The documentary market is thriving, though many filmmakers diversify their income through commercial or branded work. For context on earnings, the median total pay for a documentarian is roughly .
There is a unique irony in the genre of the entertainment industry documentary: it uses the medium of film to peel back the curtain on the making of film. For decades, cinema has sold us dreams, glamor, and the "happily ever after." But in recent years, a new wave of documentaries has emerged, driven by a cultural appetite to understand the machinery behind the magic.
Behind the Curtain: The Business of Entertainment - LA Film School