May 14 & 15, 2022 at 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Location: 245 McDermot Ave – 4th Floor Classroom
Registration Fee:
$95.00 – General
$75.00 – DOC Manitoba Members
To register online click here and select ‘Creating a Character-Driven Documentary’ from the list of courses.
About The Workshop
During this two-day in-class training session, Manitoba-based content creators will receive hands-on in-person training from accomplished documentary filmmaker Daniel Cross. Using both a combination of lecture and case-studies as well as in-class coaching, the instructor will teach the key requirements of developing a successful documentary project. Participants that attend this session will learn about the creative and finance requirements and will gain a deeper knowledge of how to best move their project to the next level!
Topics will include:
Day 1:
- Writing Applications for character-driven docs:
- How to create strong Loglines, Synopsizes, Treatments, Directors Statements, Backgrounders, and the importance of Character Development for your project.
- Reviewing various Agencies:
- CMF, Rogers, Telefilm, Arts Councils, Broadcasters, etc.
- Having ready the right photos, clips, demo… etc.
- Pitching your Ideas and presenting your film at Festivals:
- How to take advantage of forum pitching sessions.
- Speed Dating 1-on-1 approaches.
- Film Premiere.
- How to follow up with interested funders with research interviews, Clips, Scenes, sizzle reels.
Day 2:
- Selected Participants Pitching session:
- Verbal Pitch by Participant.
- Screen Demo reel/sizzle reel.
- Feedback on selected pitches.
About the Instructor
Daniel Cross is founder of EYESTEELFILM in Montreal, named by Real Screen Magazine as a top 100 non-fiction production company in the world. He is a Professor and previous Chair of the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Concordia University. Cross also served on the University’s Board of Governors and is a member of the Provost’s Circle of Distinction. He was recently appointed Research Chair in Interactive Documentary Filmmaking. Cross’ latest feature documentary I AM THE BLUES won the Canada Screen Award (Canada’s Oscar) for Best Theatrical Documentary and Best Cinematography. The film screened at the prestigious International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA), SXSW and Hot Docs. www.iamthebluesmovie.com.
Daniel Cross is a multi-disciplined award-winning documentary filmmaker with a long history of directing and producing theatrical documentaries and exploring new media documentary approaches. He made his mark directing feature length films concerning issues of homelessness, THE STREET: a film with the homeless (1998), S.P.I.T: SqueegeePunks InTraffic (2001) and created an online interactive documentary experience working with the street community called www.HomelessNation.Org (2001-2012) winning many new media awards, the most prestigious being the UN World Summit Award for e-inclusion. Together with eight Inuit students he co-directed the award-winning film; Inuuvunga: I am Inuk Iam alive (2004), produced with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). In 2014 he co-directed the film Atanasoff for History TV, and in 2003 directed Chairman George for the BBC and CTV networks.
As a Producer Cross has received several Genie and Canada Screen Awards including Up the Yangtze, which also won the Golden Horse (China’s Oscar), Last Train Home, which also won 2 Emmy’s and I AM THE BLUES. Jingle Bell Rocks won Best of the Fest at Yorkton, Vanishing Spring Light, Last Train Home won at IDFA while Chameleon and Fortunate Son were nominated for IDFA’s International Feature Documentary prize. Cross also co-produced the IDFA People’s Choice Award and Genie nominated film Rip: A Remix Manifesto. Fruit Hunters premiered in Berlin and 7 films including China Heavyweight, premiered at Sundance. Daniel received the DOC Institute’s Luminary Award, the Trailblazer award at MIPDOC in Cannes, the Don Haig Award and was the inaugural Mentor of the Year recipient from the Canadian Media Producers Association. He participates in the IDFA Academy and has served on the boards of Hot Docs, the Documentary Organization of Canada and The Concordia University Documentary Center.
Film Training Manitoba Course Registration Policy
- Participants must be 18 years of age or older to register and attend the course.
- Participants must register in advance of the course. No drop-ins.
- Registration is on a first come, first served basis – unless otherwise specified. Enrollment may be limited.
- Payment in full is required to secure a spot in an FTM course.
Cancellation Policy
- Participants must cancel up to 4 full business days prior to the course start date to receive an 80% refund.
- No refund will be given to participants who cancel within 4 full business days before the course start date, or if they do not attend the course.
- Film Training Manitoba reserves the right to cancel, or postpone, any course where a minimum registration level has not been met. Participants registered for a course that is canceled will receive a full refund.
Please note: As per Creative Manitoba’s COVID-19 Policy, we require all visitors wear masks and social distance, further we recommend that all visitors be double vaccinated.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s sector council program (through the Department of Economic Development and Jobs). FTM conducts workforce development and training to build a highly skilled and adaptable film industry to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates with members of the film and television industry to identify the training needs within the community.