience and over six years of documentary filmmaking experience. Stephen also works extensively as a photographer at NY Headshots. His work includes events, environmental photography, as well as headshots for actors, models, and corporate. He holds a BA in Non-fiction Writing from The New School.

Stephen Cardone

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

One challenge is keeping up with new developments. If something new happens related to your story, you'll need to alter your filming schedule and include the new information.

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Question

What are some documentaries that are compelling from a filmmaking perspective?

Stephen Cardone
Professional Photographer
Stephen Cardone is the COO of NY Headshots, a New York City-based studio that specializes in shooting and producing headshots for individuals and businesses. Stephen has over four years of professional photography experience and over six years of documentary filmmaking experience. Stephen also works extensively as a photographer at NY Headshots. His work includes events, environmental photography, as well as headshots for actors, models, and corporate. He holds a BA in Non-fiction Writing from The New School.

Stephen Cardone

Professional Photographer

Expert Answer

''The Thin Blue Line'' is a documentary that had a big impact on the genre and on real life. The music and cinematography are incredible. Also, ''Senna'' was a compelling documentary because it didn't show any talking heads. That was a really bold innovation.

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I'm doing a documentary for my silver award. How many people should I interview?

Oliviap3016

Community Answer

That depends on the documentary itself. If your documentary has to do with an event and you're trying to gather personal experience from witnesses, then the more the better. Be sure not to interview too many, though. You don't want it to be entirely interviews.

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I'm doing a documentary about a city. One of the episodes is about food and drink. How do I get into the restaurant to be able to interview the chef?

Community Answer

Try asking the restaurant owners/managers if they will let you film in their restaurant and interview the chef for your documentary. The worst answer they can give is 'no'. If you want to make documentaries, you need to start getting used to asking people for interviews. Most people love to be interviewed, so expect more yeses than nos!

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