Documentary on Graduate Student Life

I have always loved documentaries.  It fascinates me how someone can go so in depth into a particular subject.  IMHO, the best documentaries are either peeking behind the curtain of something that may already be popular, or shedding light on a particularly benign subject.

I have long wanted to develop and create a documentary.   The topic had changed as I grew up, but during and since graduate school, is has remained the same.   I think that the life and culture of graduate programs is a topic BEGGING to be covered.  After getting my graduate degree, I spend over eight years working in and managing graduate programs in various departments.   As such, I have developed quite the network of friends and acquaintances who have experienced life as a graduate student, and many that went on to make graduate program culture a permanent part of their life.  (I am looking at you, graduate school faculty and staff!)

  There is stress, tension, high drama, and no shortage of subjects.   It is fascinating to me to see the dynamics between advisors and their advisees, and how they can range from distant to inappropriately intimate.   Not only that, but the range of research and education is staggering.  Particularly when a doctoral student can spend anywhere from 4 to 10 years focusing on the minutiae of a particular subject.   It is a descent into obsession, and for some is the most trying time of their life.   Particularly for students writing their dissertation.   It is a journey really, a mental marathon for which no one is every prepared.  I think it would put any reality show fodder to shame.  I see it as a hybrid of a PBS show like "Nature" and an episode of "The Real Housewives of  Such and Such".   Except more information and infinitely more tears and rage.

Someday I would like to do such a documentary, but alas, as is the case of many aspiring documentary filmmakers, I lack the resources.   I am working on developing contacts in this area, but resources are scarce.   At least I have the seed of an idea and the passion..........