Escape from Luanda

In Luanda, one of the world's poorest and most dangerous places, three students from Angola's only music school work towards their end-of-year concert. The Music School is Angola’s first and only school of its kind. It houses some 80 students, most of them desperately poor. Many face disapproval and outright rejection from their families who can’t see a future in music. This film asks if, despite the ravages of 27 years of civil war, musical passion can overcome terrible hardships.

Joana, one of the students, brightly comments, ‘art is life!’ She and the otherstudents know this only too well, as music seems to be the only thing that really drives them. To each of the students, music seems to offer a new life, a hope for a new future, or simply offers them a dream of what could be.

Each of the students paint heartbreaking images of their own experiences of the civil war, and it’s difficult to imagine how they can continue with everyday life. But they do, with music as their focus.

Characters
Joana, 23
Joana’s ambition is to be Angola’s first female drummer but, as the film progresses, we see how very difficult this is going to be. Her partner left her for continuing her studies and has taken their two children with him. In the early stages of filming, her drum teacher disappears, and it seems as if her ambition is dead in the water. Undeterred, however, she presses on. At school, Joana is much liked – she is sparky, enthusiastic and funny. But her teachers are concerned that she simply does not study enough. She is determined to succeed – despite other female musicians being killed by jealous boyfriends (one at the beginning of our shoot) – but has not quite the application that is demanded of her.

Domingas, 42
Like Joana, Domingas was given an ultimatum by her husband: me or the school. She chose the school. Being the oldest student at the school has made it hard for her to fit in, but nothing prevents her catching a five a.m. bus every weekday morning to be first to school. “Without music,” she says, “I don’t have soul, life, spirit. I am happy for the very first time”. But life at the school isn’t easy and a big change in the system (that the film witnesses) puts extra pressure on her to raise her standards or face possible expulsion only months before the possibility of securing her diploma.

Alfredo, 21
In Alfredo we may have a future face of Angola. His ambition is clearly stated: to be a world-famous classical pianist. It doesn’t matter to him that he lives in a country few have barely heard of nor that his school’s pianos are worn out. Despite his strictly religious father’s warnings that a career in music is an impossibility, Alfredo soldiers on. Some think him a bit too demanding of his fellow students but, in his view, he simply wants the slightly ramshackle school to be well run and provide the best training possible – especially for him.

About Angola
2007 marks 5 years since Angola’s civil war was classed as officially over and in January 2008 it will be the 5 year anniversary of the start of Angola’s new government.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Phil Grabsky is an award-winning documentary filmmaker.

Phil and his company Seventh Art Productions, which is based in Brighton, make films for cinema and television. Phil has directed for all major broadcasters and has written four books.

http://www.escapefromluanda.com/

Flow: for love of water

Water is the essence of life, sustaining every being on this planet. Without water, there would simply be no plants, no animals, and no people. But the global water supply isn't just at risk, it's already in crisis.

FLOW: For Love Of Water, a new film by Irena Salina, highlights the local intimacies of an emerging global catastrophe: African plumbers reconnect shantytown water pipes under cover of darkness to ensure a community's survival; a Californian scientist forces awareness of shockingly toxic public water sources; a ‘Big Water’ CEO argues privatization is the wave of the future; a “Water Guru” in India sparks new community water initiatives in hundreds of villages; a Canadian author uncovers the corporate profiteering that drives global water business.

With an unflinching focus on politics, pollution and human rights, FLOW: For Love of Water ensures that the precarious relationship between humanity and water can no longer be ignored. While specifics of locality and issue may differ, the message is the same; water, and our future as a species, is quickly drying up. Armed with a thirst for survival, people around the world are fighting for their birthright; unless we instigate change, we face a world in which only those that can pay for their water will survive. FLOW: For Love of Water, is a catalyst for people everywhere: the time has come to turn the tide and we can't wait any longer.

Director: Irena Salina
Born in France, Irena started her career at 15 as a radio journalist in Paris, then worked in production in various capacities on numerous US films before writing and directing her first short, See You on Monday, sponsored by LifeTime Television for the Hamptons Film Festival. Her first feature film, Ghost Bird: The Life and Art of Judith Deim (2000) is an award-winning documentary that delves into the remarkable life of St. Louis-born artist Judith Deim. GhostBird was featured at many festivals, won Best Documentary at the 15th Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, the Presidents' Award at Mexico's prestigious Ajijic Film Festival, and is an evergreen audience favorite on the Sundance Channel.


Producer: Steven Starr
Founder of award-winning video monetization platform Revver.com, previously managed KPFK-FM, largest community radio signal in the U.S., co-founded P2P pioneer Uprizer, user-generated AntEye.com and LA Indymedia. Writer/director and/or producer of award-winning features Joey Breaker and Johnny Suede, co-creator/producer of The State for MTV/CBS, headed New York film office for William Morris; repping Ang Lee, Tim Robbins, Larry David, Andy Warhol, Joseph Papp, etc., and started as a concert promoter for Bob Marley & the Wailers.

http://www.flowthefilm.com/index.php

http://www.mediarights.org/news/2008/02/19/flow_for_love_of_water

I wish to change my career and become involved in Doc film making.

(Q/A in the dfg community)
Getting Started
I am new to this site.
The main reason I have joined is I wish to change my career and become involved in Doc film making.
I am interested in Editing and actual film making.
My background is IT, however I have no experience whatsoever in film making.
Where should I start ?
The sort of docs I am interested in are Expedition/Travel/Nature docs.
Have travelled in the Sahara, Grand Canyon,Egypt,India,Canada, Nth Wales etc and am used to hardship, extreme travel and generally roughing it.
Particularly if it involves India as this is where my family is from.
Any helpful advice would be welcome.
Regards

comment:
Hi, No one seems to have replied so I'll get the ball rolling with a shameless DFG plug. If you're interested particularly in editing and filmmaking, then you need to train yourself up with industry skills. We run a whole range of courses, and several could suit your needs. Why don't you take a look on our website? http://www.dfgdocs.com/training
And if you're particularly interested in nature and travel docs, then find the companies who are producing those sorts of programmes and get your foot in the door with them. You might need to tout yourself around a bit first, and do some work for free, but if you prove yourself then you might be able to get that first break.
It's always tough when you're switching careers, because you don't necessarily want to start at the bottom again. If you really want to jump straight into filmmaking then I would suggest trying one of our courses, or come along to one of our 10x10 nights and meet other people who are going it alone.
All the best!
Kerry

docidea /3 Directory on DfgDocs

Helvetica (2007)
directed by Gary Hustwit
As Helvetica celebrates its 50th anniversary, in addition to being one of the most ubiquitous fonts in the world, it is also very controversial. Investigating the colourful history of the font, director Gary Hustwit travels to seven countries to interview outspoken designers on both side of the Helvetica divide. Is it a triumph in the history of design or akin, as one interviewee says, to dining at McDonalds? In answering that question the film becomes a fascinating exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them. You certainly won't be able to walk down a Hcity street in the same way again.


Wonderland: The Man Who Eats Badgers and Other Strange Tales from Bodmin Moor (2007)
directed by Daniel Vernon
Filmmaker Daniel Vernon takes his camera to one of the bleakest, loneliest outposts of Britain: Bodmin Moor. It is a world populated largely by men, and Vernon explores the way in which the lives, relationships and preoccupations of these men are effected by their living such isolated existences. It is a world of dark comedy and poignant tragedy, a world of extreme and deeply disturbing nuisance callers, a panther hunting obsessive, a enthusiastic and well meaning private detective and .....the man who eats badgers.

We are Together (Thina Simunye) (2007)
directed by Paul Taylor
Twelve year old Slindile lives in at the Agape Orphanage in South Africa with three of her sisters and her little brother. The siblings return home frequently, where their older sisters are nursing their eldest brother’s battle with AIDS -- the same disease which has left them all orphans. But life for this remarkable famly is far from grim, not least because of the music at the centre of their lives. At the orphanage, Slindile is one of the featured soloists in the spirited choir. They’re hugely excited at the prospect of a fund-raising choir trip to England. And back at home the siblings continue the beautiful harmonisations taught to them by their parents. Filmed over three years with unforgettable children, soaring music and a plot full of surprises, We Are Together is a stirring and uplifting theatrical experience.

http://www.dfgdocs.com/Directory/Latest_Additions/1.aspx

docidea /2 Masterschool 2008

Ideas of doc
1. A Day in the World. 24 hours around the world.
2. Dream Factory Kabul. Policewoman in Kabul turned actress in an effort to change society – the story of a remarkable woman, Saba Sahar.
3. Wild Horses. The problem of wild horses in the Danube delta area.
4. Pop-Folk. Explosion of popular music after the Communist collapse.
5. Hooked. A torture artist explores the cultural and religious roots of bizarre body-piercing rituals in search of spiritual enlightenment.
6. We are Game. The history of the board game – and its place in culture.
7. The Granitic Vault. Fortezza and the Nazi-Gold.
8. Women in the Madrassa. Moroccan initiative to allow women to train as imams.
9. Greenpeace – How to Change the World. The story of Greenpeace, its history and stormy past.
10. Ivan the Terrible. The story of John Demjanjuk, accused of war crimes but possibly not guilty of them – martyr or monster?
11. The Justice Boat. Boat on the Amazon that functions as a mobile courthouse, ruled over by Sueli Pereira Pini, a 46-year-old judge.
12. The Devil’s Bible. The story of the Czech book known by this title, now in Stockholm.
13. Another Side of David Bailey. A portrait of the famous photographer.
14. Brain I/O. Brain I/O – examines challenges of Brain computer interface – whereby not only can brain manage external devices but can be controlled in its stead.
15. Vinyl. The story of the record.
16. Comrade Bond. The story of Otto von Stirlitz, a Russian version of James Bond.

http://www.discovery-campus.de/v2/page/masterschool/masterschool_participants_projects/

docidea /1

Proprio questa mattina è uscito in edicola, insieme alla rivista "Carta", un documentario che, ai tempi delle sue anteprime, fece destare non poco scalpore: "Predica bene Ratzola male".
Insinuante e provocatorio, nel giro di un'ora mette lo spettatore a contatto con le difficoltà affrontate, quotidianamente e non, dalle famiglie di fatto.
L'anello di intercessione tra lo schermo e la realtà è costituito dall'esperienza diretta di due coppie e di un ex convivente.
Particolarmente toccante la posizione di quest'ultimo che, alla morte del partner, è stato privato di ogni basilare diritto comunemente riconosciuto in qualsiasi Stato democratico.
Il documentario, acquistabile anche su www.predicabeneratzolamale.org, è stato finalmente messo a disposizione dell'opinione pubblica con non poche difficoltà, dovute principalmente al silenzio creato dalla fragile situazione politica precedente al crollo del Governo.
All'interno del sito è disponibile una chiara esposizione dell'idea e della sinossi.

how to write a documentary

risorse:
1. google
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=it-it&q=how+to+write+a+documentary&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

2. in libreria a Reykjavik
"Making documentary films and videos" (www.makingdocumentaryfilms.com) di Barry Hampe (www.barryhampe.com)

3. Amazon
Documentary Storytelling, Second Edition: Making Stronger and More Dramatic Nonfiction Films

Cult Book - Ryszard Kapuściński

Werner Herzog on Henry Rollins' Show