DOCUMENTARY DEVELOPMENT, FUNDING & PRODUCTION – MASTERCLASS

Got a documentary idea but feel overwhelmed by where to start and how to actually make it? This course covers the whole process of documentary production, focussing rightly on the development stages of finding the right idea, developing and pitching it and then planning out the production.

Unlock the secrets to creating impactful documentaries with our Documentary Development, Funding, and Production Masterclass. This comprehensive course is designed to guide aspiring and established filmmakers through every stage of the documentary filmmaking process, from conceptualization to final delivery. Whether you’re a beginner with a powerful idea or a seasoned professional looking to refine your approach, this masterclass equips you with the tools, techniques, and insider knowledge to bring your vision to life.

The course begins with the fundamentals of documentary development, helping you craft compelling narratives, identify key themes, and structure your story for maximum emotional and intellectual impact. You’ll learn how to research effectively, secure access to subjects, and navigate the ethical challenges unique to documentary filmmaking. We’ll also cover the art of creating a winning pitch deck and treatment that captures the attention of funders and production partners.

Funding is a critical aspect of documentary filmmaking, and this masterclass dives deep into the strategies for securing financial support. You’ll explore grant applications, crowdfunding, sponsorships, and partnerships, as well as learn how to build budgets that attract investors and meet production goals. Once funded, the course transitions to production, covering essential skills like directing interviews, capturing high-quality visuals and audio, and managing a production team. Finally, you’ll explore post-production workflows, distribution strategies, and how to navigate the festival circuit to get your documentary seen by the world.

By the end of this masterclass, you’ll have a clear roadmap to develop, fund, and produce your documentary, along with the confidence and expertise to make it a reality. Join us to turn your ideas into powerful stories that inspire and resonate with audiences globally.

Who’s it for?

If you are an aspiring documentary maker, or even an established documentary maker that wants to create better, more powerful documentaries, then this is the course for you.

A broadcast standard documentary development and production course for everyone from beginners to established documentary producers.

This course has been used by individuals, freelancers and big broadcasters like the BBC.

Journalists

This course has been used by journalists around the world. 

Broadcasters

This course has been delivered to staff of major broadcasters  around the world., directly resulting in the commissioning of new documentaries and documentary series.

Digital Publishers

Digital Publishers, around the world have made the next step into major programming making with this course.

Amateur Filmmakers

Filmmakers around the world have used this course to develop, shape, fund and get commissioned their passion project.

What’s in this course?

The definitive, broadcast standard, Documentary Development and Production Masterclass from internationally award-winning documentary producer and award-winning media trainer, Dean Arnett.

This course will take you from the absolute basics of the first ideas, through story development, owning the project, securing access, pitching, proposal writing, story development, pre-production planning, budgeting, the difference between ‘good’ and ‘great’ documentaries, funding, commissioning, self-funding, self-production, crowdfunding, distribution, sales agents.

What's in this course?

DOCUMENTARY DEVELOPMENT, FUNDING & PRODUCTION MASTERCLASS SYLLABUS

MODULE 1
Introduction
The definition of documentary
The difference between short form and long form
Know your audience
What is a story
What is a story Pt 2
MODULE 2
Focus your story
Selling your story
The pitch
Research & Voice
Why should the audience care?
MODULE 3
Selling the Project
The cover letter
More story focussing
The human condition
The difference between 'good' & 'great'
The Proposal
Structure
Theme
MODULE 4
The opening
The treatment
The edit
Writing the script
Commissioning & Funding
Cultivating Funding Relationships
Other Funding Options
Processes & Paperwork
Extra Resources
Summary

Face to face training

This course is available, and has been extensively delivered, face to face course. Email me at training@deanarnett.com to discuss costs and logistics. I can even adapt and modify this course to suit your exact needs.

Pre-recorded online training course

This course is now available as a series of pre-recorded online video modules to consume at your own convenience and schedule. Go to www.videoschool.deanarnett.com to get started.

Live online training

I can deliver this course from my purpose built multi-camera training studio, live, online, to suit your preferred schedule and avoid T&D costs. Email me at training@deanarnett.com to discuss and book. I can even adapt and modify it to suit your exact needs.

Consultancy service

Often clients want to know how to do something, but need it done quickly and efficiently, thats why I'm increasingly being booked as a hands-on consultant to get the work done for you directly and quickly. I'll happily work anywhere in the world, so Email me at training@deanarnett.com to discuss.

WHY YOU NEED THIS COURSE

With Dean Arnett’s documentary development and production course, you’ll learn the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking, including how to develop and pitch your ideas, how to conduct interviews and research, how to shoot and edit your footage, and how to navigate the distribution and marketing process.

Distill your idea down into a powerful pitch that no one will be able to say no to.

Focus your story idea, develop it so only you can make this film. Identify the emotional hooks that will grab the audience and design a narrative that will drive the audience to the very end.

Don’t waste any more time trying to get your documentary course off the ground. Get focussed with this masterclass, the very same course designed and delivered to broadcasters all over the world.

This masterclass is based on the course that Dean delivers all over the world to broadcasters and corporate clients including the BBC, ITV, Media Corp, Press Association, Frontline Club and many others.

Countless documentaries and series have been commissioned as a direct result of being developed through this course

WHO IS YOUR TRAINER?

Dean Arnett is an internationally award winning documentary producer and has made documentaries for over 20 years for the likes of the BBC, Al Jazeera, Amazon prime, Discovery and many others. He has helped countless producers, production companies and broadcasters develop, commission and produce their own documentaries and documentary series.

This documentary course has been delivered to broadcasters and digital publishers all around the world.

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