Table of Contents
Are documentary filmmakers journalists?
Are you a documentary filmmaker, or a journalist, or both? For Laura Poitras, there’s no blurry line, “it’s journalism plus.” Documentary filmmaking is journalism (fact finding) plus storytelling that reveals something more about the human condition. Filmmaking isn’t meant to be breaking news.
How much do documentary filmmakers earn?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $80,000 and as low as $25,000, the majority of Documentary Filmmaker salaries currently range between $43,500 (25th percentile) to $71,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $76,000 annually across the United States.
How can I become a filmmaker?
How to become a filmmaker
- Complete high school. The majority of filmmakers have a high school diploma, and most go on to earn a college degree.
- Finish a bachelor’s degree.
- Seek an internship.
- Produce a short film.
- Develop film related experience.
- Build your professional network.
Are documentary subjects paid?
If you are a documentary filmmaker, you NEVER pay anyone for participating. NEVER. If you are making a commercial release fiction film or entertainment this is a different issue. But a documentary takes us into the world of journalism, and journalism has certain rules and standards.
Are documentaries profitable?
As a general rule, documentaries are not big money makers unless you’re Michael Moore. Yes, you can post your documentary on YouTube, but you can now upload your documentary to sites like Amazon and Vimeo Pro where people can pay a fee to watch your documentary. The key here is leading people to your film.
How do I sell my documentary?
5 Tips for Selling Your Indie Documentary
- From day one, Know your audience and build awareness.
- Apply for a doc grant or program, and/or attach a notable executive producer.
- Get a sales agent.
- Find the Festival where you can stand out.
- Go with the distributor you can trust.