The book’s aim is to help readers, both students and practicing filmmakers cope with the everyday challenges of making non fiction films in the real world. The method used is that of the case study, as the author, analyses in detail seven films he has worked on. Thus the reader follows the films through birth of the idea, through proposal, contract etc., till completion. Many of the chapters are then followed by a few pages advising how to deal with some of the central issues raised in the chapter. These pages deal in greater depth with subjects such as proposal writing, budgeting, contractual ... More

The book’s aim is to help readers, both students and practicing filmmakers cope with the everyday challenges of making non fiction films in the real world. The method used is that of the case study, as the author, analyses in detail seven films he has worked on. Thus the reader follows the films through birth of the idea, through proposal, contract etc., till completion. Many of the chapters are then followed by a few pages advising how to deal with some of the central issues raised in the chapter. These pages deal in greater depth with subjects such as proposal writing, budgeting, contractual problems, co-productions and making the family film.Each chapter also contains supplementary materials which illustrate the progress of the film such as the original film proposal, budgets, marketing plans, and extracts from the proposed narration.The book further contains three chapters, based on the author’s personal experiences, which touch on wider but very significant issues in making non-fiction films. These issues include the whole process of film pitching and attendance at film festivals. Another issue raised and discussed in a series of letters is the relationship of the filmmaker with his or her distributor, and advice given by the latter. Finally the author discusses a number of filmmakers who have inspired his own work.The films chosen for analysis run the gamut from observational films, through historic documentaries to the making of a feature docudrama. Thus their subjects include the adventures of a street musician, pitching a proposal on the history of opera, pursuing a Nazi war criminal, and life in Russia.Told with great humor, style and wit, and showing both obstacles and solutions, this very readable book should become essential reading for any aspiring non fiction filmmaker.