In this informative and insightful masterclass with Charlie Phillips, The Guardian’s head of video , you will discover how to do just that. From understanding the complex landscape of funding, festivals and distribution, as well as opportunities within the online sphere for documentaries, Charlie presents an insider’s guide to the fundamentals of getting your factual film out there.
You will learn how to develop your idea into a documentary, how to pitch to commissioners, and will be taken through a whistlestop tour of the key players for getting your film off the ground.
This workshop, which will also see Charlie discuss opportunities for you to get involved with documentaries The Guardian is developing, is a unique opportunity to open up the fascinating world of factual films.
Course Content
- How to grow your idea for a documentary
- Pitching your idea to commissioning editors
- Different funding options, including traditional broadcast routes and more experimental DIY options
- Advice on distribution, marketing and networking
- Shortform versus longform
- The future of documentary-making: how to seize the opportunities digital technology has to offer
- Q&A
This course is for…
- Filmmakers who want to understand the market and industry landscape to improve their pitching skills and help their films find funders and audiences.
- Filmmakers making shorts or feature length docs.
Tutor Profile
Charlie Phillips is Head of Video at the Guardian, and previously head of documentaries. He was deputy director at Sheffield Doc/Fest for seven years. Prior to that, he was editor of FourDocs for Channel 4. Find him on Twitter here.
Course Details
- Date: Wednesday 28 April 2021
- Time: 6.30pm-9pm (BST)
6.30pm BST | 7.30pm CEST | 10.30am PDT | 1.30pm EDT
This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.
You will be sent a link to the webinar two hrs before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have not received the access link within one hour of the scheduled start time.
All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible but please contact us at masterclasses@theguardian.com if you have any queries or concerns.
Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website
