How to Create Written and Visual Materials To Fund Your Documentary
By award-winning writer and speaker Fernanda Rossi
Online self-paced course with live video classes and office hours
Learn specific techniques that capture the essence of your doc and the attention of funders, distributors and audiences. Fernanda will provide easy step-by-step procedures to create your materials, including practical exercises and plenty of before/after samples so you don’t need to guess any more how to put your best foot forward.
Modules:
Logline, synopsis, treatment, director’s statement & stylistic approach and pitch deck.
Each Module Will Cover:
For each topic we’ll learn: definition, structure, key elements, many examples and a detailed methodology to go from the empty page to a first draft.
You Get:
- 5 hours of recorded classes that you can watch at your own pace anytime between June 16 and July 31.
- 2 live-streamed classes, 90 min each, to participate and interact with Fernanda [will be recorded]
- 5 dates of group office hours on Zoom to ask Fernanda all your questions
- all emails answered weekly by Fernanda herself
Course launches June 16 ends July 31st: 6 weeks to go through 6 modules
To access this course, you need to purchase before June 30:
Modules and Classes
Key Dates
- June 16 to July 31
Self-paced online recorded classes
3 Modules: Logline, Synopsis and Pitch Deck - June 30
Registration Closes (last day to sign up) - Sat July 12 12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm EDT
Live Class 1 on Zoom (will be recorded)
Module on Treatment - Fri July 18 2:00 -3:30 pm EDT
Live Class 2 on Zoom (to be recorded)
Module Director’s Treatment and Artistic Approach - Weekly Office Hours on different days and times (will be recorded)
- July 31
FINAL day to access the course!
What people are saying:
“Great online experience… truly!” Christine L.
“Thank you! Inspiring, helpful and specific!” Megan R.
“This course was an injection of Fernanda’s critical thinking.” Deborah K.
FAQ
1. I took Fernanda’s course last Autumn – how is this different?
This version of the course has been expanded significantly. Beyond logline, synopsis and pitch deck, we’ll also cover:
- Two new modules: Treatment and Director’s Statement & Stylistic Approach.
- Five 45-minute sessions of live group office hours to ask your questions.
- Weekly answers to your emails.
- All in all, more of everything.
2. What if I can’t attend the new live-streamed classes?
All live classes will be recorded and available to review whenever you’re ready.
3. Can I submit my work for feedback?
The group office hours are open to discuss anything you want. While it’s not the same as an individual and personalized session, you’ll get feedback from Fernanda and tips on how to keep improving.
Instructor Bio:
Fernanda Rossi is an award-winning screenwriter/director, and internationally known story producer, film theorist and speaker. She has collaborated on hundreds of fiction and documentary projects, two nominated for the Academy Awards, another for Best Script at the Panda Awards and many received funding from ITVS, LPB, NEH and multiple organizations across Europe.
She has given her signature seminars on storytelling at over 40 film organizations and festivals in 15 countries, including HotDocs and Sheffield Doc/Fest. She has been a regular tutor for laboratories for professional development such as Doc Campus, ESoDoc and NALIP. Her book Trailer Mechanics: How to Make Your Documentary Fundraising Demo, 2nd Edition, is the go-to book on demos, according to industry professionals.