The goal of reaching an audience starts with first steps in the development and financing of the film project. Students learn how to match their passion for a subject with a successful strategy that guides them from research and proposal through production and into release. What subjects 'travel' well? What are the real and often subtle approaches to concept and style that make the difference between a successful film and one that's hardly seen? Students in this workshop learn how to translate ideas into compelling proposals, trailers, and pitches and where to take them to raise funds. Particular emphasis is placed on the global television marketplace, a primary source of funding and support for documentaries. Students receive insight into the key networks, their relationships with other funding sources, the roles of pitching forums, work-in-progress screenings and film festivals. Projects already in development are reviewed in advance of the class and undergo a hands-on development process throughout the week. Students with projects can expect intensive feedback that help them take away revised versions of their proposals, budgets, and trailers. The class also reviews proposals and trailers for successfully completed projects, including those currently in the midst of worldwide distribution.
Louise Rosen is a media executive with over 25 years experience in the international television and film business, project development, production and distribution.
She has worked with a wide range of program genres and formats and set up major international co-productions. Louise was based in Europe for 8 years and has particular interest in the cross-cultural aspects of television/film. She has been honored to have among her projects Oscar, Emmy, Sundance, Prix Italia, International Emmy, and other award-winning films.
Louise is a Tutor at Discovery Campus Master School and has been a featured speaker at many conferences and film festivals, including the Real Screen Summit, Toronto’s Hot Docs Doc Forum, and the annual conference of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers.