Staying Alive! Careers in Documentary Series
Looking to re-boot your career? You’ve come to the right place. DOC Toronto is excited to introduce Staying Alive!, a new workshop series geared toward helping documentary filmmakers pay the bills while staying true to their passion. Our first “career day” brings together Canadian industry leaders in documentary and factual series production to shed some light on who’s hiring, who’s commissioning, and what it takes to keep up… and maybe even get ahead in a competitive documentary marketplace.
The event will be made up of three presentations followed by a chance to network over drinks or dinner at the Annex Live. Some panelists TBA.
Register Here
Cost:
$10/Members (Early Bird until March 29, $20 after)
$30/Non-Members (Early Bird until March 29, $40 after)
15% Discount for Industry Partners WIFT-T, ACCT, DGCO, CMPA, LIFT (If you are a member of one of these organizations please contact them to get the discount code)
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Workshop Itinerary:
Part One (2:30 – 3:45 PM)
Panel Discussion: Breaking In – The Transition from On-offs to Series
Trying to make the leap from one-off documentaries to producing documentary series? Although factual TV is booming, broadcasters are more and more reluctant to commission series from new producers. Our panel of producers/directors will cover effective pitching strategies, how to make your concept stand out, what to expect when optioning your idea, and the joys and pitfalls of partnering with a larger company.
Moderator: Leanna Crouch: President & EP, Lively Media
Panelists:
Steve Gamester: Director of Development, E1
Kristina McLaughlin: VP of Business Affairs, Primitive Entertainment
Allan Novak: Executive Producer and Series Creator, Indivisual Productions Inc
Nick Crowe: Production Executive, Factual Content, Shaw Media
Rachel Low: Vice-President, Factual Entertainment, Shaftesbury
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Part Two (4:00 - 5:00 PM)
Smart Negotiations – A Legal Presentation
A presentation and Q&A with an Entertainment Lawyer on the options and hazards for a junior partner in negotiations.
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Part 3: (5:30PM – 7:00 PM)
Panel Discussion: Getting the Gigs
How to find work as a Director/Writer/Story Editor
It's rarely easy to move from making your own one-off POV documentaries to directing, writing, or story editing on a commercial documentary or factual series. Our panel, made up of reps from some of the most active factual television production companies, brings you the inside scoop on getting – and keeping – the job.
Moderator: Kim Harris, Director @ Frantic Films / Independent Producer, PINK Job
Panelists:
Jacqueline Bynon: Series Producer at Cineflix
Peter St. Laurent: Writer/Director/Story Editor
Jenn Kuzmyk Ruch: Co-Director of Development, Cream Productions
Barri Cohen: President & CEO, Cave Bear Creative Inc
Anne Pick: Executive Producer, Real 2 Reel Productions
