Speakers: Adrienne Becker from Killer Films Media/Level Forward, Garland Mclaurin from ITVS, Mando Rayo from The Tacos of Texas and panel moderate Pamela Torno from ITVS

In this panel discussion, four filmmakers discuss their backgrounds as filmmakers and their thoughts process when creating stories and digital documentary storytelling. Pamela Torno who is a Series Producer for ITVS and also the producer of Indie Lens Storycast YouTube channel moderated the panel as well share her thoughts in the world of filmmaking.

When it comes to documentary-style filming, it is important to understand that the goal of the filming is a different process. So the panel first discussed how the filmmaker’s process of conveying their stories and how it affects the workflow?

Adrienne Becker who is a Co-Founder of Level Forward Inc. and former CEO of Killer Content that has produced award-winning, multi-platform entertainment commented that documentary filming might be capturing the real stories and actual footage of unpracticed script, as a filmmaker there needs to be some sort of infrastructure for things to work. Garland Mclaurin who is a Peabody-Award winning filmmaker extended on the matter by explaining it is essential to understand that documentaries are “loose.” Things can change, so it is vital to be flexible with your film. He gives an example from his upcoming web-series project POPS, that will explore fatherhood for African American men, that he wanted to film a scene that would share the emotions that come with dropping off a child on their first day of daycare. However, he realized that the people he was filming for the documentary, financially could not afford daycare and the children would go the grandparent’s house. This was not the exact emotions or content he planned to have, but Garland continued with,

Stories might have to change because you never know what is going to happen due to circumstances.

Next, the panelists discuss the lifestyle and struggle of being a documentary filmmaker.  Because these films are done more for passion and not money, there is also little money to be made in the making of these films. Adrienne said that it is a challenge because it is an underfunded profession, especially web series. Therefore when it comes to production, there might have to have cuts. Mando Rayo, the co-author of the best-selling books The Tacos of Texas and producer/co-host of The Tacos of Texas digital series, extends to explain that in this field knowing how to be flexible and knowing limitations are going to be a part of any project or film.

Then the panelist leads into the topic of web series. Pamela starts by mentioning the platforms for filmmakers to showcase their stories are available, and some of the options are free. This allows filmmakers not needing high funds to have their stories shared and seen. For example, the platform YouTube has allowed many people to create a career from vlogging, tutorials, short films or home videos. This is because this platform allows for more users to see content and increase a following for video creators. This leads Pamela to comment that this platform is a no-brainer to used by filmmakers.

This panel had a great group of accomplished documentary filmmakers who had great insight into the thought process of being a filmmaker.  Their take on free platforms to be used for web series was inspiring and insightful for aspiring filmmakers. A new perspective of web series documentaries will be something to explore for future filmmakers, and This panel had the right people to discuss the progression of using the web to find their audience for their documentaries.

Featured image: Jakob Owens