Our sponsor ITN Source are opening up their footage library to filmmakers worldwide. They are offering free access to content for those taking part in the ITN Source Short Film Competition 2016, in association with Sheffield Doc/Fest and Audio Network. The challenge is to create a 1 minute short film using footage from ITN Source …
AIDC moves to Melbourne later this month. The program promises energy, insight, contacts for pitches, networking, and good fun in a great, thriving city. I’m really pleased to be moderating two panels. Here they are: MAXIMIZE YOUR AIDC Sunday 28 February 3.30pm-5pm Program Notes Conferences are an overwhelming rush of sessions, contacts, and conversations. It can …
Publishing the ‘Best UK Factual’ each January makes me wish for just a moment that I had left Melbourne in 1981 for an up-and-coming Brit ‘hood like Glasgow instead of Brooklyn. Maybe not quite so much this year. Let’s see why. Bake Off The Great British Bake Off was a huge, super-hit with more than …
I’m just back from Vienna for the sold out World Congress of Science and Factual Producers. Pitching strategies were very much part of the conversation. We invited Fernanda Rossi, the globe-trotting trailer-guru to share her expertise on the Do’s and Don’t’s of creating a winning sizzler. Thanks Fernanda! by Fernanda Rossi, Author of Trailer Mechanics: …
Many thanks for a wonderful year to all my readers, sponsors, partners, editorial collaborators, operations team and friends. My DocumentaryTelevision.com adventure turns five next February. It has been the gift that keeps on giving. A highlight for 2014 has been my work in South Africa. Lots of gratitude to ATFT and South African Indies for …
Leftfield Pictures was launched in 2007, backed by a stake of $20,000. That valuation now rounds up to US$ half a billion! We have been covering ‘the rise and rise’ of Leftfield. Our aim was to establish the narrative for a hit series. And identify the Key Success Factors for Reality TV producers and programmers. …
By Alex Watson Associate, DocumentaryTelevision.com In our 2-part Case Study: An established, commercial nonfiction producer works for seven years on a ‘passion’ documentary project. The Project: BESA: The Promise. It’s an inspiring documentary about how a sacred, wartime promise is fulfilled across decades and faiths. The Producer: JWM Productions I spoke with Jason Williams, president of …
By Alex Watson Associate, DocumentaryTelevision.com. In Part 1 of our new Case Study on Crowd-funding, we introduced Left Turn Films, described the fundamentals of Kickstarter, and examined the producer’s first modest but successful campaign with Sons of Perdition. This week, we document the experience of Left Turn’s upcoming film, An Honest Liar, the #4 all time documentary success …