Jul 27th, 2008
My First Feature Length Film: Why do a Documentary on Dominica?
I have started the quest of making my first feature length film. It will be a documentary about the Caribbean island nation of Dominica where my mother is originally from and where she currently resides.
I think I’m a very process-oriented person. I believe in the old saying “Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan”, so I started this quest with making a plan which is (very cursorily) outlined here:
1. Development - Research and identify all things related to the making of this film.
2. Pre-Production - Get ready to shoot the film.
3. Production - Shoot the film.
4. Post-Production - Edit the film.
5. Martketing/Distribution - Get the film out for the world to see.
Someone recently asked me why I wanted to do a film about Dominica. In the midst of all this planning, I didn’t have an answer. I wasn’t even entirely sure what this film was going to be about. Should it be a general essay on Dominica and its people? Dominica on the geopolitical stage? Eco-tourism and Dominica? Dominica and China relations? What????
I think a lot of people making documentaries maybe start out with a bit of ambiguity, but I must say it was driving me bonkers. I’m a planner. I have to have at least some semblance of a plan for what the movie is about and why I’m making it, even if the plan is going to change. I have to start with something. Some direction.
So this weekend I’ve thought a lot about the “why”, and I finally have an answer. I love to tell stories. I’ve been fascinated with the art of story telling for a long time, and I admire people that can tell great stories. I want to tell a story through film about something that I’m passionate about, somewhere that I have roots, somewhere that is a part of me - Dominica. I want to introduce everyone to this little known place and it’s unique people. I want my story to be something that people will remember and reflect upon and think about. I want my story to be great. I want to be a great storyteller.
I also spent some time brainstorming with my family and friends on the theme of my documentary and the bones or exposition - the who, what, where, when and why of the film itself. I need to noodle over the output some more, but I feel that I am at a point where I now have an idea of what this film will be about. It may change, but I’m OK with that. As long as I have some idea of where I’m going, that’s a good start.
