Documentary Filmmaker

Documentary Filmmaker / Producer Wanted for Feature-Length Music Biopic We are seeking an experienced documentary filmmaker, writer, director, and/or producer to create a feature-length biographical documentary about the life and music of a gifted musician and songwriter. We already have a substantial amount of source material, including a custom-built online jukebox/archive website containing his music and background material. This is not a casual YouTube video. We need someone who can truly immerse themselves in this man’s life, because he meant a great deal to a great many people. We believe he was one of the greatest undiscovered musical talents of his generation, and we want to create a film worthy of that legacy. He was an artist. We need an artist to capture the life of an artist. The Interviews Will Be the Heart of the Film The filmmaker will be expected to identify, contact, schedule, and interview approximately 50–100 people who knew him, worked with him, performed with him, recorded with him, or were otherwise an important part of his life. There are actually hundreds of people we could potentially interview, and many of them could easily talk for an hour about their experiences with him. We believe that carefully selecting the strongest moments from those interviews can provide incredibly engaging material for the film. Potential interview subjects may include: * Family members * Friends * Musicians and bandmates * Producers and engineers * Venue owners * Fans and collectors * People involved in different periods of his life * Individuals with old recordings, photographs, footage, memorabilia, or previously untold stories We are not looking for 50 people simply saying that he was talented. We want a filmmaker who knows how to uncover the stories inside the stories—the funny moments, friendships, arguments, performances, creative breakthroughs, missed opportunities, struggles, and unexpected memories that reveal who someone really was. Archival Material The production will also involve extensive use of historical material, including: * Old photographs * Home movies * Performance footage * Existing interviews * Flyers and posters * Letters and personal documents * Recording-related material * Personal memorabilia * Material held by friends, family, and former collaborators Experience with archival research, footage restoration, photo animation, scanning, cleanup, and historical storytelling would be very valuable. We also expect the interview process itself to uncover additional material that nobody has seen in many years. Music The subject has an extensive catalog of original music. At present, the music exists primarily as MP3 files rather than original multitrack recordings, masters, WAV files, or stems. The filmmaker should understand the limitations of MP3-only source material and know how to work with audio professionals to make the recordings sound as strong as reasonably possible for documentary use. The music should not simply play in the background. It should be part of the storytelling. What We Need We are looking for someone who can potentially take this project from development through a finished feature documentary. Responsibilities may include: * Reviewing the existing jukebox website and archive * Researching the subject’s life and musical history * Developing the documentary treatment and story structure * Identifying and conducting 50–100 interviews * Locating additional photographs, recordings, and footage * Organizing archival material * Writing narration or contextual material where appropriate * Editing the documentary * Integrating the music throughout the story * Coordinating audio restoration, color correction, graphics, and final sound * Delivering a professional feature-length master suitable for festivals, streaming, or distribution discussions We are open to an individual filmmaker, producer/director, or experienced documentary production team. Storytelling Style We want the film to feel personal, cinematic, emotional, musical, funny when appropriate, and deeply human. We want viewers who have never heard of this musician to become invested in his story and understand why so many people still care about him. The filmmaker needs to know how to take potentially hundreds of hours of interviews and find the few unforgettable moments that belong in the final film. VERY IMPORTANT: Show Us a Feature-Length Documentary When applying, please include a link to at least one feature-length documentary that you personally helped create. Please clearly explain your role on that production. We want someone who has demonstrated the ability to sustain a compelling story across a full-length documentary—not simply short-form promotional or social-media content. When Applying, Please Include 1. A link to a feature-length documentary you have created or played a major role in creating. 2. Your exact role on that production. 3. A brief explanation of why this project interests you. 4. Additional examples of documentary work. 5. Your experience with interview-heavy or archival projects. 6. Your experience with music documentaries, if applicable. 7. How you would approach organizing and conducting 50–100 interviews. 8. Whether you would personally handle production and editing or assemble a team. 9. Your location and ability to travel. 10. A general indication of the budgets you normally work within. Budget and Production Structure The budget is open for discussion and will depend on travel, crew size, production approach, interview locations, post-production requirements, and final scope. We care much more about finding the right filmmaker than the lowest bid. We may begin with a paid development phase covering research, initial interviews, a treatment, story structure, production plan, schedule, and preliminary budget before moving into full production. Who We Hope to Find We want someone who becomes fascinated by this man and his music. Someone who listens carefully. Someone who asks questions we have not thought to ask. Someone who follows an unexpected comment from one interview into an entirely new story. Someone who understands that we are not simply documenting a musician—we are trying to preserve the life and legacy of someone who meant an enormous amount to the people who knew him. He was an artist. We are looking for an artist to tell his story.