Learn how to fund, produce and distribute an independent documentary project, short or feature-length. There has never been a better time to make a documentary! Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best industry professionals. Wednesdays February 2, 9, 16, 23 and March 2. All courses 7:00-9:30pm All 5 courses- $196 / $166.60 for Members Individual courses – $49
Limited number of seats. Book online or by phone at 646 217 4165.
Purchase Tickets
Week 1: Funding Fundamentals: Intro to raising money for your documentary
Wednesday, February 2 – Reva Goldberg (Cinereach)
This workshop will provide an overview of the landscape for funding documentaries. Some questions we will address include: Should I wait to find funding or just grab a camera and start following my story? When and how do I approach investors, broadcasters or distributors about getting involved with my project?
By day, Reva Goldberg is Communications & Fellowships Manager at Cinereach, an NYC not-for-profit film foundation and production company that champions vital stories, artfully told.
There she handles all public communications, as well as serving on the grants selection committee, and heading up the Reach Film Fellowship program that provides a grant and seven months of advising to emerging filmmakers producing socially conscious short films.
Reva has an extensive background in film production, fundraising and audience building. Before joining Cinereach, she was a producer at Pureland Pictures where she produced the documentary All of Us, which aired on Showtime in 2008.
Goldberg also co-produced Pureland’s Toe to Toe, a narrative feature that premiered at Sundance ‘09. In 2004, Reva was Associate Producer of an Emmy-nominated History Channel documentary on the 9/11 Commission (produced by CBS). She has worked with TLC, UPN, Discovery, The Travel Channel, Washington Square Films/Arts, Cronkite Productions and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Reva is a graduate of the SI Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
Week 2: Basic Legal Contracts for Documentaries
Wednesday, February 9 – Innes Smolansky
Rights and clearances issues specific to documentary production as well as legal needs of documentary producers will be covered in this workshop.
Innes Smolansky is a transactional entertainment attorney with over 10 years of entertainment law experience who represents individual producers and production companies, film investors, writers, directors, visual artists, performers and composers in independent motion picture production, documentaries, television, international co-productions, book publishing and personal management deals.
Specific expertise includes representing young filmmakers on legal and business transactions for low budget films. Ms. Smolansky was born in St. Petersburg Russia and studied at Brown University (B.A. magna cum laude); University of Pennsylvania (J.D.); University of Paris X (Diplome D’Etudes Juridiques Europeenes).
Week 3: From Script to Deliverables: The Nuts and Bolts of Documentary Production and Post-Production production
Wednesday, February 16 – Julia Mintz (Documentary Producer)
This seminar will focus on workflow and the creative process involved in putting together a production plan for your documentary project. It will give attendees an opportunity to engage in a dynamic dialogue with documentary industry professionals
Julia Mintz post produced and associate produced the theatrical documentary Soundtrack for a Revolution, about the civil rights movement, which premiered at Cannes and the Tribecca Film Festival. The film was also short-listed for an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature 2009.
Mintz has produced programs for NASA, PBS and NHK. She has worked as Post Production Supervisor for Discovery Channel, National Geographic, THINKFilms, and Miramax. Recent projects include A Son’s Sacrifice, winner IDA 2007 Short Documentary Film Award; The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo, Emmy® Award nominee; The Killer Within, Emmy® Award-winner, and Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life, Emmy® Award-winner for best documentary. Mintz post produced the acclaimed feature documentary Nanking, which won Peabody and Emmy® Awards, winning the Editorial Award at its national premiere at Sundance. Nanking was theatrically released by THINKFilms and HBO Documentary Films. Mintz’s feature documentary about the Jewish Partisans of World War II is currently in production.
Julia has taught seminars on filmmaking and digital production and post-production at numerous celebrated international workshops including the Toronto and Sante Fea Film workshops, Maine film Workshops, Woodstock Film festival, as well as the Key note speaker and Seminars at Hong Kong’s Film Arts festival in China. She has held an adjunct faculty position at LIU in NYC. Mintz is co-founder of Full Res Productions, a high definition and film production company, which focuses on the integration of creative story telling using new technologies and integrated design for films.
Julia is producing the documentary called “California State of Mind: the Legacy of Pat Brown” currently in the last stage of editing.
Week 4: Documentaries & Film Festivals: What You Should Know
Wednesday, February 23 – Basil Tsiokos (Programming Associate for Sundance)
This workshop will offer practical advice for documentarians from a seasoned film festival programmer about how to get your documentary into festivals and how to maximize your experience when selected.
Basil Tsiokos has been a Programming Associate for Sundance since 2005.
He also consults for film festivals, providing guest programming and logistical support, and for filmmakers, offering project feedback and festival and promotional strategies.
He co-produced the feature documentary THE CANAL STREET MADAM (world premiere, SXSW 2010 competition). Basil was the Executive and Artistic Director of NewFest: The NY LGBT Film Festival between 1996-2008.
He has served on festival juries including the Atlanta Film Festival, Atlantic Film Festival, Berlinale, Cleveland International Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival, Full Frame, Outfest, SXSW, and Starz Denver Film Festival. His writing appears on indieWIRE.com, and he can be found on Twitter as @1basil1 offering advice and information to filmmakers. Basil is a graduate of Stanford University (BA) and New York University (MA).
Week 5: Outreach, marketing and self distribution strategies for documentary film
Wednesday, March 2 – Lila Yomtoob
In this course you will learn tools you will need to run a successful campaign for your film.
Lila Yomtoob is a filmmaker, a producer specializing in marketing and development, and former sound editor.
Her feature length directorial debut “High Life” premiered at San Francisco Indie Fest in 2005, and she has made several shorts and viral videos that played in festivals and galleries across the country.
Most recently she co-produced “Foreclosure” starring Michael Imperioli and is producer of marketing and distribution (PMD) on “Hidden Battles,” a documentary about the psychological effects that combat has on soldiers worldwide that premiered at Rhode Island Int’l Film Fest in 2010.
Ms. Yomtoob has also served on the selection committee for Brooklyn International Film Festival, The Nantucket Film Festival and the Crown Point Festival. Lila received her degree at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
She has several projects in development. To see a sizzle reel, visit www.yomtoob.com.
Presented with MONO NO AWARE
Sign up below for February and March 2011.
SUPER 8 MM FILMMAKING 101
Instructor: Lucas Millard
Thursdays, Feb 3rd, 17th, and 24th – 7:00-9:15pm
Saturday Feb 12th – Noon – 4:00pm
In this class students will learn Super 8 techniques from start to finish.
Learn the art and craft of 18 frames per second filmmaking. This will be a hands-on class designed for the beginner that covers all aspects of Super-8MM filmmaking: Cameras, Angle, Story, Timing (exposure), Lighting, Editing, and Sound. Students will conceive, shoot and edit their own silent one-reel films. In this class students will learn Super 8 techniques from start to finish. We will also discuss how to promote your short film work with a list of S-8 friendly film festivals.
All equipment and materials will be provided for, however should you want to work with actors and props you will need to plan for that in conjunction with your shooting schedule. Finished projects will be presented at the conclusion of the course.
COURSE FEE: $95 (includes film, processing, and access to equipment)
CLASS CAP: 12 students
Lucas Millard is a filmmaker & camera professional currently living in New York City. His work in film and camera has been screened at festivals nationally – including SXSW, Cinematexas, Olympia Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Seattle True Independent Film Festival, Urbanworld Festival, Los Angeles International Shorts – and internationally – including the Venice International (Biennale) , Thessaliniki Int’l Film Fest (Greece), Tokyo Int’l Film Fest, Oldenberg Film Festival (Germany), American Film Festival (Wroclaw, Poland), and Cannes. Lucas was a recipient of the 2006 Texas Filmmaker’s Production Fund award for his short 35mm project, Western. He received an MFA in film production with a concentration in cinematography from the University of Texas at Austin in late 2007 and has subsequently led filmmaking workshops and courses in Austin and NYC. He picked up his first Super8 camera in 1998 and hasn’t put it down yet.
16 MM HAND-PAINTING ON FILM DIRECT FILMMAKING WORKSHOP
Instructor: Steve Cossman
Tuesdays, Feb 8th, 15th, & 27th – 7:00-9:15 pm
In this workshop students will learn to manipulate the surface of the film using a variety of direct film-making techniques; painting, scratching, collage, and masking in order to create an experimental film on 16mm. This intensive workshop is designed to introduce, explore and master (on some level) the ability to articulate movement through the tactile gesturings of this beautiful cinematic language.
The course will meet 4 times, beginning with a brief history of filmmakers using these methods along with their contemporaries. After instruction students will get their hands dirty almost immediately.
The goal is to have each participant create a well developed direct film work, that we will screen at the end of the session. Students will walk away with hands on experience of direct filmmaking, a finished film work, the knowledge to continue to work in this practice at home and a list of venues to pursue for exhibition. All materials will be provided for.
COURSE FEE: $75 (includes film and materials)
CLASS CAP: 12 students
Steve Cossman received his BFA in Sculpture & Painting and went on to study Cinema with a focus on Animation in the Czech Republic at FAMU. Currently he works as a curator, filmmaker and is founder/director of Mono No Aware, an ‘annual exhibition of expanded cinema’ showcasing contemporary artists who incorporate live projections as part of their work. Cossman believes that ‘time is constantly moving within a framework of units and that this irrepressible motion is the nexus of human experience’. Recent film direct animation film Tusslemuscle has screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, Milwaukee Underground Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, VideoEx in Zurich, LA Film Forum, Olympia Film Society, and the touring program of Ann Arbor Film Festival. His work can be found in the collections of the University of Seattle, WA, University of Hartford Art School, and The Len Lye Foundation, New Zealand. He currently has work in a group show at 35 Gallery in SOHO and a solo show of his video works will be held in June 2011 at Trinity College, CT.
STOP MOTION PUPPET ANIMATION WORKSHOP
Instructor: Steve Cossman
Tuesdays, March 1st, 8th, 15th &22nd – 7:00-9:15pm
In this workshop participants will learn to create their own stop motion animation short film.
Designed to introduce you to the wonderful world of puppet animation, you will begin by designing your own puppet and then learn to choreograph movement one frame at a time. Starting with a brief history of stop-motion films and filmmakers, students will get their hands dirty almost immediately. The entire sequence will be shot on film, developed and screened within the course of the workshop.
The ambitious goal is to have all participants work together collaboratively on a short 2-minute film. Students will walk away with hands on experience of stop-motion puppet animation, a copy of the finished film work and the knowledge to continue to working independently. All materials will be provided for, but students will be encouraged to develop their puppets with materials at home.
COURSE FEE: $90 (includes film and materials)
CLASS CAP: 8 students
Steve Cossman received his BFA in Sculpture & Painting and went on to study Cinema with a focus on Animation in the Czech Republic at FAMU. Currently he works as a curator, filmmaker and is founder/director of Mono No Aware, an ‘annual exhibition of expanded cinema’ showcasing contemporary artists who incorporate live projections as part of their work. Cossman believes that ‘time is constantly moving within a framework of units and that this irrepressible motion is the nexus of human experience’. Recent film direct animation film Tusslemuscle has screened at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, Milwaukee Underground Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, VideoEx in Zurich, LA Film Forum, Olympia Film Society, and the touring program of Ann Arbor Film Festival. His work can be found in the collections of the University of Seattle, WA, University of Hartford Art School, and The Len Lye Foundation, New Zealand. He currently has work in a group show at 35 Gallery in SOHO and a solo show of his video works will be held in June 2011 at Trinity College, CT.
16 MM FILMMAKING
Instructor: Fern Silva
Thursdays, March 3rd, 10th & 24th – 7:00-9:15 pm
Saturday March 20th – Noon-4:00pm
Enter the world of 16 mm filmmaking. In this workshop you will learn how to shoot and edit a short film. This will be a hands-on class designed for the interested beginner that covers all aspects of filmmaking: cameras, angle, story, exposure, lighting, editing, and sound. Students will conceive, shoot and edit their own silent one reel films, to which the students will have the option of adding sound. All equipment will be provided for. A finished work will be screened at the conclusion of the course.
COURSE FEE: $110 ($95 in advance to register, $15 on first day of class: includes film, processing and access to equipment)
CLASS CAP: 10 students
Fern Silva has been an active filmmaker since 2005 whose personal journeys and impulsery disposition give rise to his visionary process. He has created a body of film, video, and projection work that conveys a congruent existence through the aesthetics of reflections and detriments within controlled microcosms. His work has been screened and performed at various festivals, galleries, museums and cinematheques including International Film Festival Rotterdam, New York Film Festival, Anthology Film Archive, Images Festival, Antimatter Film Festival, PDX Film Festival, World Film Festival of Bangkok, Biennale Bandits-Mages, Roulette Gallery, Millennium Film Workshop, White Box Gallery, and MOMA P.S.1. Although Brooklyn based, Fern Silva is from central Connecticut, he received a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and an MFA from Bard College.
Workshops presented in association with
322 Union Ave | Brooklyn, NY 11211 | info at uniondocs.org | www.uniondocs.org
|
