Producing the Documentary
What You'll Learn
If the challenge and reward of documentary filmmaking excites you, but you don't know where to start, this workshop will give you a guide to the whole process! Putting together a good documentary (and getting it seen) is like completing a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle the size of a basketball court - with only blue pieces.
This workshop will cover the basics of this demanding and underpaid art form, from the personal to the practical. We'll go through all the stages of documentary planning, from pre-production to filming to promotion.
This workshop will cover:
- What defines a "documentary"
- Finding a story, research, and finding your own voice
- Who does what and who pays for it
- Preparing to shoot interviews and B-roll
- Working with others, organizing the mess: logs, outlines & scripts
- Licensing music and footage
- New technologies to pay attention to
- Funding sources, markets, and film festivals
You'll also receive tons of great supporting documents including sample budgets, templates of common production forms and releases as well as a range of articles.
A video of this class is available for immediate viewing from only $35!
See Video DetailsBonus! in-person registrants can purchase the video at half-price after attending the class!
Who Should Take This
Anyone who wants to make a documentary but isn't sure where to start. Some filmmaking experience is helpful, but not necessary.
Presented By Abigail Wright

Abigail Wright is a professional filmmaker, writer, producer, and information designer. For the independent film company Miranda Productions, Inc., Abigail wrote and produced four environmental documentaries that have accumulated over eighty major awards and have been broadcast all over the world. She is the senior producer of an innovative immersive website soon to be launched, working on a hybrid documentary based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead, and developing a TV series for kids on the wonders of food. Before moving to Boulder in 1994, Abigail acted and directed on stages in New York, Toronto, and Montreal.
BDA Members
Non-Members
Registration:
BDA Members: $69.00
Non-Members: $89.00
Available Dates
Sorry, we don't have this event scheduled right now but we'll probably be adding it again soon! If you're interested in this event, we recommend using our follow feature to be notified the next time we add it to our schedule. You can also email us to request that we add it soon.
Customer Comments
Very thorough on details and the role of producer, including forms, logs etc.ShariRead All Comments