32: The benefits of reflecting on why we want to make documentaries

Lesson 32:  Advice from the great Agnès Varda

​3 WORDS on why we make documentaries with Agnès Varda

Lesson 32 from my Documentary Online Course How to Kickstart your First Documentary is a reflection on WHY we want to make a documentary. Why did we set out on our documentary film journey in the first place?
                     
1. Connecting with Our World
2. Capturing Reality
3. Sharing Our Passions

These are some ideas behind our actions, however these seem a little to sparse, you know, simple perhaps?

SO ...   

I would like to introduce you to one of my heroines from the film world, the French filmmaker-artist Agnès Varda who is, for me, the most outstanding creator. She is that woman who gets into my head as I work; her work gets under my skin, is under my skin. I imitate her, admire her, and I am deeply grateful for her artistic presence in my life.

Agnès, for me, is the Patti Smith of film.

She has the human touch, that spectrum of creativity that falls far and delves into her personal world, which then branches out to other worlds. Agnes died in March 2019. The Toronto Film Festival previewed this trailer of her last film, Varda by Varda.

In the film trailer for her last film, Varda by Varda, she uses three words to express her desires for making documentaries:

• INSPIRATION
• CREATION
• SHARING

Inspiration is why we make the film, what draws us to the film. What are the ideas behind it and the motives, and what story do we actually want to try and tell? Where will this story take us, are there coincidences? What are the circumstances?

Creation is how we make the film. What type of genre will we use, what cinema language? Will it be experimental, will it be cut up with interviews. How will you place your main protagonist? What colour is your film, what is the mood? What is the structure? Will you film alone or not alone? What and how? In colour, not in colour, or both? Agnes says that "creation is work!"


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Scrapbooking your Soul's Desire 
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Sharing is because we don't make films to not watch, we make films to share and to be watched. "You need to know why you do this job!" Agnès says.

There are definite benefits to Reflective Discovery as it brings us closer to what and why, how, when and whom?


Here is a link to some of Varda's work

Thank you, I hope that this helps you. 

Thank you for your time. If you need any help to kickstart your documentary, drop me a line and ask your questions.
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Have a great week ahead. Take care.

​Jeanne