Combatting the Notion of the Broke Artist in Documentary Filmmaking
Why This Trope Is At the Heart of Our Industry's Woes
Welcome to this week’s Sunday Evening edition of The Backlot. These newsletters will include stories from my recent experiences working in documentary filmmaking, helpful resources for emerging filmmakers, and other posts covering topics in the documentary industry.
NOTE - The Sunday evening version of the newsletter is free. Future mid-week posts on Wednesday evenings will require a paid subscription.
This week, we’re exploring the idea of the comfort zone and its impact on storytelling…
🎞️ The Starving Artist Needs to Die
🎬 A Reminder to Be Kind to Yourself
🗞️ Wrapping Up & Recommendations of the Week
Let’s Forgo the Starving Artist Trope in Documentary Filmmaking
Over the years of working in writing, journalism, and filmmaking, I've seen the idea of the starving artist consume the minds of many young creatives and filmmakers.
This idea has been perpetuated by the societal notion of artistry, spurred by the many famous characters whose names have become synonymous with the idea of being a true artist. From Hemingway to Hunter S. Thompson, we’ve idolized the idea that creating art is a war for survival, and we must forego our well-being to chase a career in these industries.
Even myself, at times, have felt pulled toward the idea of being the “starving artist.” I’ve felt compelled to view my work as an act of self-sacrifice and to view my line of work as unworthy of a sustainable and abundant living.
Lately, while working in documentary filmmaking and speaking to a number of other filmmakers, I’ve become convinced that this notion is at the root of much of our industry's despair. I’ve seen this idea of the starving artist become a normal part of documentary filmmakers' thinking.
We laugh at the idea of making a viable income from our films, painting this lack of abundance as a light-hearted joke that actually has painfully real ramifications on our lives.
In fact, last month, the International Documentary Association released an article sharing the results of their Sources of Income Confessional Board from the Getting Real Conference in Los Angeles. Of the over 80 individuals who answered, only 3 indicated they were making the majority of their income from documentary film.
During the Getting Real conference, money was a major subject and many of the people I talked to shared that their income was coming from sources other than documentary filmmaking.
There has been much talk about this in the industry lately, and many are working to develop new ways to help fund the careers of documentary filmmakers.
Although these programs and forward-thinking ideas are critical to changing the industry, I think the larger reason for this lack of funding - is the idea of the “starving artist.”
We’ve too long perpetuated the tropes and counteractive stereotypes of starving artists in documentary filmmaking and journalism, creating a public image that our work is not worthy of profit because we are destined to live as artists on the brink of survival. This notion, coupled with the frustratingly common idea in journalism that our work is a public service and, therefore, we should be satisfied without sustainable pay, is the root of our industry's issues with income sustainability.
We cannot fix our industry and provide a sustainable career path for future docmakers if society views our craft as unworthy of profit and destined for those who must be willing to sacrifice their well-being for their work.
Not only does this leave our community lacking the time, resources, and mental capabilities to create their best work, but it also deters and excludes many others from entering this line of work.
If we are to spark change within our industry, we have to start countering this notion that we are starving artists.
Truthfully, that starts from within. The community needs to demand more from the gatekeepers and seek to rewrite the notions of success in this industry. At the same time, we must teach the next generation that they should not accept a life where they will have to sacrifice their survival to pursue a career in documentary filmmaking.
Documentary films are too important to our society. Our craft is more than just entertainment—it’s a critical component of societal progress.
We should start treating it accordingly.
Be Kind to Yourself
In the past few months, the world has become increasingly stressful and anxious as we enter a tumultuous time in many industries. At the root of much of this stress and anxiety lies feelings of burnout, fear, and the overwhelming sensation that we are not doing enough in this life.
Truthfully, I know these feelings well, and I’ve often found myself judging my own efforts and wondering why success hasn’t found me yet. Should I be working harder? Did I do something wrong? Am I not as smart or creative as other people?
This neverending barrage of questions has only made this stressful time much worse and perpetuated a harmful perspective on work, self-image, and success.
That’s why whenever I catch myself getting lost in the darkness of these negative thoughts, I have to remember to be kind to myself.
It’s a self-affirmation that I am doing the best that I can and continuing to show up for myself, my work, and this existence.
And with that, I want to remind you of the same thing. Whether you are a fellow documentary filmmaker struggling to push forward in this ever-changing industry or just a passing friend fighting your own battles in the craziness of the world - you are doing the best you can, and that is okay.
Don’t be too hard on yourselves, my friends. Trust me, there is no need to make this life any more difficult than it needs to be. We’re simply humans fighting to be human, and as long as you are showing up, you are doing a wonderful job.
Be kind to yourself. Keep going. The best is yet to come.
Recommendations of the Week
This week, we’re sharing a movie of the week and offering a few other recs from across the industry…
Lakota Nation vs The United States (2023)
Over the past year, I’ve heard a lot about this film from various other filmmakers, articles, and reviews. In fact, I was supposed to see this during the Bend Film Festival last year but was unable to make the showing. That’s why I found it strangely ironic that I was watching this film on a flight home the day before U.S. Independence Day.
The contrast was starkly apparent while watching, and this film was a hauntingly powerful reminder of the truth behind our own national history.
Lakota Nation vs. The United States tells the story of the Indigenous Lakota peoples in the central United States. The film portrays a large portion of their nation’s stories and history on their ancestral lands while focusing on much of the conflict they have faced due to the imperialistic colonization of the United States.
The documentary was a powerful film and a historical artifact that should be shown across college campuses and in school history classes nationwide. It is a powerful reminder that as we celebrate our independence from our oppressors, we, too, have often been the ones doing much of the oppressing.
Other Recommendations
Dawn Porter and Jeff Zimablist interview in IndieWire
Netflix sets date for biographical documentary on RRR director SS Rajamouli
The International Documentary Association opened the Call for Entries for The Documentary Awards, their December awards show in Los Angeles
Bend Film Festival is hosting Base Camp in Oregon from October 7th through 10th
Quote of the Week
“The guardians of high culture will try to convince you that the arts belong only to a chosen few, but they are wrong, and they are also annoying. We are all the chosen few. We are all makers by design.”
