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

9/10/2022

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Lesson 33:  Advice from the great Agnès Varda

​3 WORDS on why we make documentaries with Agnès Varda

Lesson 33 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!"


Here is my online offer
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.
​

Have a great week ahead. Take care.

​Jeanne

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    Jeanne Pope

    Filmmaker, teacher, traveler and storyteller

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    Links to the Workshops
    1. How to find your documentary idea
    ​2. How to find your documentary approach
    3. Understanding the documentary genre
    4. Creating hybrid documentaries
    5. Understanding narrative storytelling
    ​6. How to film an unscripted documentary
    7. Tips and techniques for interviewing
    8.Why you need a release form
    9. How to use free public domain archives 
    10. Why write a documentary synopsis?
    11. Find funding for your documentary film 
    12. What documentary film equipment do you need? 
    13. Camera shots and techniques
    14. The Long Shot
    15. The Long Take
    16. Why you should use your cellphone
    17. Documentary film ethics
    18. Ways to fund your documentary
    ​19. Research or No research ?
    20. Digital storytelling Part 1
    ​21. Don't-overthink-your-documentary
    22. Ten tips to fine-tune your documentary
    23. Don't let your idea slip slide away 
    24. Give us more creativity for 2022
    25. Ethical code for documentaries
    26. Why a Pitch Deck is essential 
    27. Scrapbooking your memory
    28. Scrapbooking podcast 
    29. Digital-Storytelling Part 2
    30. The Paper Edit
    31. Location Scouting
    32. Genealogy and Documentary
    33. Reflecting on why we want to make documentaries
    34. How to make your documentary journey exciting 
    Other Links
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    JEANNE POPE - Documentary China Blog 2015-2019
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    Stanley Lewis Sculptor appreciation website by the FRIENDS OF STANLEY LEWIS
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    Rusthall Community Cinema

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    Andrew's Art History Blog
Thank you dear Jeanne. It is an honour to have your creative thoughts which are printed in this film. With your love energy, passion and creative thoughts and encouragement this film can have its own soul finally. Thank you so much". ​Tao Gu - Taming the Horse
"Jeannette taught me the tools I needed, never having made a documentary before. She gave so much time, patience to show me, guide me and share her creativity and skills with me."  Dr. Zou Qialing, Beijing Film Academy, Qingdao Campus

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  • Welcome
  • COURSES
    • UDEMY-online-filmmaking
    • DigitalStorytelling-workshops
    • Live Classes UK
    • Scrapbooking your Soul Desire
  • Portfolio
    • Film Reviews
    • Praise
    • About Me
  • News
  • Contact