Race in the Documentary Filmmaking Community

The Documentary Life

Questions of race and who has the right to tell another person's or culture's or race's stories have recently been at the forefront of the documentary community's collective consciousness.

More than that, it's been the subject of recent debate and discussion, whether in industry-led panels, major publications, or social media.

Documentary filmmaker and TDL host, Chris G. Parkhurst, delves into this difficult, sometimes divisive discussion with two of documentary's own, Marjan Safinia and Grace Lee.

Topics Discussed

• how Safinia and Lee came to collaborate on PBS' And She Could Be Next
• overlook at discussions of race in the documentary community over the past few months
• who has the right to tell a story and why
• how people of color in the American documentary industry can have less access and resources than their white counterparts
• How minorities are looking to reclaim and change the way that their stories are being told

Additional Resources

Teaser, And She Could Be Next

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPgO1J-Y2DY

Continuing the Discussion with The D-Word

Today's episode is only the beginning of the conversation. Now it's time to have your voice heard, #doclifer!

So where can you do this?

THE D-WORD

WHAT IS THE D-WORD

The D-Word began in 1996 as a series of online journal entries by filmmaker Doug Block depicting the joy and angst of making and selling his feature documentary, Home Page. In the words of Mr. Block, "it was meant to inform, inspire, humor and depress the hell out of working or aspiring documentary filmmakers, or anyone else interested in the filmmaking process, for that matter!"

We had Doug on the show way back in EPISODE #105, where he discussed those early days working as an independent documentary filmmaker. And how this would lead him to creating the first incarnation of The D-Word.

The D-Word has long-since evolved into a virtual community and is now the largest, longest-running one of its kind, currently numbering more than 19,000 members from 147 countries.

Its focus is now on hosting free discussions on documentary film and production and leading a documentary life. Sound familiar?

Get started with The D-Word today, by completing their free APPLICATION.

Sponsors & Thank Yous

° Free Music Archive – Special Thank You to recording artist, Dlay who supplied music for this week’s episode of TDL. You too can download his music or other artists’ music by going to Free Music Archive today!

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