http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/ A life of glamour and riches, as only a documentary filmmaker could live it... en-US 2009-06-14T10:22:33-04:00 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/8VIOQVrZmOE/james-longley-detained-in-iran.html Acclaimed documentary filmmaker James Longley (Iraq in Fragments) has been living in Iran for much of the past two years as he painstakingly goes about making his next film. He's recently been doing a bit of freelance work covering the recent Iran election. As one of the more active members of The D-Word, James has kept us frequently updated about...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=8VIOQVrZmOE:vVzX8Vtb7Y4:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Current Affairs dbblock 2009-06-14T10:22:33-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2009/06/james-longley-detained-in-iran.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/lkaDryccLkU/almost-gone---the-sequel-to-51-birch-street---almost-gone---work-in-progress-screening-at-indie-film-week.html This coming Tuesday at Indie Film Week I'll be unveiling what I've been up to for the past, oh, 18 years or so. It's called Almost Gone and you might say it's a sequel to 51 Birch Street, although I think of it more as a companion piece. 51 Birch was about my parents. This time I'm the parent. Forgive...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=lkaDryccLkU:0mBd8-NFdtY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> dbblock 2008-09-12T00:35:59-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2008/09/almost-gone---the-sequel-to-51-birch-street---almost-gone---work-in-progress-screening-at-indie-film-week.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/7_pCL23uQPs/latest-update-on-andrew-berends.html Folks, I can't stress enough, the situation is still extremely urgent! As Andrew Berend's illegal detention in Nigeria enters its 6th day, doc filmmaker James Longley (Iraq in Fragments) has just posted an action alert over at The D-Word (where you can continue to get the latest updates). I'm posting it here, as well, followed by the most recent press...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=7_pCL23uQPs:fmufu0drc9o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Current Affairs Events and Happenings Film dbblock 2008-09-05T01:47:56-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2008/09/latest-update-on-andrew-berends.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/m6gVN2ihWOI/doc-filmmaker-andrew-berends-arrested-in-nigeria.html Our friend, colleage and fellow D-Word member, Andrew Berends, has been detained by the Nigerian police while shooting his latest documentary there. We've set up a special topic on The D-Word (open to the public) to update everyone about the situation and to organize in getting the word out to the media and high-level government officials, both U.S. and Nigerian....<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=m6gVN2ihWOI:yEm9nxlvjJY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Current Affairs Events and Happenings Film dbblock 2008-09-02T13:22:00-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2008/09/doc-filmmaker-andrew-berends-arrested-in-nigeria.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/wS9upK_3oIo/meet-the-staff.html Today is the 4th day of our 5-day online discussion on The D-Word with key staffers from the Independent Television Service (ITVS). It's a rare opportunity for doc makers to get their questions answered and glean insights into the submission and decision-making process of one of the biggest funders around (and not just for U.S. projects). We've been extremely impressed...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=wS9upK_3oIo:MBeeTlBzYxU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Film Funding dbblock 2007-12-20T00:45:00-05:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2007/12/meet-the-staff.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/uNkl1X5mihA/a-walk-into-the.html Well, opens in a theater on Friday. Like, one (the Cinema Village in Manhattan). The distributor's strategy (Arthouse Films) is to release the film small, spend as little as possible and see how it goes before opening in a few more major cities. And I think it's a smart one. The whole idea with theatrical these days is to somehow...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=uNkl1X5mihA:WaE0-bgSMfs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Distribution Film dbblock 2007-12-12T01:40:00-05:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2007/12/a-walk-into-the.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/6EyMcKQJsg0/the-ten-rule-10.html In looking back over my first 9 rules, I realize I sometimes sound as cranky and negative about personal docs as some of their fiercest critics, and I don't mean to be. I prefer to think of it as tough love, or like being hardest on those you love most. The awful truth is, I think personal documentaries are the...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=6EyMcKQJsg0:Xz87Lv-XZGY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Film dbblock 2007-10-26T01:43:00-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2007/10/the-ten-rule-10.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/DI6BAHEH6Fo/the-ten-rules-9.html When it comes to making personal docs, you can run but you can't hide. Whether you choose to be onscreen or not, narrate or not, there's no escaping the fact that you are in it. This is a high-risk endeavor and not for the faint of heart. In fact, the success of your film is often directly proportional to your...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=DI6BAHEH6Fo:mt1AWcxaRdQ:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Film dbblock 2007-10-25T01:53:06-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2007/10/the-ten-rules-9.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/JIfdKFS-GsQ/the-ten-rules-7.html I guess it comes with the territory that aspiring filmmakers with no camera experience whatsoever are shooting their own personal docs these days. After all, hiring a camera person is expensive and high quality digital camcorders are almost ridiculously cheap. Now anyone with access to a great story can get it down on tape themselves -- and the temptation is...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=JIfdKFS-GsQ:UYSrub1rqtI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Film dbblock 2007-10-24T00:40:00-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2007/10/the-ten-rules-7.html http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DougBlocksDocBlog/~3/ISS3YCHhBoM/the-ten-rules-6.html One of the biggest challenges facing those making first-person documentaries is to figure out their own role in the film. Do they shoot it themselves or hire a camera person? Should they appear on screen or "hide" behind the camera? Will they use narration to help tell the story or not? While I tend to prefer docs shot by the...<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?a=ISS3YCHhBoM:_syaEgqwljI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/DougBlocksDocBlog?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> </div> Film dbblock 2007-10-23T01:41:00-04:00 http://dbblock.typepad.com/around_the_block_doug_blo/2007/10/the-ten-rules-6.html