Essentials Bootcamp

DOC Institute’s popular Essentials Bootcamp series is back! This 4-part virtual series will cover the documentary producing essentials that every early career producer needs to know.

Led by award-winning filmmaker and Shasha Nakhai (Scarborough), these intensive, interactive sessions will include case studies, real-world insights from industry professionals, and sample documents from successfully funded films. This bootcamp series is an opportunity for you to:

• Learn the 101s of funding, approaching funders, and pitch packages.
• Find out how to navigate legal & business affairs of a doc project.
• Understand ethical concerns, COVID protocols, copyright, and more.
• Learn how to find and collaborate with your crew.
• Navigate the world of budgets, financing plans, and production management.
• Ask your burning questions about working as a producer in the industry.

REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE

Schedule

WEEK 1: Wed, Sep 20 • 6:30-9:30pm EST

Getting Started! Intro to Production, your Crew, and the Stakeholders

Dig into the production process, find the crew for you, and learn more about the key industry players.

WEEK 2: Wed, Sep 27 • 6:30-9:30pm EST

What Are the Rules? Rights, Ethics and C19 Protocols

Understanding ownership, considering ethics, and creating protocols for the health and safety of your team.

WEEK 3: Wed, Oct 4 • 6:30-9:30pm EST

Finding the Money: Funding and Financing Essentials

A comprehensive overview of the funding available for Canadians, and how to create a financing structure for your project.

WEEK 4: Wed, Oct 11 • 6:30-9:30pm EST

Line by Line! Budgeting for your Story

An intro to budgeting and a walk-through of the infamous Telefilm template, and how to make it work for you.

About the Facilitator

Shasha Nakhai is a storyteller whose work has taken her to the Hawaiian coastline, the ski slopes of Davos, the Nevada desert, a Cold War bunker, the engine room of a decaying ship, Philippine sugar mills and the front lines of Nigeria’s energy crisis.

Her work has aired on the BBC, CBC, ZDF, and Arte; screened at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA); been nominated for 16 Canadian Screen Awards; named TIFF’s Top 10; and shortlisted for an Oscar.

With over a decade of experience in documentary, Shasha recently released her first drama feature with partner Rich Williamson – Scarborough, adapted from the award-winning novel by Catherine Hernandez. The film made its World Premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the Shawn Mendes Foundation Changemaker Award, was 1st runner up for People’s Choice, and received an Honourable Mention for Best Canadian Feature.

Shasha is an alumna of TMU’s Journalism Program, Berlinale Toolbox, the DOC Institute’s Breakthrough Program, Hot Docs Doc Accelerator, WIFT’s Ubisoft Toronto Mentorship, the Reel Asian First Feature Lab, and TIFF’s Talent Accelerator.

Registration

DOC members receive $50 off registration prices (not applicable to student prices). You will receive your discount code via email. Please remember to apply the discount code before checkout. Instructions for using promo codes can be found here. Learn more about becoming a member here.

We are offering a special registration pricing for students currently enrolled in a recognized post-secondary institution. We reserve the right to ask for proof of enrollment.

The registration prices are for access to all four workshops. The workshops are designed as a series and individual workshop registration is not available. The workshops are scheduled for the Ontario time zone, but we welcome registrants from any location. Please note that workshops will not be recorded.

***

The Essentials Bootcamp series is made possible through the support of Ontario Creates.