How to make it in ...

So I decided to write a bit about my documentary that i’m editing right now.  It all started last march, when I decided to write a script about boxing.  It’s called “Comeback” and I hope it will be my next feature.  Anyway, I always liked boxing but was more of an outside observer fan than anything else. So to research the script, I decided to interview boxers and film it because, well why not?  I also started to go to local events.  Which is where I saw Jennifer Han for the first time.  As a female fighter, she probably had the best and most exciting part.  

Well about two weeks later, I went to our local golden gloves event. That’s where I met Jennifer as she was coaching her brother.  He had a fight.  Well I told her what I was doing and she agreed to talk to us. 

After talking to her, she told us about how she started in kick-boxing, how they are mostly a martial arts family and how every one of her siblings box.  All 5 of them.  (3 girls and 2 boys) So after that we decided to turn our footage into a tiny documentary.  This way I could work on something and still get my research.  

Now my favorite documentary is Exit Through the Gift Shop because it was the first documentary that had great characters as well as a great story and just a ton of cool information.  It is everything a documentary should be! 

So we followed her and her family around.  We found a fight she was having in Las Cruces that we could trail her around to book end the film and give some action to watch.  

So now I’m editing it and this is how i’m doing it:

1. Before anything, I thought about the structure of the film and what I wanted to say.  

2. After that, I started working on the film in segments, doing a backstory on El Paso (setting) first and then moving on to the press conference of Jen’s fight. 

3. Then i will start to edit the scenes while also thinking of the narration.  I have the equipment so I just record with my voice for now and lay it down.  After it’s done I’ll put in a real actor’s voice. 

And that’s really it so far, since I’m just starting.  I’ve also put the interviews on my ipod and I listen to them when I drive so I know exactly what they have to say when I get to that point.  

So that’ how I’m doing it.  I’m not sure if it’s right or how it’ll come out but we’ll see.  Film is about experimenting in everything and I’m excited for this process.  

Also watch Exit Through the Gift shop if you haven’t. It’s splendid.  

Questions/Comments?

Today the article I’m a write will be about the documentary and how I’m going about doing so feel free to ask any questions or give any advice after you read it.  

Also for those that ask I will be doing a top ten movies of the year but I want to see warhorse first so it’ll have to wait till after that!