The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

Sue Collins

🌒 Welcome to The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast - great to have you here!

Join us every week as we dive into untouched areas of filmmaking that go above and beyond conventional film school teachings.

Your host, Sue Collins, will navigate you through the independent filmmaking industry, guiding you to amplify your craft and foster sustainable careers.
With over 15 years of experience in documentary and impact films, Sue's expertise has resonated globally, captivating audiences through various platforms from Cinema releases, VOD, broadcast television and everything in between.

Get ready to explore the constantly evolving landscape of indie filmmaking as Sue shares invaluable insights into the business while equipping you with tips and advice to produce films that make your intended impact and reach the hearts of your audiences, no matter where they are in the world.

Tune in weekly to fuel your creative endeavours and boost your projects to their fullest potential - we're here to help make your goals in the film industry a vibrant reality ⭐️

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Top 10 The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

How to write a video script

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

05/17/20 • 18 min

Perhaps writing a video script seems like a really complicated process to you. So much so that you’ve never actually tried.
But if you get some good pointers you’ll be off and running, or writing in this case. It’s not a great mystery. You don’t need a literary degree or any professional copywriting skills. You just need the ability to work through the process.

And in this episode of the Moonshine Moonshot series, we are going to walk you through the process on how to write a video script. By the end, you’ll

Know how to plan out the length of your video script.

How to structure the script - beginning, middle, end.
How to start the script in a way that grabs attention.
Important visual elements.
Custom thumbnail tips.
What is an AV script?
How to work focus keywords into the script.
How to create versions of your script or video.
How to plan what people see as well as the dialogue or narration.
How to source music for your video.

Don't forget to subscribe to Moonshine Agency's Moonshine Moonshot podcast on your favourite podcast platform.
Or
YouTube channel to get all the latest episodes of the Moonshine Moonshot series. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC58nfY3gDeEuytZT_ZWQhaw
Moonshine Agency Facebook @moonshinestories https://www.facebook.com/MoonshineStories/
Instagram @moonshineagency https://www.instagram.com/moonshineagency/
Twitter @moonshineagency https://twitter.com/MoonshineAgency
LinkedIn Mike Hill https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehillmoonshineagency/
LinkedIn Sue Collins https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-collins-moonshine-agency/
LinkedIn Company Page Moonshine Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/2554319/admin/

📩 Want to stay up to date with the latest? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all the inside news and resources to make you the best impact filmmaker in the business (plus, we'll send you our free e-book when you sign up - you’re welcome!)
Find & Follow Moonshine Communications Academy on social:
Website: www.moonshinecommunicationsacademy.com
Facebook: Moonshine Communications Academy Page
Instagram: @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
LinkedIn: Sue Collins [Host] || Moonshine Communications Academy Page [ Company Page]
X: @moonshinecomms

Ep. 52 Building your film website

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

02/14/23 • 15 min

Welcome back filmmakers! it's now time for you to start thinking outside of your film... I’m not trying to be deep or metaphorical here!
Your documentary is the centerpiece of a network of different materials that all compliment each other, and one element of this network is the website.
And yes! You do need to start thinking about your website in pre-production. You can never be too careful when it comes to website development. Maybe it will take weeks or maybe it will take months. But it will definitely be a gamble.
For MORE INFO check out our blog:
https://www.moonshinecommunicationsacademy.com/blog
You can also follow us on social via these links:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MoonshineCommunicationsAcademy
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/moonshinecommunicationsacademy/
TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/MoonshineComms
LinkedIn Mike Hill
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehillmoonshineagency/
LinkedIn Sue Collins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-collins-moonshine-agency/
LinkedIn Company Page Moonshine Communications Academy https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/moonshine-communications-academy

Choosing which path to as a filmmaker in the film industry Ep 90

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

02/19/24 • 23 min

Welcome to your first Moonshine Moonshot podcast for 2024!
In the 90th episode, I'm (Sue Collins) reflecting on my own journey in the film industry, and discussing the different paths you - as a filmmaker - can take to help kickstart your film career: from freelancing, to working for others, or even running your own show.
I'm sharing some of the learnings I have from starting out as a freelancer filmmaker to spending the last 14 years running successful impact film production house Moonshine Agency.
This episode will help you with practical advice on navigating through the film industry, learning beyond film school, and breaking into new opportunities, all while guiding you towards the path that suits your filmmaking needs.
If you're not sure which direction you want to take then listen in to find out how you can make filmmaking a sustainable career, create meaningful work and build thriving audiences for your films.

Curious about the Moonshine Agency films mentioned in this episode? Explore them today!
Website: LIFE Before Death
YouTube: LIFE Before Death
Visit Moonshine Agency for more Impact Films
What would YOU like to hear about next? We’d love to hear your thoughts and questions about the constantly evolving filmmaking industry. You can contact us on Instagram @moonshinecommunicationsacademy or send us an email at [email protected].

Ep. 43 How to pitch your film

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

12/05/22 • 19 min

This week, I show you how to create a pitch video and sell your film to potential funders.
If you’re an aspiring documentary filmmaker with an important story to share, there’s one thing you need to get straight how to pitch your film to potential funders.
Ah yes, the dreaded ‘p” word. If you’ve been keeping across the How to make a documentary series, I'm sure you knew this one was coming up.
Last week, I looked closely at crafting a compelling proposal. And the week before that I zoned in on pre-interviews, which are often used as part of pitching your film idea. Now the time has come to really dig into it.
The thought of pitching leaves most filmmakers with an icky pang in the pit of their stomachs. Maybe it’s because it implies a certain level of salesmanship and we’re “creatives”. Maybe it’s because the idea of “pitching” and what it means is still a bit blurry or perhaps it’s because pitching can be connected to public speaking and public speaking is rated as a greater fear than death.
Maybe your worried about all of the above. And quite possibly it’s also because your film really matters to you and you want to get the green light to make it. So the answer to your pitch is very important to you. No one wants to get a no. Not from a potential funder.
But, if you want to make a film – a really, really good film – you do need to learn to embrace the concept of pitching and raise some finance.
Pitches put you front and centre with decision makers who can finance and champion your film. In short: if you want to bring your vision to life, you need to master the process.
Listen now and I'll show you how!
Want to learn more from me? Head to www.MoonshineCommunicationsAcademy.com to find more great content and resources including my free ebook that will help you craft a compelling video story
Connect on social:
YouTube: @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
Instagram @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
Facebook: @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/moonshine-communications-academy/

Ep. 42 Ingredients for a successful documentary film proposal

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

11/30/22 • 17 min

Filmmaking is a time consuming endeavour. While it might take someone less than 90 minutes to consume and fall in love with your film, it takes you and your team countless hours, many sleepless nights and endless shots of espresso to pull it all together.
From storyboarding your narrative to perfecting your script, securing talent and selecting locations and lets not to forget the actual filming and editing part! – let’s face it, a lot of blood, sweat and tears goes into making a movie.

However there is one part of the filmmaking process that can feel like it takes an eternity to create and get right. And it actually has very little to do with the overall look of your documentary feature film...but oh boy, can it make or break your production!

I’m talking about your proposal. AKA your ticket to funding your project. Because while documentary filmmaking will give you a great sense of accomplishment it also carries more than a few challenges. And writing a great proposal is one of them. A great proposal is directly related to the single biggest factor in determining if your film will be made. Finance!

And securing enough finance or funding to make what you envisioned in your mind is probably one of the biggest challenges a filmmaker faces.

Which is why in this episode I wanted to take a close look at crafting a proposal that’s so convincing, it’ll have potential funders begging to get behind you and your documentary. Writing proposals is something I do regularly and I’ve learned a lot of tips and tricks that help to get the structure and tone right. What to include and what to leave out. And sometimes it’s what you leave out that makes it more successful!
Listen now.
Want to learn more from me? Head to www.MoonshineCommunicationsAcademy.com to find more great content and resources including my free ebook that will help you craft a compelling video story
Connect on social:
YouTube: @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
Instagram @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
Facebook: @moonshinecommunicationsacademy
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/moonshine-communications-academy/

A 12-Step Plan to Produce Your Indie Film - Ep78

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

09/19/23 • 18 min

In this episode, Sue Collins takes you through a 12-step plan to produce an indie film. The inspiration for this episode came from a post on the @MoonshineCommunicationsAcademy Instagram page, which had a basic outline of the 12 steps. However, due to the limited space on Instagram, the post didn't expand on each step and so that's what Sue does in this episode. Overall, the 12 steps discussed in this episode provide a roadmap for turning an idea into a cinematic reality.
The steps and relevant podcast episodes that dive deeper into each step are:
1. Develop a Clear Concept:
- Ep42 Ingredients for a successful documentary film proposal Listen here
-Ep35 How to develop your documentary Part 1 Ideation Listen here

2. Thorough Research:
- Ep 41 How to master pre-interviews Listen here

3. Create a Detailed Plan:
-Ep 44 How to effectively plan out your films pre-production phase. Listen here
- Ep 36 How to develop your documentary part 2 is planning. Listen here

4. Build a Strong Team:
- Ep 56 How to assemble the best crew to make your documentary film. Listen here

5. Secure Funding:
- Ep 43 How to pitch your film. Listen here
- Ep 34 How do you get your film funded? The three questions you must know who to answer. Listen here

6. Production / Capture Footage:
- Ep 54 The 5 key types of shoots you’ll do during documentary film production. Listen here
- Ep 53 - Looking at the big picture. Listen here

7. Embrace Flexibility:
- Ep 67 Being adaptable is vital for indie filmmakers. Listen here

8. Focus on Storytelling:

9. Post Production:

10. Legal Considerations:
- Ep57 The importance of getting consent from your film participants. Listen here

11. Marketing and PR Strategy:
- Ep 69 is all about how to define the ideal audience for your film. Listen here
- Ep 68 ho two use publicity to promote your film. Listen

Ep.38 How to stay creatively motivated as a filmmaker

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

10/31/22 • 12 min

This questions is a big one! How to stay creatively motivated as a filmmaker? You’re no doubt hoping for a magic answer, a simple technique that would pull you thought and keep you feeling on top of it all. Because when filmmaking gets tough, when you feel like it’s a grind and you’re getting nowhere. It’s had to stay motivated and you need a way to get through.

There are definitely times in filmmaking, or any pursuit really, where it feels impossible, thankless or just crushing.

There have have been occasions where I find myself daydreaming about abandoning the camera, ripping up my storyboards and going to work on a cruise ship in the Caribbean.
And why don’t I? Well, I also have this unrelenting urge to produce movies that make a difference. So deep down, I know I will stick with the filmmaking thing. But that passion alone is not enough to keep me motivated.

So what is motivation. Is it something you ‘have’ or is it something you ‘find’? If you think motivation is something you should just have then you might find the info I’m going to share with you helpful because some small shifts in your expectations could really make a difference when you're trying to stay on track.
In filmmaking there are certainly a a bunch of roadblocks that can regularly bring me down – securing the right funder, having time to get everything done, battling the challenging distribution process ... On and on it goes.
It can be incredibly frustrating and the amount of work involved in filmmaking that’s not about creative outputs can be tedious. And that’s where motivation can wane (hence the daydreaming).
Which is why I wanted to use part 4 of the How to develop your documentary or narrative film series to dissect how filmmakers find the motivation to do what they do when the going gets tough.
Because no doubt you’ll get struck down by a lack of motivation at some point in your filmmaking career. Maybe your camera guy bails on you. Or a key talent pulls out at the last minute. Perhaps you just received more feedback than expected on your latest script.
While it can be crushing, I promise, it’s just part of journey – and you will get through it. You just need to have a few techniques to turn to when things are getting you down.
If you’re suddenly thinking to yourself, Part 4! What? I’ve wandered in halfway through a series and I have no clue what’s going on’ – don’t fret. You can catch up on parts 1,2 and 3 via the below links.

How to develop your documentary series part 1 - Ideation

How to develop your documentary series part 2 - Planning

How to develop your documentary series part 3 - Conquering Imposter Syndrome

How to write an effective YouTube video description

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

08/05/20 • 7 min

An updated podcast episode with current information is now available. S2 Ep88 How to write an effective YouTube description and promote your video (PART 1) https://www.buzzsprout.com/846682/14136918
How do you write an effective video description so that your video can be discovered on YouTube? And does it matter? As YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world, you need to tap into that power. After all, if you're going to the effort of making a video, you want people to find it and watch it, don't you?
There are a few key things you need to do to give your description the best chance of being as useful as it can be.
- Keywords,
- Length,
- How to write it.
In this weeks episode Mike and Sue discuss all three points and provide useful advice on how to do it.
Don't forget to subscribe to Moonshine Agency's Moonshine Moonshot podcast on your favourite podcast platform.
Or
YouTube channel to get all the latest episodes of the Moonshine Moonshot series. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC58nfY3gDeEuytZT_ZWQhaw
Moonshine Agency Facebook @moonshinestories https://www.facebook.com/MoonshineStories/
Instagram @moonshineagency https://www.instagram.com/moonshineagency/
Twitter @moonshineagency https://twitter.com/MoonshineAgency
LinkedIn Mike Hill https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehillmoonshineagency/
LinkedIn Sue Collins https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-collins-moonshine-agency/
LinkedIn Company Page Moonshine Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/2554319/admin/

Ep. 48 Building your documentary production team

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

01/17/23 • 15 min

Creating a documentary can be daunting process. But if you are tenacious, each week, you’ll get closer to seeing your ideas become a reality.
To continue forward, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of pre-production. Which means working out exactly who is going to be working on your masterpiece.
A production team is made up from a broad range of roles. From pre production to post, it’s best to know exactly who you're hiring to avoid any unwanted surprises down the line
For MORE INFO check out my blog:
https://www.moonshinecommunicationsac...
You can also follow me on social via these links:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MoonshineCom...
INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/moonshineco...
TWITTER:
https://twitter.com/MoonshineComms
LinkedIn Mike Hill
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehillm...
LinkedIn Sue Collins

How to use your video for advocacy

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

06/29/20 • 11 min

How to use your video for advocacy.
If you’re looking for a way to share information, generate awareness, tell a story that gets people into action, or want to get people fired up to make a change, video is a great tool.
Not only can you tell a story in the video but it makes it easy to share with the world. You can easily share the video online, across social media, add it to your email signature, share links, host screenings. So many options.
In this weeks episode, Mike and I break down how you can use video for advocacy to progress your mission.
Check it out and let us know what you think? Was it helpful?
You might also find our episode on How to distribute your video useful https://youtu.be/GMI_wmo_l4s
or our ep on Outreach in filmmaking https://youtu.be/DSCbrtACTBs
They are packed with ideas on how to get your films and videos out into the world.
Don't forget to subscribe to Moonshine Agency's Moonshine Moonshot podcast on your favourite podcast platform.
Or
YouTube channel to get all the latest episodes of the Moonshine Moonshot series. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC58nfY3gDeEuytZT_ZWQhaw
Moonshine Agency Facebook @moonshinestories https://www.facebook.com/MoonshineStories/
Instagram @moonshineagency https://www.instagram.com/moonshineagency/
Twitter @moonshineagency https://twitter.com/MoonshineAgency
LinkedIn Mike Hill https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehillmoonshineagency/
LinkedIn Sue Collins https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-collins-moonshine-agency/
LinkedIn Company Page Moonshine Agency https://www.linkedin.com/company/2554319/admin/

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast have?

The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast currently has 121 episodes available.

What topics does The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast cover?

The podcast is about Filmmaking, Filmmaker, Content Marketing, How To, Podcasts, Education, Communications and Tv & Film.

What is the most popular episode on The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast?

The episode title 'Ep. 42 Ingredients for a successful documentary film proposal' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast?

The average episode length on The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast is 15 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast released?

Episodes of The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast?

The first episode of The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast was released on Jan 31, 2020.

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The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast

Sue Collins

Top 10 The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast have?

What topics does The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast cover?

What is the most popular episode on The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast?

What is the average episode length on The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast?

How often are episodes of The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast released?

When was the first episode of The Documentary Filmmaker Podcast?

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