Panel Descriptions & One-on-one Consultations
Documentary Financing: What Does the Future Hold?
9:30am-11:30am
Funding has always been a difficult and time-consuming aspect of making an independent documentary film. With traditional grant funding resources drying up and a recession looming, documentary filmmakers are struggling even harder to find new ways to support their work. But there are signs of hope. This panel will focus on current working models and pilot programs that address the fundraising challenges and market inefficiencies affecting independent documentary filmmaking today. These models include using the Internet in new and creative ways; hybrid for-profit and non-profit productions and international co-productions. Come join us in reviewing where documentary funding can go in the future and contribute your thoughts as to what could become significant, viable alternatives for those of us eager to build a more robust source of funding for our work.
Panelists: Ryan Harrington, Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund and Independent Producer; William C. Rogers, Filmmaker, Coruway Institute; Slava Rubin, Indiegogo Founder and Chief of Strategy & Marketing. Moderated by Lyda Kuth , Executive Director, LEF Foundation.
Finding Work in the Massachusetts Film Industry
9:30am - 11:00am
If you’ve been working as an independent filmmaker you’ve no doubt gained valuable experience working in different phases of production. With Hollywood features lining up to shoot in Massachusetts, there’s suddenly a huge need for production workers to fill a range of jobs. In this panel, you’ll learn how to leverage your skills into a well-paying job on a feature film. Tim van Patten from Central Booking will discuss breaking in as a production assistant and other non-union jobs; Chris O’Donnell, business manager of IATSE Local 481 will focus on union jobs; and Scott Masterson will relate his experiences juggling a career as both an independent filmmaker and paid industry worker on commercials and feature films.
Panelists: Scott Masterson, Independent Filmmaker & Freelancer; Chris O’Donnell, Business Manager, IATSE 481; Tim Van Patten, Owner, Central Booking. Moderated by Nicholas Paleologos , Executive Director, Massachusetts Film Office.
Story Structure: From Great to Excellent!
10:00am-11:30am
A case study with story consultant Fernanda Rossi, The Documentary Doctor
Guest filmmaker Gino Del Guercio
If you always feel your doc is almost there and don’t know what to do to make it great, come and see story consultant Fernanda Rossi analyze Gino Del Guercio’s work in progress “Abandoned in the Attic.” With this real life before/after example, the Doc Doctor will explain story structure models and what to look for to make your film excellent.
Marketing Your Film for Engagement and Impact
1:30pm-3:00pm
Imagine you hear a mysterious voice whisper to you in the edit suite, “if you build it, they will come.” If only the marketing of film in today’s world was as simple it was for Kevin Costner to build his “Field of Dreams.” Today, there is a glut of film out there – from the profound to the vacuous – on every conceivable platform: in theaters, on TV, online, on mobile phones, even in public restrooms. These trends are changing the language of film and raising the bar to getting your film noticed and giving it lasting meaning. In this panel, experts in documentary and narrative film marketing illustrate how the passive standards of getting “eyeballs on the screen” and “bums in seats” have translated into active measures of audience education, engagement, and activation. You’ll learn about developing your film and content on multiple platforms for maximum audience reach; leveraging partnerships and community outreach for authentic and deep penetration; and moving audiences from awareness, to understanding, to action to catalyze positive social change. And, you’ll get an invaluable primer on how technology and media are changing content and audiences’ consumption of it.
Panelists: Bonnie Abaunza, Vice President, Participant Media; Scott Karambis, Director of Strategy, Mechanica; Cynthia López, Vice President, P.O.V.; Ellen Stanley, Vice President Communications, National Geographic. Moderated by Anne Zeiser, Azure Media.
Music for Film 2.0
1:30pm-3:00pm
Music for a film can present a daunting task to film directors and producers. Licenses, copyrights and contracts must be considered, as well as the individuals responsible for creating and/or editing the music. As we move forward into more collaborative creative environments, how has the relationship between the director and the music for their films changed? A panel comprised of industry veterans that have embraced new technologies and capabilities will investigate the move away from traditional music work flows and into a more flexible model. A look at the pros and cons of current practices will be considered as well as a look back at what worked in a fixed framework. Long-distance collaboration, non-locked pictures, international recording sessions, new licensing schemes and contracts will be among the topics discussed.
Panelists: Bill Elliott , Berklee College of Music; Tom Phillips, OBT Music; Alison Plante, Center for Digital Imaging Arts; Roland Tec, Pinkplot Productions. Moderated by Jeanine Cowen, Assistant Vice President, Berklee College.
Equity Financing Panel—Cutting Edge Ways of Gaining Equity Funding (for Docs and Narratives)
1:30pm-3:30pm
Obtaining equity funding for independent film projects has always been difficult. Friends and family are often the primary source of funding along with filmmaker’s own, and often scarce, personal financial resources. Although still difficult to find, more angel investors and some funds have begun to crop up that are providing early stage seed funding through finishing funds for independent filmmakers making both documentaries as well as narrative films.
In this panel we plan to explore current sources that are available for equity including some of the novel models that are cropping up such as incubation equity funds and program related investments (conversion of grants to equity/loans). Join us to hear seasoned funders discuss innovative equity investment strategies and deal structures as we debate the challenges and opportunities to make the sector more robust thru additional innovative capital sources.
Panelists: Dan Cogan, Impact Partners; Artemis A.W. Joukowsky III, Filmmaker/Angel Investor/Private Equity Fund Manager; Suzanne Lyons, Snowfall Films. Moderated by Carol Atwood , Spartacus Capital.
Incorporating Animation into your Doc or Feature Film
3:30pm-5:00pm
Learn about various ways animation can be incorporated into live- action documentary feature filmmaking. Panelists include animators who represent different visual styles, as well as filmmakers who have found animation important to their work. Discussion will cover animation’s capacity for narrative exposition, illustration, illumination, as well as overall design “packaging.”
Panelists: Lisa Crafts, Animator; Robin Hobart, FX Animator; Alla Kovgan , Producer & Editor; Robb Moss , Filmmaker. Moderated by Bryan Papciak and Jeff Sias, Handcranked Productions.
The Future of Documentary in the Age of Internet Video
3:30pm-5:00pm
The ecosystem that supports the funding, production, promotion, and distribution of documentary film is changing in many ways. This panel discussion will explore how the documentary form is being influenced, challenged, and transformed by internet video, the funding climate, social networking, and changes in audience behavior.
Panelists: Chris Boebel, Manager, Multimedia Development, MIT Libraries; Nettrice Gaskins, Computer Arts Academic and Community Liaison, MassArt; Scott Kirsner, Writer, Columnist, The Boston Globe; Rachel Lyon, Associate Professor in Media and Culture, Bentley College. Moderated byDavid Tamés, Filmmaker and Media Technologist, Kino-Eye.com.
How to Perfect Your Pitch
3:30pm-5:00pm
If I asked you to pitch your project to several executives, what reaction would you have? My guess is you would say, “sheer panic”. I never hear people say, “pitching is fun”. In “Perfecting Your Pitch” I plan to turn things around so that you will be saying “I love pitching”! I will take you through what I call “The Six Stages of the Pitch,” and I promise that when we are finished, you will leave comfortable, confident and excited about pitching.
I will focus on Preparation: knowing who you are pitching to; Relationships: creating a rapport with the people you are pitching to; Loglines: creating killer loglines that will be 80% of your sale!; Story: How to tell your story in two minutes or less; Action Plan: What happens after you finished your pitch; and Follow Up: How to make every pitch a Win! This workshop is going to be entirely interactive, and I promise it will be tons of fun!
Facilitated by Suzanne Lyons, Snowfall Films.
Pitch Panel
5:10pm-6:30pm
What makes a good presentation? Is it personality, passion, good ideas, good video? In this session you’ll witness three independent filmmakers pitch their films ideas to a panel of experts, including national program executives. The panelists, in turn, will critique each pitch, citing the successful, and not-so-successful, elements. Whether you’re pitching or not, you’ll want to attend this session. It will help you evaluate the choices you’ll make in your next pitch - in real life - when it really counts!
Panelists: Ryan Harrington , Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund & Independent Producer; Cynthia López , Vice President, P.O.V.; Suzanne Lyons , Snowfall Films; Fernanda Rossi , The Doc Doctor; Kathryn Washington, ITVS. Moderated by Judith Vecchione , WGBH.
One-on-One Consultations
Please check schedule for times
Legal Issues
Have questions about contracts, laws, copyright? Consult with entertainment lawyer, Sandra Forman to get your questions answered.
Tax Credits
Did you know that even a $50,000 production budget is eligible for a tax credit? Nobody knows the tax credit legislation better than Tax Credits, LLC. Find out what it takes to cash in your tax credit and make some extra money.
Fundraising Trailer
Bring your laptop and a copy of your fundraising trailer to review and get invaluable feedback from Fernanda Rossi, the Doc Doctor.
Get Your Film on P.O.V.
What does it take to have your film aired on the award-winning PBS series, P.O.V? Consult with Vice President Cynthia López and find out.
Independent Television Service Initiatives
Do you have a project you think it right for ITVS? Kathryn Washington can help you decide which of ITVS’ funding initiative best suits your project.
Do It Online!
If you have questions about online fundraising, audience building, DIWO (Do-It-With-Others) filmmaking; online viral campaigns; self distribution, Slava Rubin, Founder of IndieGoGo can help.
Technology Consulting
Sticky technical issues getting you down? Marc Grubb from Fusion IT can help with design/integration/optimization of Mac-based video editing systems. (Final Cut Studio, Avid); aligning technology with business goals and marketing efforts (Domain Name, Web Site, & E-Mail Strategies); leveraging technology for more efficient video and office workflows (Network Design & Optimization, File Sharing, Video Compression); and purchasing advice (Apple & Pro Video Hardware, Software, Services)
Animation Workflow & Issues
Thinking about using animation in your film? Animator Lisa Crafts can help:
For Directors:
Issues of budget/style/time; when to involve an animator; choosing an animator; collaboration and direction; process: treatment, storyboard, pencil test (or rough draft), finished work; importance of contracts; negotiating revisions.
For animators:
Issues of budget/style/time; collaboration and direction: understanding the level of artistic freedom you will have; knowing the director’s work and style; communication issues; process: treatment, storyboard, pencil test (or rough draft), finished work; importance of contracts; negotiating revisions.
Story Structure
Lots of ideas and even footage but no clue where to get started? Do you need some help in deciding what to focus on? Check in with Fernanda Rossi, the Doc Doctor.
Strategies for Distributing Your Film
Strategize about next steps for a finished film, including possible festivals, distributors and buyers, with Ryan Harrington, from the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund & independent producer.
Film Financing and more
Have questions about financing, development, production, and distribution? Dan Cogan of Impact Partners can assist you.
