COME AND MEET THE TOP CALIFORNIA FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS IN ONE SPOT & MEET SAN FRANCISCO'S #1 PUBLIC DEFENDER!     

Andrew Zinnes conducts this 2 day seminar bringing you everything you need to know in order to make your documentary film and get your message out there. Through practical tips, hands on experience with filmmaking gear and in-person case studies of successful documentary filmmakers, you will feel empowered and confident that you can go out the next day and get started on your project. 

Topics include creating a great story, how to get funding (with guest speakers from top Californian grant organizations), production and post-production workflows and how to sell and distribute your film.  Includes a workshop where you can pitch your project and get specialized advice, as well as an insight into two successful San Francisco based documentary filmmakers and their own stories of how they received funding and made their films. 

At the end of this session, we assure you that you will know exactly what to do next with your project. In addition, Andrew will be available for quick, one off email questions and an hour long consult session long after the event is over to refresh your memory, give advice and help guide you through your process. 

JEFF ADACHI - For over 85 years, the San Francisco Public Defender's Office has provided effective and competent legal representation to people who are charged with a crime and unable to afford an attorney. Led by Jeff Adachi, California's only publicly elected Public Defender, the office provides legal representation to over 25,000 indigent people charged with crimes each year.

THESE TOP CALIFORNIA FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS will be giving a full review of their available funds and providing tips on how to be noticed and how to stand out from the myriad of applicants. The first tip is get to know the funding reps personally - so if you take this seminar, we're happy to say you'll already be getting ahead!

      Learn from filmmakers who have experienced the trials of indie filmmaking and walked away to tell the tale - and share that wealth with us who aspire to create our own work.

Sam M., Los Angeles

As a first time producer.filmmaker, I am now ready to put my idea into motion! I fell confident to move forward in my quest as a documentary filmmaker.

Yennifer B., Los Angeles

DAY 1 INSTRUCTION: Saturday, 10.00am-6.00pm

Concept/Story: An easy to follow discussion of documentary storytelling that includes plot, structure, character, tone, POV and style. The end result is a clear understanding of what makes for a good documentary subject and how to organize your story.

Research/Proposal Writing: A doc is only as good as the questions asked. And you learn what questions to ask from doing your homework. We give tons of tips on how and where to look for the info important to your subject. And further, how to mold it into a proposal that will open up doors to financing, interviews and endorsements.

Funding: The various kinds of funding (grants, private equity, etc.) both foreign and domestic available. How to approach funders with your proposal and a reasonable budget. How to use fiscal sponsorship. We advise on professional organizations and resources, specific grantmakers and strategies.
Legal: A thorough discussion on one of the more confusing asects of documentary filmmaking. Topics include permits, releases, agreements, Fair Use and licensing archival and music material.

Production: Interview techniques, camera and sound advice via hands on experience with the gear. HD vs. HDV vs. Film, how to get deals, addressing problematic situations, dealing with locations & schedules, finding crew, what to do if things go wrong.

DAY 2 INSTRUCTION: Sunday, 10.00am-3.00pm

Post-Production: A guide through the editing workflow specifically targeted toward HD. An editing professional will give an overview of some of the technical issues one needs to know to navigate this area.

Sales, Distribution, & Marketing: How to get your message out to the world. Tips on film festivals, publicty, marketing, sales agents/distributors and their contracts as well as alternative methods to distributing your film.

Surviving as a doc filmmaker: how to make $$$ on your documentary, revenue/career-building options: production jobs, promotional docs, events, gov. and non-profit sectors, life stories, etc.

DOC TONIC WORKSHOP: SUNDAY, 3.15pm-6.00pm

The MOST valuable part of the course. Get instant feedback on your project no matter at what stage. At the end o this session, you will know exactly what to do next with your project.

If you need to cancel your ticket purchase you can get a full refund up until 30 days prior to the event. After that we cannot offer refunds. Refunds will be paid back promptly although there will be a 10% admin fee deducted. Alternatively, tickets are transferable to other people if you can find someone to replace you. We are happy to change the name on the ticket. Please allow 48 hours for this change to take place.

We reserve the right to decline admission and offer a full refund in such circumstances.

We reserve the right to change the venue.

We reserve the right to cancel the event and offer a full refund.