Description
Two Saturdays, Sep 7-14, 12:30-4:30pm
Open to all
Limited to 12 participants
Hybrid Workshop*
Do you watch documentaries?
Would you like to direct a short film?
In this workshop, you will learn how to craft a brief documentary film proposal.
You do not need any filmmaking experience. You do need a great story and a few ideas about how you want to tell it.
Workshop #1 will start with an introduction to the key elements of a documentary film proposal, such as the POV (point of view), the protagonists, the dramatic arc, and universal themes. Relevant documentary film excerpts will be screened to reinforce these points. Then we’ll discuss some of the issues that you need to consider in order to move from a great idea to a serious proposal. At the end of the workshop, you will be invited to create a draft one-page proposal of your film project before the next session.
During Workshop #2, participants will present their draft film projects to the group. Each presenter will have an opportunity to ask the group for honest and respectful feedback regarding ethical and/or creative issues. Whenever relevant, I will share some of my personal documentary filmmaking experiences; for instance, how and why certain scenarios were modified during the development stage. Finally, I will provide information regarding “next steps.” Whether you want to learn how to conduct further research on a particular topic or how to access filmmaking equipment so you can start experimenting with images, I will help steer you in the right direction.
*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Westmount, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you can’t attend in person and would like to request a virtual slot, contact Riley at riley@qwf.org and wait for confirmation before registering. Please do not register until after you receive confirmation that there is a virtual spot for you.
