Short Documentary Filmmaking 101
Introductory course on creating your first short documentary 🎥 🎞️ 🎬
About this class
Are you passionate about documentaries? Do you have a true story that you feel compelled to tell through film, but no idea where to begin?
This workshop is for those who are looking to take their passion for non-fiction storytelling to the next level and gain insight into the filmmaking industry and process of transforming your idea into a finished film.
This online introductory course will cover both the creative development as well as the practical steps required to make non-fiction films. During this four part intensive workshop, we will explore the fundamentals of:
Developing a documentary concept and harnessing your creativity
Learn the roles and responsibilities of crew in filmmaking
Introduction to business affairs, legal and moral considerations of documentary filmmaking
Approaches to funding, pitching and grant writing for documentary
Workshopping your own concept and understanding how to get your film concept ready for funding applications
Worksheets and other resources will be provided during the course. Students will be exposed to contemporary short documentary films and we will discuss and reflect on these films as a group. There will also be time for Q&As and open discussion, so bring your questions!
Outcomes of the course:
Understand the various roles within a documentary film crew, stages of production and industry standards
A sense of the contemporary documentary film world, watch some short films as a group and discuss, and knowledge of where to watch more contemporary films.
Develop your film concept and workshop your idea, with the opportunity to get group feedback
Learn how to write for documentary and how to format your writing for grants and film funds
Introduction to Business Affairs, legal considerations and film releases - the less glamorous, yet very important aspect of all film productions!
Basics of film financing - where you can look for potential short documentary film funding in Canada.
Learn about different approaches to the short documentary format
DETAILS:
When: Tuesday evenings 6:00-8:30 pm EST for 4 weeks (10 hours of instruction in 4 parts)
January 9, 2024 - 6:00-8:30 pm EST - "Cultivating Creativity and Developing your Short Documentary Concepts”
January 16, 2024 - 6:00-8:30 pm EST - “Film Production Roles, Business Affairs, Moral considerations and the Less Glamorous (yet vital!) side to filmmaking.”
January 23, 2024 - 6:00-8:30 pm EST - “Film Financing & Grant Writing - Getting Your Project Ready to Pitch”
January 30, 2024 - 6:00-8:30 pm EST - “Hands-on Workshop - Writing for Documentary - Further developing your Documentary Concept and Preparing for Production”
Location: Virtual / Maximum Capacity: 8
Financial Investment:
$275 for the full course (Payment plans available - please contact me directly to arrange the best plan for you!)
$50 deposit to secure your spot in the course.
Sign up here: 📝
FAQs
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You will be able to attend 4 live calls, access to the recordings after each class. You will also get access to slides, worksheets and handouts of other useful resources. These handouts and resources are yours to keep!
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Yes, I am available for one-on-one consultation on developing your documentary treatment, feedback on grant writing or any other development or production support you need. My current rates are $85 for 1 hour, or $200 for 3 hours.
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All sales are final.
Still unsure if this course is right for you? 🤔
Let’s jump on a zoom call to discuss! I’m here to answer any of your burning questions, and to see if this workshop is a good fit for your needs.
What previous students are saying:
“The best workshop I’ve taken about film production. Emily is a teacher who wants her students to succeed and goes above and beyond to help them achieve it through her structured workshop”
-Linda
“If you love making videos and are perhaps considering taking your passion to the next level, it really provided for me a ton of insight into the whole process of making a high quality film and Emily seems determined to help those who want to begin working through the whole process. definitely worth the investment of money and time.”
-Douglas
Course Instructor: Emily Graves
Emily Graves is an award winning documentary director and film editor based in Toronto, Ontario. Her first short documentary ‘The Goats of Monesiglio’ (2022) was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award and screened internationally at festivals including DOC NYC and Seattle International Film Festival. She was selected as one of the eight emerging producers to take part in the Doc Institute’s Breakthrough Development Lab 2022 to develop her first feature documentary 'Becoming a Landscape' (currently in development). Emily studied at Central Saint Martins in London, UK, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Gerrit Reitveld Academie in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and is a graduate of the Loyalist College Photojournalism program.
