In this complete guide to making documentaries, readers will find a primer that

Library Journal notes "abundantly supplies suggestions for those in the business" and says "casual readers will savor stories about the genre’s history.”

“I have a great idea for a documentary. Now what do I do?” The Documentarian: The Way to a Successful and Creative Professional Life is the ultimate go-to source for making documentaries. It explains how to conceive, shoot, and sell a documentary, along with specific advice overall in how to succeed in the independent film business. Included is wisdom from experts like film agents, publicists, festival directors, and award-winning documentary filmmakers such as Davis Guggenheim, Liz Garbus, Rachel Grady, Freida Lee Mock, Errol Morris, Sam Pollard, Michael Tollin, Frederick Wiseman, Marina Zenovich, and others. Author Roger Nygard describes his journey through the film business, including a revealing case study of the documentary Trekkies, sharing what it took to push that film to a record-setting sale to a major studio, with a huge payout for the filmmakers. Whether you’re planning just a short subject or a sweeping survey of a major topic, The Documentarian will arm you with essential knowledge and insights, as well as the inspiration to go forth and make your project a reality.