the truth is stranger...

We’ve Moved

thetruthisstranger — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:02:51 +0000

FIND US HERE.

Sigh. I should stick with what I know and already love. Not realizing that WordPress.com is so limited on Javascript widgets, but knowing one day I’ll move to a “real” WordPress site, I went with this free version. UGH. So, before I spread any more nonfiction love, we’re moving. I apologize for this disruption but everything will be better…I promise!

Herb and Dorothy are coming!

thetruthisstranger — Fri, 29 May 2009 01:11:10 +0000

I was smitten with this couple when I first saw them on 60 Minutes ions ago. Since then, they’ve become a household name in the modern art world, holding one of the largest individual collections ever and acting as little patron elves to some of the premier modern artists, all of this from a tiny postage stamp apartment on a postal clerk and librarian’s salary.

This will be the first feature documentary from producer/director Megumi Sasaki, who has done a great deal of documentary television work in Japan and US. The film is already winning a variety of awards on the film festival circuit and is heading to a theater in most large cities over the summer-premiering in NYC on June 5. You can follow the couple and the film on Twitter: @herbanddorothy.

Some sites to check out

thetruthisstranger — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:00:45 +0000

Amanda’s Patchwork of Books blog has Non-Fiction Mondays.

Current.com and television station features tons of mini-documentary content provided by viewers.

The Bookseller devotes itself to book industry news.

DIYFilmmaker-well name says it all, right? Not just devoted to non-fiction film…

I’m seeking additional entries, particularly for nonfiction filmmakers (documentarians). Help me out?

“TTIS” added to Alltop.com

thetruthisstranger — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:41:49 +0000

Received this tweet from Guy Kawasaki: “@truthisstranger I added your feed to filmmaking.alltop and writing.alltop, so you will have lots in common with other leading bloggers “

This is a huge honor and all I can say is “thank you”!

Alltop.com

True Films

thetruthisstranger — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:03:40 +0000

Kevin Kelly has an addictive site for non-fiction film lovers (the Brits call these “factuals”) . With categories as varied as “Artists at Work” (a personal fav) and “Music Peformances” as well as your traditional narrative documentaries, it’s a resource worth bookmarking. Currently he’s featuring a film called The Bridge about public suicides (I know, happy topic, eh?).

Why “the truth is stranger…”?

thetruthisstranger — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:51:41 +0000

Welcome to “The Truth is Stranger…”, a new blog/site for established and aspiring writers and filmmakers who focus on non-fiction subjects. Whether documentarians, business book authors, memoirists, business podcasters…anyone who wants to know more about the research and presentation of information that is factual is encouraged to hang here!

I was inspired by a couple of books that managed to give me a whole bunch of information without putting me to sleep-that were as fun to read as a novel: A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink and How Buildings Learn by Stewart Brand. One about the future of work, the other about the fluidity of architecture. Didn’t expect either of these to keep me up at night, but they did.

Secondly, I have several non-fiction pieces swirling in my mind. You probably do too. But knowing how to research, where the best sources are, how to organize my information-well, frankly I tend to freeze at this point.

I also saw a great piece with Elizabeth Gilbert on Oprah awhile back (she is so freakin’ charming), showing her big box of 3X5 cards that she was using to gather data for her next book and I thought Eureka! I wish I could ask her some questions…and I wish I had a photo of those notecards.

Guy Kawasaki at SXSW chatting about converting his blog into book form with printed chapters laid all over the floor, meeting Melissa Pierce who is working on a documentary called Life in Perpetual Beta, following the creation of Handmade Nation (both the book and the film)…all of these have inspired the creation of this site.

You have questions! I want to get the answers!

The plan is to provide resources, videos, a flickr group, interviews, pre-release info and as much as I possibly can. If you have any burning questions, please let me know! Follow us on Twitter: @truthisstranger.