Prophet Wanted: Entry-Level Position, No Tablets or Burning Bush Required

[sugarimp]

New York Times, USA
Aug. 28, 2006
Michael Luo

The help-wanted ad had the whiff of a practical joke. “Documentary will pay you $5,000 to start your own religion,” it said. “No exp. necessary.”“I laughed out loud,” said Joshua Boden, 35, a bald-headed bassist in an indie rock band, the Angelic Bombs, who stumbled across the ad in the Village Voice

Comments

[metahara]

Andy Deemer, 33, an independent filmmaker
wants to be a famous filmaker with the power to greenlight any film or show he dreams up.
exploiting the subjects of his docu. is his ticket. period. It is so transparent.

[octi_stripe]

I think that it would be possible to approach this project in a non-exploitive way. He did choose a religion he could follow rather than someone who might be more entertaining in thier radical beliefs.

[metahara]

I don't understnad the nature of your comment. Are you defending the film maker?
it's an opinion. I think he's trying ot make his mark and is exploiting to do oit, you're entitled to your opnion. Mine comes fom 10 years in the industry, maybe i am jaded, maybe I've come across this sort of thing too much, maybe I'm wise. I get a feeling this guy is exploiting to further his film career.

[octi_stripe]

I was defending him, but it could just be becasue I've been joking a lot about starting my own religion lately. I see that he's just trying to make a name for himself, but perhaps since I'm just getting started with documentaries myself, I am trying remain optimistic/idealistic.

[metahara]

I've worked in documentary on and off for years...something to look at as you get started is how easily a project can go from having integrity to being exploitative. If you really just want to entertain, I hope you wont go the docu route as the person above has. I'd like to hope Docu.'s are held to a different standard (not to be confused with "reality" TV) as they may be the last vestige of indepth investigative research. As money goes, docu.s are not necessarily a way to make a living. Many who work in docu. also work in other aspects of film making, as i do.

[octi_stripe]

Thanks for the advice, I will watch out for that. I'm hoping I can maintain my integrity and ideals about the work I want to do.

I've actually been joking that I need to make up a religion for confused rich people so that they can support me, but I don't know yet what I will really do. I'm just starting a vis. anth. program, so I've got some time to figure it out.

[metahara]

grants are often the way to fund a docu and pay yourself as the documentarian/ producer/ director/editor. beyond the world of academic funding, check into Corporations...they have to give a certain amount of money to "charity". One way to get funding from them is to present the docu as socially significant AND hire people from underprivileged background that you are willing to train. That can also be a great way to build a reliable crew.

[octi_stripe]

Thanks again. That's really good to know.