Dan Salmon Documentary Q&A

Dan Salmon is a multi award-winning screen Director and Producer. He has written, directed and produced festival and television documentary, docudrama, reality TV, docusoap, short film and TVCs. Throughout his career he has been an active and vocal member of the industry and participated in governance and event organisation both within the industry and in other facets of his life.

 

Why do documentaries matter?

Documentaries are an incredible accessible way to tell long-form non-fiction stories. We need these stories to help us understand who we are as human beings and communities and why we do what we do. Documentaries take us inside.

Why do you make documentaries?

I love taking with small crew of people I like inside someone's life, their home, community or workplace and really trying to understand what makes them tick. Taking that footage into a small dark room with a trusted editor to then craft our pictures and sound into something that honours the integrity of our subject, the intelligence of our audience and at the same time tells a bloody good story, must be the second best job in the country. (The best job is Kim Hill's).

What makes a good documentary?

Casting, character, story. The same as makes a good narrative film, play or tv drama. Most of the same elements as a good novel or long form non-fiction piece.

Another answer might be truth, honesty and access.

I remember Caterina de Nave once saying that documentary makers should read and see everything they possibly can. Absolutely solid advice. Some of my best doco making inspiration comes from reading Harpers Magazine and listening to radio documentaries.

What documentaries have inspired you the most?

I'm never good at lists. I go back to documentaries for different reasons, often re-watching music documentaries, even bad ones if i like the music. Koyaanisqatsi, Herzog docos, Julien Temple's docos, Pictures of Susan (I know, but i mean the people not the director)

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To find out more about Dan Salmon and his work see www.nzonscreen.com/person/dan-salmon/biography

posted: 5th Dec 2013 by james