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This Doc U seminar will be a full-day event from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Seating is very limited. The price is $85 for IDA members and $110 for Non-members.
Bring your work-in-progress for analysis and discussion! (Not required to attend)
There will also be a raffle in class for a $100 gift certificate towards a 1:1 consultation with Ms. Rossi!
YOU WILL LEARN:
- Learn the most common mistakes filmmakers make when making their trailers and how to avoid them.
- Learn the foundational story structures for fundraising demos
- View trailers before and after Fernanda's doctoring.
- View successful fundraising samples.
- View fundraising trailers from the audience followed by discussion.
Ms. Rossi has doctored over 300 documentaries including two nominated for an Academy Award. She is also the author of the book "Trailer Mechanics: A Guide to Making your Documentary Fundraising Demo."
If you have read her book, this is your chance to attend the full day workshop with all the theory, structure templates, before & after, and successful real life examples. It's the book in action!
Get more information about the Trailer Mechanics Doc U seminar here.
Watch video clips from the Doc U seminars with Cara Mertes and R.J. Cutler.
Read about our most recent all-day Doc U seminar with fundraising guru Morrie Warshawski.
© 2013 International Documentary Association. All Rights Reserved.
Story Consultant Fernanda Rossi will answer three questions on fundraising trailers from our members in anticipation of the upcoming Doc U event Trailer Mechanics: Making a Fundraising Demo That Actually Gets Funding. Submit your question by posting a comment here.
All you have to do is... submit a question about fundraising demos and trailers to Fernanda, and if she picks your question to answer, YOU will win a free admission to her workshop on May 15 in Los Angeles.
Is it OK to lie on your fund raising trailer, that is, to hype a theme or issue that's not the heart of your film?
I am curious what doctoring means?
It said in the email you've doctored over 200 documentaries, and I am unfamiliar with that term.
Thanks and I hope to see you on the 15th!
What is the best length for a fundraising trailer? Is 10 minutes too long?
How important that the trailer is packed with original footage and is shot in HD?
Also, how much should you spend on a fundraising trailer?
Thanks,
Becky
www.beckybeamer.com
www.DocANDaDRINK.com
Hello Ms. Rossi,
What is the optimum length for a fundraising demo/trailer?
Thank you,
Honey Anne Haskin
Do you have budget examples of a big, medium and small budget that we can use?
Can we pay ourselves for work done before getting any grants?
Aaron Loo
Composer
213/925-5586
www.myspace.com/papplemusic
www.betweentheyinyang.com
Rough Cut of a work in progress Doc
How much of the story should be revealed in a fundraising trailer?
I plan to post a trailer online for possible distributors to consider asking for a screener.
What are the three most important elements the screener must have to attract buyers?
What are five things that can kill your documentary trailer aside from giving away too much information?
Considering that money hasn't come in yet, is the idea to shoot specifically for the trailer? If so, does that take away from the integrity of the documentary/documentary process?
Tiffany Judkins
How important is story (and its structure) when making a demo versus showing that you have a good subject/character and plenty of "colorful" footage to work with for the demo/trailer?
I have been in production for up coming documentary on the dropout issue in America. I have produced a 3 min trailer, how can I have this trailer analyzed to see if I can raise money to complete it? What would your suggestion be for me? Thanks!
What is the most common mistake you see when filmmakers create a trailer for their own film (vs. having outside editors/collaborators working with them)?
Question:
Do you need to have strong conflicts to make a good trailer?
Which one is more effective for a fundraising film using simply texts to bridge interviews OR a voice over throughout the film?
If you shot an "epic"...how do you know which parts to include in the trailer????
Kelly Gallagher
Director
Mercury in Retrograde
a heavy metal mis-adventure...
Question for Fernanda Rossi:
At this stage of development of a project on a African American dance company in South Los Angeles, I would hope to structure the film so that the narration would come from interviews with the principals -- the choreographer founder, the dancers and outside experts commenting on the quality of the company and its social impact on the community.
For purposes of the trailer, should I write specific narration explaining the concept for the film and introducing the characters or use interview material as I would in the finished film. That technique would be more "true" to the style of the project but might not in a trailer version give enough information to potential funders. Thanks in advance for the advice. Jim Crum
J.C. Productions, La Canada, CA
If I post my trailer on my own website, how can I get companies to advertise on my site, how can I choose (request, court) which advertisers appear on my site, and how do I collect the revenue?
Secondarily, how do I make a deal with companies to include branding in my short?
(All from the POV of an individual, low-budget filmmaker.)
Thanks.
Should details such as the amount of finishing funds needed, or existing sponsors/partners be mentioned in the the titles of the fundraising demo to help generate more funds, or should this be included in a printed supplemental proposal?
Thank you,
Heather Antonio
I am already attending, and I purchased my ticket already, but I am submitting a few questions to try to win admission for my wife. We have a doc that we are working on together, and it would be good to have her there as well.
1. Is it a good idea to make multiple trailers targeting specific investors that appeal to their individual tastes.
2. Is it important to convey the "true" message or feel of your film in the fundraising trailer? Or is it okay to make something that is misleading/shocking just to get people interested?
3. How important is the length of your fundraising demo?
4. Should I include polished graphics or not worry about that in a fundraising trailer?
5. I have a rough fundraising demo that I am bringing to the workshop. If I want my trailer to be one of the trailers viewed by the audience and analyzed by you, what do I need to do?
Thanks! Hope we win a free admission!!
Bryan Storkel
I am relatively new to the whole filmmaking game, and in particular to the documentary arena. I've written and produced a couple small short films, but nothing any significance.
So how realistic is it, for someone with relatively no experience, to raise funding for a full scale documentary project?
Potential sources of funding are wide ranging--from corporations/networks all the way down to individuals who have never invested in a film.
Would it be strategic to produce two different fundraising trailers--one for those within the industry and one for first-time (private) investors who know nothing about filmmaking. Ideally the same trailer would resonate with all potential funders equally...but maybe that isn't realistic when you are reaching out to a diverse range of potential investors.
Perhaps the way to answer the question is to do a cost/benefit analysis? It will take considerably more time to produce two (or more) different versions--especially if the approach is to cater to the specific interests of the organizations and people you are reaching out to--but maybe this could be strategic for certain projects.
Thoughts?
-Bess
What are the key differences (aside from the fact your production isn't completed or maybe even started) between a pre-release/broadcast promo trailer and a fund raising trailer? For example, is the sizzle element used to draw in an audience as important, or is it more about getting across your particular cinematic style, who the "character(s)" will be, and the POV from which you'll approach the story (which of course could change during the shoot); and, if applicable, is tapping into a strong emotional impact of a story --- maybe revealing something you wouldn't put in an audience teaser because you're saving it as the big surprise/payoff in the movie -- desirable and/or permissable in a fund raising trailer, or would including it come off as an unnecessary "spoiler"?
Thanks for considering my (multi-part) question.
Kind regards, Darlene Winter
Thanks to everyone who submitted a question to Fernanda. She will answer each question individually over the course of next week, starting on Monday. All of her answers will be posted here.
Thanks again!
How long should a demo be and should you show clips from th eproject or is it okay to submit without clips--before youve been able to shoot any footage?
Very interesting questions. Lies whether in demos or film open the ultimate can of ethical worms. Each filmmaker has his or her own ethical thermostat, mine is pretty high. No lies ever. Emphasizing, yes. However it's hard to emphasize what's not the main part of the film.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
In my personal case, it means I worked on the story structure of the films. Like a script doctor would.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
Marketing trailer or movie preview: to attract the most amount of people to attend a screening and spend a few dollars. It's a montage of sound bites and images that convey the theme and creates intrigue
Fundraising demo: to attract a few funders and investors to spend a few years working with you and spend anything from 5 to six figures. It's a compilation of excerpts of the film in progress, complete scenes, that convey the story, characters and your ability to tell such story.
I think that sums it up! :)
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Bess.
Yes, you need a few trailers/demos. Best is to have a 10 minute generic from early on and re-cut as needed.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Larry.
Best to partner with someone, co-producer, co-director or such. It'll give your project more credibility and a better chance at funding.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Bryan,
I hope you enjoyed the workshop, some of these questions have been answered at the seminar. For the rest of you reading, here is a very abridged version.
1. Is it a good idea to make multiple trailers targeting specific investors that appeal to their individual tastes.
Yes, make a generic one and do versions out of that one.
2. Is it important to convey the "true" message or feel of your film in the fundraising trailer? Or is it okay to make something that is misleading/shocking just to get people interested?
hmmm the white lie question again... a demo/trailer/sample is an excerpt of your film. No lies whatsoever.
3. How important is the length of your fundraising demo?
Each venue requires a different length. Sheffield asks for 1 minute, Sundance for 20.
4. Should I include polished graphics or not worry about that in a fundraising trailer?
Make as good as you can afford to.
5. I have a rough fundraising demo that I am bringing to the workshop. If I want my trailer to be one of the trailers viewed by the audience and analyzed by you, what do I need to do?
they were randomly selected :)
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Heather,
finishing funds needed, partners, etc go in the written proposal, if a private meeting you can say those and leave behind a little brochure. Best to have the trailer be sheer emotion :)
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
Monetizing with a trailer is a long complex topic.
The short answer is... Google Ads.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Lorena,
time varies... here is an approximation
•markets/websites/online platforms/1st time meetings: 1-3 minutes
•fundraising events/2nd meetings: 7-12 minutes
•grants: whatever they put in their guidelines, most often they ask for 10 (Sundance 20)
•festivals/wip screenings: any length, I would suggest at least 20
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
oh Kelly... I know, huge films can't be squeezed into tiny trailers...
stick to storyline A! or make a long trailer or make several trailers covering different angles or... didn't we discuss I think you have a series rather than a doc? :)
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Dhillon,
interesting dilemma... I would say that if you're planning to use narration in your final film to use narration also in your demo. If you're not planning to use narration in your film, then to complement info use text in your trailer.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
in answer to Dan,
brilliant question. Strong conflict helps you in this market. Strong story structure helps you in all markets always :)
Demos show the story. In my experience, I have seen badly crafted trailers undermine the potential of the doc. Rarely I have seen the other scenario, where a demo can manage to up-play a lousy doc :)
For a good trailer, given a potentially strong story, you need to capture the main plot points, whether these include a strong conflict or not. It could instead include a strong character with a clear goal and many obstacles or an interesting multilayered character or... or... the list goes on in the sans conflict arena.
Fernanda Rossi
Story Structure and Trailer Connoisseur
I believe this is a great event for all the beginner film makers. Who still want to learn so much regarding the film making process. Yes, definitely there are lots and lots of mistakes seen by the armature artist rather than the experts do. We all hope this event might help them learn what they had been missing from the lessons. And for the tickets that you have mentioned, which are already limited, could you please, also forward some more information on where could we possibly get it easily, or else is there any toll free numbers we could contact the administrative concerns.
Cheers.