Whether you have an important issue you want to raise, or a story you want to tell, a documentary is a great way to get your message across. This seminar is a unique opportunity to learn how to turn your documentary idea into a compelling film that audiences will love.
Led by the Guardian’s head of documentaries Charlie Phillips, the course demystifies the process of developing and disseminating factual films across different formats. You’ll learn everything from how to grow an idea, to how to pitch your film to commissioning editors and apply for funding. You’ll also learn the basics of distribution, marketing and exhibiting, ensuring your documentary reaches the broadest audience possible
Charlie will also discuss what the Guardian is currently doing with its documentaries, and how you can get involved. Altogether, it’s an unmissable course for filmmakers at any stage of their career. You’ll leave buzzing with ideas and a newfound confidence in your ability to create documentaries that make a difference to the world.
This course is for you if...
- You’re a documentary-maker of any level looking for up-to-date market information
- You’ve got an idea for a documentary and are looking for a broad overview of the industry
- You’re an experienced documentary-maker who wants a refresher on what opportunities are out there
- You would like to make a documentary one-day and want to learn how factual films are made and commissioned
Course content
- How to develop and pitch good ideas for documentaries
- Who is currently funding documentaries?
- Different funding approaches – from pursuing more traditional broadcast/theatrical routes to more experimental ‘DIY option
- Short-form vs. long-form documentaries
- Who is currently distributing and exhibiting documentaries?
- Marketing your documentary and how to reach diverse audiences
- Networking: how to meet people who can help you create a great doc including an overview of film festivals and markets
- The future of documentary-making - how to seize the opportunities digital technology has to offer
- Q&A with Charlie Phillips
PLEASE NOTE: Attendees are encouraged to arrive with ideas for documentaries they might like to make, as well as a sense of the style and content of films they enjoy watching. This isn’t compulsory, but is just an idea so people arrive in the right frame of mind for the course.
You may also be interested in…
Watch our video to see Charlie in conversation with Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch, and leading photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale. This unique masterclass in partnership with HRW explored the multimedia reporting project The Unravelling, investigating the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic.
Tutor profile
Charlie Phillips is head of documentaries at the Guardian. He was previously deputy director at Sheffield Doc/Fest for seven years. Before that, he was editor of FourDocs for Channel 4. Guardian Documentaries is a new project to commission and acquire new documentaries from all around the world for one of the world’s most-visited serious online video platforms, the Guardian’s global website. Guardian Documentaries is currently looking to commission mostly short-form documentaries, with the occasional co-production on a longer doc. Docs they are looking for need to have brilliant storytelling and characters, focused on contemporary subjects that are relevant globally and feel very new.
Details
Date: Tuesday 19 May 2015
Times: 6.30pm-9.30pm
Location: The Guardian, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU
Price: £49 (includes VAT, booking fee and drinks)
Event capacity: 100
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
