It's been awhile since I posted. I became an educator for four years teaching film production in South Central Los Angeles at the high school level. I learned more than I could ever imagine. I was able to use my creativity to design lesson plans and effectively teach young people how to tell stories. It was an honor. At the same time, I missed telling stories through my own films. I left teaching in the classroom for now, but I have my Arts, Media and Entertainment CTE teaching credential so I can always go back. For the past year I've been busy creating two of my own films and am working on a third soon. Not bad for my first year back!

There are several steps to create a documentary. Having a thirst for knowledge is definitely a must. Having a desire to share knowledge with others is key as well. If you don't have a team of people you are working with, it is still possible to create a film!

Below are the steps I take as a ONE PERSON TEAM with NO BUDGET!

1. COMING UP WITH AN IDEA

2. RESEARCHING THE SUBJECT, WHETHER IT'S A DOC ABOUT A PERSON OR A POLITICAL MOVEMENT, YOU SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA OF YOUR SUBJECT BEFORE YOU DIVE IN.

3. FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT BY THE END OF THE FILM.

4. DECIDING ON A DOCUMENTARY STYLE. WILL IT BE AN EXPOSITORY, OBSERVATIONAL, POETIC, PERFORMATIVE, PARTICIPATORY, REFLECTIVE DOCUMENTARY OR ANOTHER STYLE?

5. WRITING YOUR SCRIPT. I WRITE A BROADCAST STYLE SCRIPT. IT INCLUDES: TEXT ON SCREEN, IF ANY. B-ROLL IMAGES/VIDEO, VOICEOVER WITH THE WRITTEN SCRIPT AND THE TIME EACH SCENE TAKES WITH THE VOICEOVER.

6. GETTING ALL OF YOUR PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT IN PLACE. THIS INCLUDES: CAMERAS, LENSES, SOUND EQUIPMENT LIKE LAVALIER MICS.

7. GATHERING FOOTAGE, SHOOTING YOUR OWN OR STOCK

8. DOING INTERVIEWS WITH EXPERTS IF IT IS NECESSARY

9. DOING THE VOICEOVER AND FINDING MUSIC

10. EDITING IT ALL TOGETHER!