Customer Reviews

Documentary Storytelling for Video and Filmmakers

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a very well written, very practical and very useful book. It's easy to forget that making documentaries is not about the coolest new camera or the new version of FinalCut Pro. Making docs is about telling stories and that's what this book is about as well. It's simple: Read this book and you'll be a better story teller. I've always questioned the usefulness of books for teaching storytelling, but this one is so practical and straightforward that it proves that books can do the trick. It's surprisingly good - go for it!

This book was great for me as I am very new to documentary filmmaking. It was methodical but without being boring and Ms. Bernard has a very clear and deep understanding of what makes documentaries work and not work. Her experience shows throughout and having actual documentaries as reference points was tremendously helpful. I recommend this book.

Bernard's professional expertise shines through in this unique book. The book is balanced, insightful, and thorough. Bernard examines a wide range of filmmakers, bringing a critical and perceptive eye to their work. A must read for anyone interested in learning more about storytelling, structure and other essential aspects of documentary filmmaking. A practical and readable guide that is also the perfect text for upper-level college courses. Highly recommended!

It's about time someone wrote this book acknowledging the storytelling aspect of the documentary and few could have done it better than Sheila Curran Bernard. This is a must read for any serious student or teacher of the documentary form because Ms. Bernard's book is literate, informed. complete and packed with real knowledge about this difficult work.
Congratulations and let's hope for better documentarians in the future!

Practical and inspiring, this is the best book on documentary scriptwriting I've ever seen. Bernard is a thorough and knowledgeable guide, with a warm but no-nonsense approach to her audience. A must for the reference shelf -- it's full to brimming with information ranging from the technical to the spiritual, and yet it is extremely readable, like listening to a wise friend who wishes you well. Not "textbooky" at all!

In short, this book is a profoundly useful tool to help you develop your film's narrative structure (even if you don't think you need help in that department, you might be surprised by the useful tips and strategies offered here); it is worth it for that alone. The fact that it also offers in-depth advice on writing effective scripts, proposals, treatments, etc. make it impossible to resist. Clear, concise, and intelligent writing offering real-world examples from wildly diverse filmmaking approaches.

In response to the reader who says the author loves Michael Moore - I disagree. Moore is used a few times as an example but I'm guessing that's because she's guessing most people are familiar with his work. She uses him as a negative example, as well, describing how Roger & Me manipulated the chronology of events it "documented" in a way that was misleading and disingenuous.

...then this book's for you. Geared toward directors, producers, editors, and anyone (including writers), the book talks about story and structure as basic to any kind of film. Also has interviews with experts on archival use, historical films, cinema verite and more. Useful and straightforward.

Reading technical books is hard for me, sometimes it makes my brain hurt. Documentary Storytelling I found informative and reasonable to read. I am glad I own it. I usually go to the library, it's cheaper. It gives excellent outlines for how to do outlines, treatments and scripts for different kinds of documentary films. Good overall informative book if your going through your documentary film stage.

As I said...it's extremely helpful for beginner like me.
It contains ideas of documentary filmmaking, documentary narratives, examples.
I get the information and idea about documentary filmmaking as much as the beginner like me want.

This book should be in every screenwriting curriculum in America. Sheila Curran Bernard knows what she's talking about, and, unlike others in this field, she is eminently capable of conveying that knowledge in a clear, unassuming, generous manner. Five BIG stars for this excellent guidebook.