Documentary Diaries

Alan Rosenthal is Adjunct Professor of Communications at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a documentary film-maker

'Alan Rosenthal doesn't make personal documentaries. Instead he writes autobiographical accounts of creating them; and he does so unashamedly in the guise of teacher, guide and practical theoretician. The documentary diaries is the latest in a unique series of memoirs-come-handbooks: a "how-to" guide grounded in the realities of documentary production from the moment of personal inspiration to the aftermath of audience reception. Rosenthal is one of the few practitioners able to reflect on his filmmaking experience to such good effect.'Brian Winston, University of Lincoln'Rosenthal's often wry reflections on a life in documentary film-making mix well-grounded insights into the challenges of the genre with sharp practical advice for those keen to try their hand.'John Corner, University of Leeds‘‘Why hadn’t I understood that you don’t choose documentary subjects, they choose you?’ Alan Rosenthal states, unequivocally, in his recent book The Documentary Diaries (p. 23). It is a nugget of advice typical of the book as a whole and delivered in the easy going, rhetorical way that will be familiar to those who have followed Rosenthal’s written work on documentary to date, in particularly his previous practical guides referenced below. For the pearl of wisdom is not found just in the idea, but in Rosenthal’s articulation of it, and the characterisation of the documentary subject as a ‘sly bastard of an idea’ that ‘comes up from behind and bashes you behind the ear’ as you are ‘sneaking along in your usual doze’ (p. 23) tells us something about both creativity and the person doing the creating.’Richard Wallace, University of Warwick, Critical Studies in Television: The International Journal of Television Studies

• Introduction1. Learning the ropes2. Married to the MarimbaProduction notes: budgets3. Stalin's Last PurgeProduction notes: writing narration4. Inspiration5. Adolf Eichmann: The Secret MemoirsProduction notes: the production contract6. The Brink of PeaceProduction notes: writing the proposal7. The First Fagin8. Pitch perfect9. Beyond the Velvet Curtain10. Best advice11. Hopes and DreamsProduction notes: the family filmAppendix: Production detailsIndex