Documentaries, as I was introduced to them growing up, were always about the things no one cared about, like photosynthesis, or that guy who died three thousand years ago. But now, I've started to notice they are about so much more. They cover everything from the mundane to the fantastic, and instead of just presenting facts as interpreted by the filmmaker, they stir emotions and attempt to inspire action.
Outreach is a daunting task for filmmakers. Not only do they have a film to create, but they may also need the support of a community which they are portraying. And afterwards, they need to get their film seen. The best way to do that is to use the community, which is probably well established at this point. Instead of devoting the documentary website to itself, and using it as the location for discussion, it could direct individuals to note worthy sites that have already started the discussion. The Meatrix does a good job of not only creating a site for itself, but it also provides an easy way to connect with Gracelinks, it's parent site, as well as other associated sites.
In other cases, the filmmaker may need to start the discussion, and there are numerous venues for them to do so. Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, LiveJournal, YouTube, and many other sites are a good way to start a conversation. The difficult part is in maintaining the medium. With free services, the creator is responsible for keeping track of comments and entries. However, some sites, such as slashdot, allow user to decide what entries are popular, and what comments are worthy of being read. As long as the creator is an active participant, and is open to making changes and learning along the way, he or she should be able to get the ball rolling.
One example of what not to do can be found at the site for the film Deliver Us From Evil. The documentary is of a very sensitive nature, and the filmmaker went to great lengths (deciding to monitor the conversation) to provide a nurturing environment for conversation. However, the site has been around since July 2009, at the earliest, and is still "under construction." While the creator obviously wanted to avoid trolls (not about trolls, but often a result of them) and Rick rolling, there is no discussion, no reviews, and no link to other forums.
Outreach isn't easy, but it can be accomplished as long as a creator is active in the community, open to new ides, and uses the appropriate resources.
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ReplyDeleteI wonder about outreach? Are we prepared to lose control of our “baby” when we send it out in the digital world? Community is such a comfort word. Bestiary may be more apropos?
ReplyDeleteWhen the earliest images on film were launched just after Marie Antoinette watched the Montgolfier Hot Air Balloon soar over the palace lawn; the human heart purportedly soared with optimism for what beauty, what cultural wonders awaited us on film.
I ponder the reaction of that community to the films we have been viewing. I have questions and more questions about multiplatform. How long is long enough for a website attached to a specific project to exist and fulfill its original intent. Will your best efforts be digitally hijacked and used by the forces of darkness? My jury is still deliberating...