Documentary instructors Peter Raymont and Steve Lucas with director Derreck Roemer and Jan Rofekamp, president and CEO of Film Transit International, at SIFT 2007.
Last december I had the opportunity to teach a two-day workshop on the basics of doc-making for the Canadian Screen Training Centre in Montreal. At the same time Nettie Wild and others were doing the same in other cities across the country.
Right now is registration time for the CSTC’s main activity, the Summer Institute of Film and Television (SIFT), which annually draws 250 participants from across the country to Ottawa for an intensive week of workshops, screenings and networking. ‘In sessions taught by seasoned documentary filmmakers, workshop participants explore the art and the business of capturing true stories on film, learning the essentials of concept development, pitching, shooting, editing and distribution.’ This year’s session starts on May 27th.
Here is a summary of who will be teaching and what (edited down from the CSTC’s material.)
Documentary : Getting Greenlit
From Development to Production with Steve Lucas
Five-day workshop (May 27-June1)
Level: Introductory
Getting Greenlit covers getting your documentary idea out of development and into production. If you’re ever going to make this film of yours, you’ll need to come up with a compelling way of talking about it. You’ll need to write about it in a compelling way, too. It’s a daunting proposition, no question, but it can be done. Thousands of people have done it—and so can you. This workshop is designed to help. You’ll meet documentary filmmakers who will share their films and experiences, and be able to pitch your idea for valuable feedback. There’s special focus on the art of the pitch and on what constitutes a promising film premise.
Suitable for: People who have a film idea or a story they want to develop and who are looking for a practical guide to documentary filmmaking. This is not a production course. Participants should bring two different ideas for a documentary or reality-based film – and come prepared to pitch.
About the instructor: Steve Lucas received an Academy Award nomination for his first film, a documentary feature entitled After the Axe, in 1983. He has been in the film and television business ever since.
Interventionist and Participatory Media
Making documentary media that matters with Katerina Cizek
Three-day workshop (May 28-30)
Level : Introductory/Intermediate
The course covers the basics of building media projects with partners that aim to change world-views, lives, policies, conditions – and tell good stories too. In this highly interactive workshop, you’ll learn about proven methods, projects and experiences, and we’ll brainstorm your own ideas and projects to develop concrete strategic plans. Bring your bright mind and ideas for projects.
Suitable for: Those who have made at least one film or media project (in documentary or other format).
About the instructor: Katerina Cizek explores the boundaries of the documentary genre with many and any media: video, internet, photography, audio, text, digital, blogging. She is this year winner at the 2008 Webby Awards (called “the Oscars of the internet” by The New York Times), winning for best online documentary series.
DOCOLOGY: Transforming Ideas into Images
with Peter Wintonick
Five-day workshop (May 27-June1)
Level : Intermediate/Advanced
This is a complete meal of a workshop including a few appetizers and drinks for dessert. We’ll examine the process of making marketable, idea-driven documentary from start to finish. From conception through to financing and how to gain exposure across the nowmedia world of multi-platform possibilities for documentary. An excursion into non-fiction whirl-wind of docmedia-making for intermediate and advanced level documentary a-fiction-ados, this workshop is suitable for everyone looking for wide-ranging exposure to the art, craft, philosophy and business of idea-driven, social filmmaking. For everyone hoping to turn fiction into faction.
Suitable for: Those who have made at least one film (in documentary or other format).
About the instructor: Peter Wintonick is a docfilmmaker and nowmedia maker among other incarnations, with a career spanning 30 years and more than 100 films. Known internationally as an Ambassador for Documentary Film, he was recently winner of the 2006 Governor General’s Prize in Media Arts, Canada’s highest such honour, and the Ontario Premier Prize.
For complete workshop and registration details visit www.cstc.ca/sift
