The Art of the Documentary
Author: Megan Cunningham
Review by Michael Sacci

The first thing you will notice is that book reads like, well, a documentary since it is written in a journalistic format of questions and answers. In fact, the front cover promotes the book as “Ten conversations…” and because of this format the book has far more energy than if had just been a case study book written by the 10 people that were interviewed.
The book focuses on three areas of concern, directing, cinematography and editing. The variety of experience is vast and you get as much “why” as you do “how” in each process that is required to complete a film. The author/interviewer is able to capture the passion of each person she deals with and at the end you have a full appreciation of what it takes to produce a compelling documentary. Not just how to get one made but why one has to make them, along with the pitfalls that comes with this type of medium.
The book is not only for the person who hopes to become a documentary filmmaker but also for anyone interested in the art of storytelling and film in general. There is a lot of heart and passion that drives these people and it comes out throughout the book.
The book is 350 pages, but it is laid out more like a magazine with a lot of white space, photographs and along with sidebars to insert facts throughout the book. Therefore it can be a very quick read, while being a very enjoyable and informative one.
I give it 4-1/2 stars out of 5, or if I may, two thumbs up!

Mike Sacci is a moderator on the Creative Cow DVD Studio Pro forum,
a certified DVD Studio Pro Trainer and a DVD producer
with Jupiter Project in Nashville, TN.