Comments on: God Bless Blogging! http://nonfictionmedia.com/blog/2008/06/10/god-bless-blogging/ nonfiction media's documentary production diary :: Nepal Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:56:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Stuart http://nonfictionmedia.com/blog/2008/06/10/god-bless-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Stuart Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:09:08 +0000 http://nonfictionmedia.com/blog/?p=231#comment-111 You guys are so inspiring. You're doing everything just as you should. And you're asking all the right questions. As far as being the "fly on the wall", John's comments were right on. Barbara told me about a filmmaker she studied (this was back in the late '70s) who would carry his camera and shoot for weeks without ever loading film in it. He would wait until the novelty wore off and people started treating him like the "fly on the wall". He would then load his camera to capture his documentary. The simple fact is that by being there you will always have an effect on what/who it is you are observing. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect ) It's a scientific fact. Just remember that you are telling a story. Keep asking yourself what images you need to tell the story in the best way that you can. From what you've been sharing so far, it seems apparent that you'll have a fantastic story to tell. You guys are so inspiring. You’re doing everything just as you should. And you’re asking all the right questions.
As far as being the “fly on the wall”, John’s comments were right on. Barbara told me about a filmmaker she studied (this was back in the late ’70s) who would carry his camera and shoot for weeks without ever loading film in it. He would wait until the novelty wore off and people started treating him like the “fly on the wall”. He would then load his camera to capture his documentary. The simple fact is that by being there you will always have an effect on what/who it is you are observing. (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observer_effect ) It’s a scientific fact.
Just remember that you are telling a story. Keep asking yourself what images you need to tell the story in the best way that you can. From what you’ve been sharing so far, it seems apparent that you’ll have a fantastic story to tell.

]]> By: eleanor http://nonfictionmedia.com/blog/2008/06/10/god-bless-blogging/comment-page-1/#comment-110 eleanor Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:19:50 +0000 http://nonfictionmedia.com/blog/?p=231#comment-110 LOVE JOHN. Love him. Am totally checking out his site. I just assumed he was some documentary friend from Seattle. How cool. I was thinking "yeah, exactly" the whole time I was readingI thought to idea about splitting up was right on, and about the aspect of learning. Also, I really really feel that you and Scott are exceptional people, and that nonfictionmedia is the sum of who you are as a couple, your passions, your combined skills, your whole bodied (body'd?) listening. I wonder what is"wrong" or incorrect with your being an element of the story. Like Jennie said- (I shall paraphrase) that your involvement leaves you both the richer for it, how can that be bad? - why is fly on the wall documentary filmmaking the MO you must adopt? Cuz James whatsiface fragments of iraq guy does is that way? I want more Scott and Amy in the picture, not less! My favorite picture so far is Amy and the girls together (um, I think perhaps my wildly biased side is showing). But I understand, the desire to tell the story of what life is like when you're not there, cuz thats the story you are hired to tell, as well as the more- urgent story? I dunno, you know I can have an opinion for days on something I know very little about. I am loving this blog discussion - and I think it's a really importland converstation to be having. my nephews just arrived and I am running off to hug on them, but I'll be back later. MUCH love, ELe LOVE JOHN. Love him. Am totally checking out his site. I just assumed he was some documentary friend from Seattle. How cool. I was thinking “yeah, exactly” the whole time I was readingI thought to idea about splitting up was right on, and about the aspect of learning. Also, I really really feel that you and Scott are exceptional people, and that nonfictionmedia is the sum of who you are as a couple, your passions, your combined skills, your whole bodied (body’d?) listening. I wonder what is”wrong” or incorrect with your being an element of the story. Like Jennie said- (I shall paraphrase) that your involvement leaves you both the richer for it, how can that be bad? – why is fly on the wall documentary filmmaking the MO you must adopt? Cuz James whatsiface fragments of iraq guy does is that way? I want more Scott and Amy in the picture, not less! My favorite picture so far is Amy and the girls together (um, I think perhaps my wildly biased side is showing).

But I understand, the desire to tell the story of what life is like when you’re not there, cuz thats the story you are hired to tell, as well as the more- urgent story? I dunno, you know I can have an opinion for days on something I know very little about.

I am loving this blog discussion – and I think it’s a really importland converstation to be having. my nephews just arrived and I am running off to hug on them, but I’ll be back later.

MUCH love,

ELe

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