How to begin filmmaking?

[Laurel Mazur]

I am starting a human rights documentary filmmaking club at my university this fall. I was wondering if anyone can give me tips on how to start this process and some good documentary ideas. I have noticed that a lot of documentaries focusing on human rights issues in other countries are filmed in that country, and, as a group of college students, we do not have that resource at our disposal. With that said, I am looking for ideas of documentaries that could be done in Denver with a human rights focus. Any ideas or tips on where to start would be fantastic!

[Todd Bradley]

Are you looking for ideas specifically in Denver, or could you expand your area to all of Colorado?

Here are a few ideas off the top of my head:

1) Find foreign students at your school who are from countries with poor human rights records, and have them tell their family stories in their own words.

2) The Sand Creek Massacre happened in Colorado

3) The Japanese internment camps in WWII happened in Colorado

4) Look into why only one of the ten Native American tribes who lived in Colorado before 1800 has a reservation here now, and tell the stories of what happened to the other nine tribes

5) Tell the story of the farm town of Dearfield, Colorado. Why was it founded, and by whom? What challenges did they have getting water rights for their farms? Why doesn't the town exist anymore?

[Laurel Mazur]

Thanks so much for the ideas! I am probably going to pursue the one focusing on human rights areas of the world from the viewpoint of international students at my school.

Also, I have an idea to pass by everyone, it would be great for some feedback. I was thinking an initial documentary to start the filmmaking off would be to raise awareness of human rights from the viewpoint of people in America (I was thinking of putting up a casting notice on here, around my university, and to students and faculty), about what they know about human rights. It would hopefully have the effect that we need to gain awareness of human rights across America. I know that was kind of choppy put into words, but does the general idea sound interesting?

[Mark Dissette]

Before you start putting up notices some advice (fell free not to take it no one else does :) Get your team together and build a basic structure of what you want to achieve in the film. What questions you would ask who are the people you want to reach your audience and what is the end product. Also you can build on paper where to start and track where you are. These are the less sexy things that people don't do it's much easier (at the start) to just grab a camera and start shooting but then you end up with interviews and footage that may not work and you have to start over so do your due dilligence and pre-produce your film. Who, what, when, where, why and why not are great places to start.

[Laurel Mazur]

Yeah thanks so much for the advice! That is the outline of my plan but I guess I was moreso wondering if you think it would be interesting. I have heard mixed reviews on the idea and just wanted to gain feedback. Thanks :D

[Mark Dissette]

Todd has some great ideas you could also start at the Denver Public Library's Western Heritage section and the Colorado History Museum to get some ideas by breaking into research teams and picking the best idea also with little money getting to know the folks at these places would help you build resourses as well.

[Laurel Mazur]

Thanks, that is awesome advice! I have heard, and experienced, that you get the most done through the connections you gain :D