# INSIDE PROXIMITY: Advice for First-Time Filmmakers, Working at Proximity Nonfiction | IN PROX S3E27

Free with YouTube's ads, posted by Proximity Media.

We’re celebrating docs and nonfiction series with Proximity’s Nonfiction department! IN PROXIMITY host Paola Mardo sits down with Kelli Dunson Buchanan (VP, Head of Nonfiction) and Gaby Arvizu (Creative Executive, Nonfiction), whose projects include the award-winning series HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME, STEPHEN CURRY: UNDERRATED, ANTHEM, and HOMEROOM. They share their career stories and what their day-to-day is like developing and producing nonfiction projects at Proximity Media. They also answer listener questions about selecting stories and subjects, editing hours of footage, advice for first-time filmmakers, and how to ethically document stories and engage with communities around traumatic events. Kelli and Gaby drop a lot of gems here… watch, listen, and take notes!

(00:00) These questions are FIRE! (02:18) Meet Proximity’s Nonfiction department (05:18) The day-to-day of development and production (10:55) Career stories (17:10) Question #1: How to choose your doc’s subject (19:52) Shoutout director Pete Nicks! (20:46) Making HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME with Traci Curry (22:45) Question #2: How to ethically document stories and engage with communities around traumatic events (27:57) Question #3: Tips for first-time filmmakers (30:07) What makes first-time doc filmmakers stand out (32:16) How Kelli and Gaby find and cultivate new talent (33:11) Question #4: Editing hours of footage into a film (37:40) What is cinéma vérité? (39:21) Prox Recs

CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS Q&A EPISODE Inside Proximity: Working in Film & TV https://youtu.be/UExl1aNDruU?si=Gr3KcBSm3xmjhNf-

LEARN MORE AND READ THE TRANSCRIPT: https://www.proximitymedia.com

SHOP OUR PROX RECS: https://bookshop.org/shop/inproximity

WATCH/LISTEN TO IN PROXIMITY YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzYqUBriBd9jNFIs193LhrtNNJ0wCbtDh&si=GgnL6ctyrIn4jwn7 Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-proximity/id1671236843 Spotify…

- What it is: Full episode
- Series: [INSIDE PROXIMITY](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/library/rights-holders/series/ccefe984e2cc)
- Next episode: [INSIDE PROXIMITY: Film Festivals 101 w/ Sev Ohanian, Terra Potts & Paola Mardo | IN PROX S3E40](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/rights-holders/eS7NqwQGFP0)
- Length: 43 min
- Rights holder: [PROXIMITY MEDIA](https://www.proximitymedia.com/) (its site links the channel: https://proximitymedia.com/)
- Channel: [Proximity Media](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4sSzw7uKhILstVxoPv7NUA)
- Plays: Wherever YouTube plays: its rights holder sets no limit
- Who can watch here: Adult profiles and older (no rating is recorded on YouTube, so adults only)
- Made for kids: No, as YouTube designates it
- On YouTube: [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLT7IxLwtYQ)

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