The documentary diaries

<p>How do you make a successful documentary in an era of media turmoil network disruption and increasing financial restrictions? This is the question Alan Rosenthal distinguished international filmmaker and teacher sets out to answer in <i>The documentary diaries</i>. Using seven of his recent releases as case studies - ranging from high-budget historical and political documentaries to shoestring observational films and hybrid docudramas - he explores with style and humour the challenges facing the contemporary documentarian and demonstrates how they can be overcome.<br><br>Numerous aspects of film production are examined notably proposal and script writing fund raising managing co-productions dealing with commissioning editors and choosing distributors. Additional mini-chapters provide extra perspective on key topics and the book is completed by a wealth of supplementary material including excerpts from script drafts variations on proposals and discussions of marketing strategies.<br><br><i>The documentary diaries</i> offers piercing insights into the world of documentary filmmaking and will be essential reading for students and professionals alike.</p>