Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #174317 in Books
• Published on: 1996-09-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Synopsis
Discusses each step in creating documentaries from conception to final film, and offers advice on capturing human behavior and recreating past events.

From the Author
How to get started -- and how to finish -- your documentary
I wrote this book -- after more than 20 years of making documentaries -- because I found that many people were starting documentary projects without really knowing what they needed to do.

It explains why making a good documentary requires much more than just aiming a camera at a piece of reality -- or compiling a list of people to be interviewed. It traces the two main themes in documentary -- recording behavior and recreating past events -- and shows you how to be successful at each.

It explains the difference between shooting and showing a documentary. It tells you why the camera doesn't lie, but can't be counted on to tell the truth. You'll learn how to plan, recognize, and record visual evidence, and how to organize it into a visual argument that brings your documentary to life.

The book covers the documentary idea, preproduction planning, selecting crew and equipment, directing actors and people who are not actors, and conducting an interview on camera -- all illustrated with stories from actual productions. And it shows why editing is the heart of the documentary process, organizing your story for the audience.

The book has been praised by documentary professionals and film educators and by the International Documentary Association. For example:

"A highly valuable book which covers the many aspects of producing a documentary. I recommend it to anyone embarking on such a project." -- Gordon Quinn, Executive Producer, "Hoop Dreams"

"I found the book informative, insightful, and useful -- the same qualities that are lacking in many documentaries today . . . helps newcomers learn the basics and good documentry producers become even more productive." -- Michael Cascio, Vice President, Documentary Programming, A & E (Arts and Entertainment Network)

"I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Hampe's narrative style is clear and concise with just the right amount of humor. While acknowledging the importance of technical expertise, he focuses on those aspects of filmmaking craft that create compelling stories. Careful reading by first-time filmmakers will allow them to avoid pitfalls many of us have made. Investing a few hours of time will pay many dividends to Mr. Hampe's readers." -- Clark Bunting, Senior Vice President, Discovery Networks

My other books include VIDEO SCRIPTWRITING: HOW TO WRITE FOR THE $4 BILLION COMMERCIAL VIDEO MARKET (Penguin Books, 1993) and MAKING VIDEOS FOR MONEY: PLANNING AND PRODUCING INFORMATION VIDEOS, COMMERCIALS, AND INFOMERCIALS (Henry Holt & Co., 1998), also available from Amazon.

Customer Reviews

A useful guide to making 'Reality Videos' .
If you had an experienced friend to guide you into the world of making documentary films and videos, then you would feel as comfortable in your journey as the author of this book leaves the reader. As the book cover states, Mr. Hampe will "tell you why making a documentary looks easy but isn't. [He] traces the two main approaches to documentary--recording behaviour and re-creating past events--and shows you how to be sucessful at each." These are the course notes of a good teacher who imparts his wisdom as well as practical guidance. His writing style is 'chatty' and friendly without ever being banal. Also, in what I hope becomes a publishing trend, he gives an Internet e-mail address where readers may send their comments (viz., WriteHampe@aol.com). -HMB

Very Disappointing
I really feel that someone has to point out how poor this book is. Firstly its HOPELESSLY out of date. There is hardly any coverage of modern video techniques, let alone equipment. The book it self is very dense. I'm not some thicky who needs all my books to have pictures but I really strongly feel that it is not appropriate to write book about such a visual medium with out any illustrative images whatsoever.

The only reason I give this book two stars rather than one is because it is clear that Barry Hempe is talking with wisdom and experience and if you have maybe read every other book out there and are just looking for a curio this book may have some value. Apart from that I seriously recommend looking somewhere else for a more practical up-to-date guide.

A must read
Summary: an excellent book which explains the complete process for making a documentary

I found this book on amazon, it sounded good so I bought it. I am glad I did, the book is a complete step by step recipe to making a documentary, listing what to do and what to avoid. I will certainly use it as a reference.

The first few chapters were my favourites, where Barry Hampe talks about documentaries from a more intellectual perspective. His explanations about reality and truth are fascinating. Comments of that level are also scattered over the following chapters.

I now feel equipped to start to plan my next production and particularly I will know how to plan it.