In the documentary production course, Alex Astrella will use the skills he has gained over the last 8 years of documentary filmmaking to inspire other neurodivergent documentary filmmakers to create meaningful stories with a unique flair.
This unique opportunity to learn from Alex will reveal what inspires his award-winning documentaries. The 11-week course will cover everything from pre-production of documentaries to the distribution and editing process. Alex will also shed light on how his neurodivergence influences his storytelling. He’ll also detail how the neurodivergent lens leads to naturalistic moments on set. Throughout the course, Alex will share examples from his completed documentaries to supplement the learning objectives.
Read the course outline below:
Documentary Filming Workshop
(11 Weeks)
Instructor: Alex Astrella
Format: 11 Weeks | 1 Hour per Session | Virtual via Zoom
Week 1:
- Intro, icebreaker (favorite films, favorite filmmaker)
- Understanding the ins and outs of Documentary Filmmaking
- Roadmap of course (will have put together proposal for a documentary project via PowerPoint)
Week 2:
- Identifying each student’s desire and what makes a compelling documentary
- How to personalize it using my own body of work as an example
- Why it’s important to take an angle, but how that can change while filming
- How to blend narrative filmmaking with documentary
Activity: Create a logline and 1 paragraph synopsis for project.
Homework: Create ShotDeck based on synopsis.
Week 3:
- Reviewing materials for pre-production
- As a director, what steps to take to crew up
- How to go about which subjects to tackle first and how that can lead to new contacts
- Importance of pre-pro meetings with camera, sound, and editing
Homework: Draft an email to reach out to potential subject.
Week 4:
- Reviewing each pitch deck
- What works and what doesn’t
- Intro to casting crew and talent
- What corners can be cut vs. what can’t
- How to utilize your existing contacts (use example)
Activity: Create a spreadsheet of contacts with a template.
Homework: Create a contact list with at least 5 contacts and corresponding info.
Week 5:
- Briefly review contact list
- How to send crew deals and contract memos Importance of those contracts and how to go about negotiating
- Locations:
- Setting up a location scout
- What to look for
- What to watch out for
- Who to bring for scout
- How to negotiate what director/studio wants vs. what is feasible for location
Week 6:
- The night before the first shoot
- What prep materials and essentials to have
- How to ensure lodging, food, travel expenses are complete
- Importance of holding on to receipts (creating a literal folder)
- What meetings to have with above the line crew to make sure everyone is on same page
Week 7:
- Producer’s role on set
- How to deal with in the moment crisis in narrative vs. documentary
- How to communicate with various divisions during the work day
- How to keep crew engaged and happy
- Importance of multitasking
- Importance of keeping record of all actions
Homework: Come up with a solution to a crisis scenario that I will create.
Week 8:
- Producer’s role in post
- How to facilitate interactions
- How to create a post production schedule
- How to communicate between director and production house
- When to start looking for composers, colorist, sound designer
- How to work with director to lock down those positions
Homework: Create a mock post production schedule with deadlines.
Week 9:
- Guest speaker from established producer
Week 10:
- Creating a plan for distribution
- Who/what to reach out to
- How to create a proposal using materials from the film
- How to entice with a hook, description, sources
- Format of proposal
- How to work with director on these assets
- How to create a compelling trailer and poster
Homework: Pick your favorite trailer and share what you think makes it compelling to potential buyers.
Week 11:
- Wrapping it all up, making sure all materials are ready
- Reviewing what we learned
- Having a game at the end and talking next steps
