Making Documentary Films and Videos: A Practical Guide to Planning, Filming, and Editing Documentaries

Good primer on the documentary form
Several reviews on Amazon criticize this author for supposedly injecting his personal political views into the book, but I don’t see it that way. Hampe is clearly on a crusade, but it’s a crusade against what has come to be called ‘attack video’. And perhaps it’s not so much a crusade, as it is an appeal for a return to long-lost objectevity.It’s fashionable to say, these days, that objectivity doesn’t exist, and that we are all captive to our points of view. Perhaps we are, but the best documentaries transcend point of view. I have seen great documentaries on controversial subjects where I couldn’t tell the documentarian’s position on the subject matter. I have seen people leave these screenings arguing both sides of the issue, and both citing evidence from the film.I have seen other great documentaries where the filmmaker presents both sides of a case and states a personal conclusion. In some cases, I agree with the documentarian, and in others I do not. But in every case, I believe a fair shake was given to both sides.I think that’s what Hampe tries to teach in this book. And in an era where the documentary form has degenerated into the sort of partisan bickering that has swamped political dialog, he makes a very worthy effort. Let’s face it; anybody can shoot an attack piece without a whole lot of effort. How tough is it, really, to stage an ambush interview? It is far more difficult to construct an intelligent documentary with enough visual punch and dramatic structure to engage the viewer and keep them engaged up to the closing credits.The book does a good job teaching the novice filmmaker how to do that. It’s not very different from prepping a work of fiction, but it is hard work–particularly if one aspires to rise above the level of boredom. Hampe does a very good job of laying out a process for doing so, and I have found the book to be highly illuminating. I can recommend it without reservation.

Making Documentary Films
I rarely read a book from cover to cover (including appendices), except for Barry Hampe’s Making Documentary Films and Videos. I like the comprehensive coverage of the subject and the many practical examples. Expressing issues visually (rather than talking at the audience by voice-over or interviews) and the emphasis on verisimilitude are particularly helpful points. The book is well organized, well indexed and contains ample useful references. Emphasis on issues such as truth, what is evidence, and examining one’s motives is particularly appreciated. The book is very well written, and I will likely re-read it and use it as a reference in the future.

Fully enlightening on Documentary films. I had wrong notion about documentary being dull n boaring. The book – Barry Hampe – has put it in so nuch detail that page after page my interest rose n also found the charm in film making on facts.A very in depth knowledge imparted in the book with actual examples of script, proposal, screenplay that thrown full light on the subject.Highly reccommended to all those who wish to enter film making.

very interesting to read. it really explains how a documentary should be done. everyone who wants to make one, should read it. also if you are just interested in the topic.

For my son, brilliant book and fast delivery