Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Sheila Curran Bernard’s ability to dissect a wide range of narrative apporaches and explore the elements that make dramatic stories so compelling make this guide invaluable for documentary filmmakers as well as anyone who uses information and evidence to portray real events.” -Dr. Pennee Bender, Media Director, Center for Media and Learning, City University of New York, The Graduate Center.
“With all the buzz over blockbuster docs, Focal Press serves up a perfectly timed winner in a much-neglected area. True to the nature of the beast, the book is more about filmmaking as a whole, and how and where storytelling weaves into the overall process”.-Bruce Mckenna, Canadian Screenwriter (Writers Guild of Canada)
“Bernard is keenly aware of the power of persuasive images, and her insistence on complexity and integrity is a consistant theme throughout the book.”- Alyssa Worsham, The Independent (Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers)
“With the availability of high-quality affordable cameras and editing equipment, documentary filmmakers today enjoy a freedom in shaping their films that their counterparts a decade ago could’t have imaged. As the new aesthetic is shaped, Sheila Curran Bernard’s brilliant and effective Documentary Storytelling, Second Edition: Making Stronger and More Dramatic Nonfiction films aims to guide the Erroll Morrises of tomorrow with great advice and practical knowledge that every documentatian would benefit from.”-Backstage March 22, 2007
A. Sanchez De Vega –
Is a great book that covers all aspects of documentary filmmaking and have great interviews with experienced documentary filmmakers that takes the most of their practical approach to the subject, with very down to earth viewpoint that sometimes we forget to apply, although is very a logical, common sense approach.
Jonathan Kugel –
A reference book that can be useful for any kind of storytelling. As good for beginners as for professionals to remind you that there is rules to follow to tell story but that it’s your responsibility to follow them or to bend them.
JJR –
I am reading this book now for the 3rd time and am getting more and more from it. Now that I am more seriously attacking my story telling skills in the middle of a documentary film, Bernard nails exactly what I want to know. The interviews from legends like Jon Else and so many others bring a personal encouragement like I’ve just attended a seminar with a master. This is a must to develop your storytelling skills in filmmaking.
Barry Hampe –
There’s no point to making a documentary if no one wants to watch it. This book is all about giving your documentary film a story structure that will grab your viewers’ attention from the opening and keep them with you to the conclusion – and doing so without compromising the integrity of the documentary message.In my seminar, “Three Essentials in Making a Documentary,” the second essential is structuring a story. And it ends with the recommendation that anyone making a documentary should own this book.
Joe Nugent –
This book does emphasize the overwhelming importance of the story for the documentary. Without a dramatic story, without heroes and villains, your documentary will be dull and not well received. The story will make up for most technical flaws. If for no other reason this book is well worth reading. I can’t remember any thing else about it
Matthew M. Nelson –
Coming from someone with little to no experience with documentaries, this book seems to fly by as a clear and concise “how-to” book for documentarians. The author’s many examples were very helpful.
Aphra Omega –
This is probably the best book I have read concerning the art of documentary story “showing.” Visual stories, documentary or narrative, should be shown and this book will teach how its done. Documentary needn’t be boring, uneventful, or strictly dictatorial. Professionals and novices’ alike can benefit from this book.
Joshua M. Gippin –
Whether you produce fiction or nonfiction films, it’s all about the story…and how you tell it. Sheila Curran Bernard imparts pearls of wisdom that cut to the core of the creative work we documentarists do. Thank you for a wonderful read!
P.L© –
Five Stars
An excellent insight into doc story telling fundementals