When:
New dates announced soon!
10am - 6pm
Where:
DFG, London
What makes a good trailer or taster tape?
In today's highly competitive industry environment, a taster tape of your documentary is becoming an essential part of securing a commission. In three minutes or less, you need to inform and persuade a highly critical audience - your commissioner. So how do you do it?
This one-day development workshop will provide you with an insight into the nature, purpose and proper execution of a taster tape. You'll cover how the commissioning process works, how to use alternative festival routes, what production values to consider and understand the job a taster tape is required to do.
A taster or trailer is a specialised art-form with differing requirements for particular genres. During the workshop you'll consider how to think about the following issues with regards to your taster:
- Character-based programmes
- Narrative-driven films
- What part and how much of the story should be in your taster tape
- Integrating the taster tape into the arc of your pitch
- What will the commissioner be expecting to see?
The tutor will lead you through the knowledge and insider tips that you'll need to produce a successful trailer - and the pitfalls to avoid. A selection of commissioning winning tasters will be viewed and discussed in context. If you have a film proposal and/or an assembly or a rough-cut for your taster, you are encouraged to bring them to view and discuss during the day.
Taster Tape Format for Screening:
All taster tapes should be shown on DVD/Quicktime File where possible. However we may be able to accommodate original FCP files if you let us know in advance.
Please pre-select a clip of NO MORE than 10 minutes to screen during the workshop.
Course Tutor: Nicola Lees
Nicola Lees has developed hundreds of factual programmes for network and cable channels in the UK and USA, including the BBC, Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and TLC. She has written more than 370 factual television programme proposals, and has been directly involved in originating, researching, writing or pitching more than 80 commissioned programmes, including Oceans (Oceans), Moms on the Road (Travel Channel), How Not to Be Shark Bait (Discovery), Desperate Midwives (BBC3) and the BAFTA nominated Earth: Power of the Planet (BBC2/Nat Geo). Find out more at www.tvmole.com
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How much:
Freelance DFG members £150 + VAT = £176.25
Freelance non members £175 + VAT = £205.63
Corporate rate: £350 + VAT = £411.25
To book your place, call us on +44 (0)20 7249 6600 or email training@dfgdocs.com