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Other Great Episodes
Episode 51: Learning from Sundance
In this episode, Director Christian Taylor shares what it was like to visit the Sundance Film Festival and bump into celebrities (sometimes literally)! Her documentary film is almost ready to enter festivals and this turned into the perfect opportunity to ...
Episode 50: Surprised by Sundance
In this episode, Director Christian Taylor shares what it was like to take a plunge and attend the Sundance Film Festival. Listen in and hear her stories about things that she was surprised by and what she figured out not ...
Episode 49: Rerun of Episode 1: Origins
This episode originally aired on March 6th, 2019. It's been a very exciting couple of weeks and we thought it'd be good to revisit our origin story. -- Today we talk origin stories. We’re looking at how Director Christian Taylor ...
Episode 48: Process
In a previous episode, hosts Christian, Josh, and Jason discuss the important lesson of killing sacred cows (or killing your babies) in order to set aside personal emotions and improve the film. In this episode, Christian shares how this helped ...
Episode 47: Rewrite (Again)
As we near the final stages of the film, Director Christian Taylor continues to get critical feedback and has to make difficult decisions. This time, more sacred cows are cut out and voiceover work is scrapped and rewritten to accommodate ...
Episode 46: Critical Feedback
What should you do when you get critical feedback? In previous episodes, we talked about the practice of killing your babies and working with experienced consultants to make the film better. This episode is all about hearing difficult feedback and ...
Episode 45: Consultants
It's critically important to get professional help or consulting throughout the entire process of producing a film. How else would a first time filmmaker know what to look out for when trial and error are so costly in both time ...
Episode 44: Picture Lock
Thanks to the many focus groups in 2019 Christian Taylor has accumulated a long list of things to fix and improve in The Girl Who Wore Freedom. The goal is to be "picture locked" by February 6th so that we ...
Episode 43: Rights & Clearances
When you're making a film, remember to take notes about the archival footage, usage rights, and sources for everything added to the film. Learn from our first time filmmaker, Christian Taylor as she talks to co-hosts Josh Lindsay and Jason ...
Episode 42: Birthday in TN
Christian Taylor visits her family in Tennessee and (surprise, surprise), she screens the film. While she was there she hears new stories that make her start thinking about her next film. (Is there some sort of filmmakers Stockholm syndrome?) She ...
In this episode, host Christian Taylor interviews Alex Ivany, a visual storyteller, about his journey in the documentary filmmaking industry. Alex shares his passion for social and racial justice, which led him to work on projects that shed light on marginalized communities. He discusses his role as a producer and editor on the film “Ifine: Beauty”, which explores the issue of skin bleaching in Sierra Leone. Alex also provides tips for aspiring filmmakers, emphasizing the importance of networking, continuous learning, and finding a mentor. The episode concludes with a call to support the film and join the documentary filmmaking community.
Takeaways
• Networking and asking questions are essential for aspiring filmmakers to gain knowledge and opportunities.
• Putting in the hours of practice and learning from experienced mentors can help filmmakers improve their craft.
• Volunteering and helping others in the industry can lead to valuable connections and opportunities.
• Filmmakers have the power to tell stories that promote social justice and shed light on marginalized communities.
• Continuous education and staying informed about social issues are crucial for documentary filmmakers.
DocuView Dèjà Vu:
Alex:
Searching for Sugar Man (2012) – IMDb
The Last Repair Shop (2023) – IMDb
Christian:
Timecodes
00:00 Introduction
00:27 Introduction of Guest and Film
03:08 Guest’s Background and Journey into Filmmaking
08:28 Transition to Editing and Working on ’13th’
14:14 Transition to Producing and “Ifine: Beauty”
20:49 Passion for Social Justice and Racial Justice
24:07 Origin of “Ifine: Beauty” and Topic of Skin Bleaching
30:54 Life Cycle of the Film and Festival Circuit
35:22 Availability of the Film and Social Media
38:48 Reception of the Film in Sierra Leone
42:52 Tips for New Filmmakers
47:35 Importance of Education and Social Justice Filmmaking
48:26 Closing Remarks and Call to Action