film, video & TV training | professional development

Discipline/s:	writing & directing
Level:	Intermediate
Course Codes Date/s & times:	WYD1301: Tuesdays June 11, 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23 (6.30 - 9.30pm), 2013
Contact hours:	21
Places:	10
Fee:	$423 Open Channel Members / $510 (non-members) (Prices are Inclusive of GST) (Membership: $55 / $44 concession - join Open Channel here)

Develop your ideas for a compelling documentary project with a thorough exploration of the craft of documentary scriptwriting. From research to interviews, treatments to scripts, the course explores the challenges of writing compelling stories for the documentary genre. Practical group sessions in developing concepts and constructive feedback on written treatments will push you towards a strong, well thought-out project.

Prerequisites: Basic English literacy necessary. Beneficial to bring your ideas for documentaries to the first session.

Who should do this course?
Suitable for writers or directors interested in documentary. Also relevant to those with some experience in writing and want a deadline to develop their documentary concept.

Where can I go after this course?
Develop a strong Documentary proposal to take into production, or bring to more experienced filmmakers for consideration. Graduates may be eligible to enrol in Open Channel's Documentary Development Workshop.

Are you interested in being Accredited for this course?
Read about Accreditation Options on Short Courses

How do I Enrol?
Simply print an Enrolment Form and return to us with payment to secure a place in the Short Course. See the Enrolment Form for details on how to pay.
Short Courses Application Form (pdf)

If you wish to enrol in this course as part of a full Certificate III in Media / Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media, with up-front payment, click here.

Tutors

DIANE PERELSZTEIN
Diane is an award-winning, international documentary filmmaker. During the past 25 years, She has worked extensively in documentary cinema in Australia and in her native Belgium (which she left in 1996). Diane has written, directed and produced a number of feature-length documentary films - here in Australia (with the FFC, Film Victoria and SBS Independent), and in Europe with the support of some of the leading European broadcasters (Canal+, ZDF, Arte and France 3). Her films have been broadcast in many countries around the globe. She has worked with a wide range of film and television production techniques/delivery platforms, including video-web. Her films have been produced in a variety of styles, from 'cinéma vérité' to highly researched and fully scripted feature-length documentaries.
Between 1982 and 1996, Diane worked with RTBF and VRT (formerly BRTN), the Belgian, French and Flemish public TV networks, where she programmed, produced and directed over 100 short-length documentaries.
Diane is a graduate of the Institut des Arts de Diffusion, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la Neuve, Belgium (1981), where she majored in Film, Television and Radio.

Past Tutors

STEVE THOMAS
As a writer, director and producer Steve's films include: Black Man’s Houses (1992) and Harold (1994) – two award-winning documentaries examining black-white history, The Hillmen – A Soccer Fable (1996) – the misadventures of a junior soccer team and AFI Award winner for Best TV Documentary, Least Said, Soonest Mended (2000) - an adoption story about Steve’s own family which won a UNAA Media Peace Award, Welcome to Woomera (2004) - explores Australia’s famous ‘Rocket Town’, more recently infamous for its refugee detention centre, and his most recent film Hope (2007) – the story of SIEV X survivor Amal Basry. From 1998 to 2009 Steve taught in the documentary program at VCA