ToxicHotSeat

Kirby: Yes, we both love documentaries. That is what we do, and we have got a few projects in development right now, but none fleshed out enough to probably share.

James: I have a film about how childhood trauma literally alters children physiologically and makes them into different people when they grow up. The working title is "Paper Tigers." Estimated release date is late 2014.

James: well we did not have a high ratio, because we were just catching things as they went.

Kirby: We are going to ask our editor right now. I think we were a 1o-to-1 editor. The more footage you shoot in the field, the longer your editing time will be.

James: This was not a verite film. We were specifically investigating a story and that reduces your footage. Versus parking and waiting for things to occur.

Kirby: Fascinating topic! We don't plan on doing another film on toxic chemicals or flame retardants. So we'll leave this topic to another filmmaker.

James: Yes. Ours was not scripted but the ratio is usually much less. Unless you are on a tour with an unlimited budget.

Kirby: ours was unscripted so it is a documentary.

Kirby: I went to graduate school at Stanford and got my master's in communications. But it is now in the art department and it's now an MFA, but that's a school that specializes in people who only want to produce or direct documentaries primarily. UCLA?

James: USC, UCLA, and SVA here in New York along with NYU.

Kirby: One caveat I would say is that going to grad school for film does not necessarily equate getting a job.

James: My advice would be to get a PA-type job, and kick around at it for awhile to see if you like it.

Kirby: Sometimes you learn as much during the job as you do during school. Our editor Jen went to film school and she learned how to be an awesome editor, though.