Producing a documentary, much the same as producing anything else, starts with an idea. For films, that idea has to have legs for 60 minutes, and for a successful film, it better have appeal to someone other than the producer.

For the Patriot Series, we had months of conversations about what this series should be about. We were already producing Arlington:In Eternal Vigil, but we needed ideas that related somehow to a greater theme. Since America was the big picture for us, we needed to figure out what stories were worth telling in a film, and more importantly, how could we tell them in a way that reflected back to the premise of the series.

An idea often takes months to flesh out. The wonders of the internet helps in quick research to see what else has been done on your idea, or what hasn't been done but should be.

Creating a documentary is not rocket science. It takes commitment to your story, knowledge of your topic, and perseverance. Everyone here takes great pride in the producer roll, finding and tracking down people to interview, finding paths to research, and pushing forward at every step.

A caffeine addiction seems to be a good thing. We burn the midnight oil while producing our films, and that seems to be the norm, not the exception, when looking at independent documentary film makers.