Sound and music are critically important ingredients in any documentary's success, but are all-too-often overlooked or neglected. This intensive workshop will discuss best practices and creative possibilities in audio from the beginning of your filmmaking process to the end: starting with location audio and sound design, through original music and licensing, and culminating in the final mix and mastering. Filmmakers and industry experts will give practical advice and share their knowledge to give you the tools for creating the best soundscape for your film.
Here's What Really Happened
No tweeting. No press. No industry. Filmmakers-only conversations revealing personal insights into the art and business of documentary filmmaking.
“Here’s What Really Happened” are signature sessions from IDA's biennial Getting Real Conference that began as a filmmaker-led solution to combat the lack of transparency that continues to plague the community. These intimate conversations allow filmmakers to speak openly about what actually happened in the production, sales and distribution life of a film. The rules are, everything said in the room, stays in the room. Our goal is to create a safe space for discussion that allows filmmakers to have frank, meaningful discussions without the influence of industry in the room. We believe that one of the greatest resources for a filmmaker is another filmmaker.
In building a more knowledgeable and transparent community together, IDA tours “Here’s What Really Happened” sessions to various festivals and conferences around the world. These private conversations have focused on security/surveillance, sales agents, festival strategies, fact-finding, ethics, work/family life balance, truth-seeking in production, and other themes.
Learn what really happened behind-the-scenes in an upcoming session. It’s personal, it’s intimate, let’s get into it.
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Securing funding for your documentary is a challenge for filmmakers at all stages in their career. Documentary filmmakers must embrace various and evolving strategies for securing revenue. But funding institutions can also be valued partners in the filmmaking process.
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Documentary filmmakers are faced with the challenge of presenting large quantities of complex data in a visually interesting way. Graphics and animation can provide an engaging way to achieve this goal. Well conceived graphics not only get your point across in your story, they can also form the foundation of the branded elements for your film.
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Documentaries succeed when viewers feel a connection to their subjects. Archival footage can provide the means to delve deep into the stories and history of a film's characters by bringing the past to life and contextualizing current events. Powerful moments, iconic scenes, and historic figures lend their voice to the message in your film. Whether you're making a historical documentary, referencing a current event, or doing an in-depth profile, archival footage can connect the dots and forge a connection with the viewer.
Join KCRW's Matt Holzman (Matt's Movies, The Business) for an in-depth conversation with acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.
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How you release your doc—and how audiences see it—have changed dramatically in the past decade, offering filmmakers with more and more ways to connect audiences with their films. What hasn't changed is the value an experienced publicist can bring to your team as you try to get the attention of critics, bloggers, influencers and viewers, and perhaps pick up an award or two along the way.
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The last few months have seen a number of shifts in the broadcast landscape for nonfiction programs. CNN launched CNN Films, upping the network’s commitment to long format documentaries. Participant Media acquired the Documentary Channel and Halogen TV, to be re-branded and launched this summer as a new channel featuring scripted and nonscripted programming, and LA’s KCET, the nation's largest independent public television station, has merged with Link TV creating KCETLink, a new transmedia independent network that acquires, produces and distributes provocative global programming. With these new ventures, and other evolving players on the scene, we'll take a look at the outlook for docs on TV.
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FREE for Paley Center Members and IDA Members.Included with admission for the general public.No RSVP required. Open seating for all, first-come, first-served. The Paley Center and the International Documentary Association are pleased to screen the documentaries, features and short subjects, which
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IDA's all-day, back-to-back screenings of this year's Oscar® nominated documentary films.See the films! Meet the filmmakers! Saturday, February 23, 2013 Writers Guild of America Theater135 S. Doheny Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Complimentary Parking Info Food and refreshmentsprovided by Homegirl Café
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From original concept, fundraising, and production to festivals, distribution, PR and outreach, one can't argue that the documentary producer’s job description is varied. At every level from executive down to assistant, a good producer knows how to anticipate the needs of a director and crew--all usually on a tight schedule and an even tighter budget. Whether you’re bringing your own concept to life or jumping in mid-stream to save a doc in trouble, a good producer must bring a vast array of talent and expertise to the project.