82 – Maximizing Your Doc Life with Pedram Shojai, OMD

Pedram Shojai has been embodying the doc life now for years. In fact, one might argue that he was doing so even before he was making documentaries, building his life to his passions of Taoism, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and practicing Oriental medicine. A few years ago, Pedram combined these passions and formed Well.org. Not long after this, he made his first documentary film, Vitality. A number of documentary films have since followed.

I think that you will find this conversation to be one of the most frank and open conversations about living one’s doc life that we’ve had in a long time.

Topics Discussed

• how/why you might consider using your doc films as freemium
• how Pedram believes that filmmakers need to get over their issues with making money from their projects
• how there is a need for docos to be making films that bring more light instead of darkness into the world
• how electing not to distribute with the Netflixs and Amazons allows you to be more intimately connected with your audiences, which increases the success of your next films

5 Ways to Increase Your Filmmaking Creativity

As creatives, it’s easy for us to get overwhelmed by our projects or other aspects of our lives that demand our attention. This can sometimes negatively impact our ability to function in a creative capacity. I have come up with five ways that will help you take some of that creativity back.

• Get Outside
• Find Something Good
• Engage with Some Like-minded People
• Ask for Feedback
• Exercise

Related Sources

° Watch the trailer for Pedram Shojai’s first documentary film, Vitality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAoYqKmjR_E

° Watch the trailer for Pedram Shojai’s documentary film, Prosperity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGwySLuQdHQ

Journey to Kathmandu

If you are interested in watching TDL host, Chris G. Parkhurst’s personal documentary, you can check out Journey to Kathmandu, a film that follows the once-in-a-lifetime journey that goats make from their farmland lives of goats in Tibet to their sacrificial deaths in Kathmandu, during the Nepalese holiday, Dashain.

Purchase of the Deluxe Director’s & Goat’s Edition comes loaded with behind-the-scenes footage, director’s commentary, shorts, and deleted scenes. Regardless if you’re simply looking for more info on the making of J2K’ or you’re a budding independent filmmaker (or just a fan of goats!), this is a must-have for anyone who enjoys gaining insight into what goes into the making of an independent documentary in a developing country.

Sponsors & Thank Yous

Free Music Archive – Special Thank You to recording artist, Dlay who supplied music for this week’s episode of TDL. You too can download his music or other artist’s music by going to Free Music Archive today!

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