IDA Seminar Series - Doc U: Can Your Doc Really Change The World?

DOC U: CAN YOUR DOC REALLY CHANGE THE WORLD?

RAIN or SHINE - TIX WILL BE AVAILABLE ONSITE!!

Monday, December 20, 2010
Doors Open: 7:00pm
Discussion & Audience Q&A: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Wine Reception to Follow

The Cinefamily at The Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Can a documentary really change the world? These days it seems as though more and more doc-makers are giving it a try. But if you're hoping to use the power of film to advocate for solutions to complex social issues and to urge people to take action, how can you make sure that your documentary has the greatest possible impact? What kinds of outreach and marketing campaigns are the most effective? How can you best partner with non-profits to get your message out? What do funders and broadcasters expect from documentary filmmakers? And what's the best way to build a successful social action campaign? The panel of filmmakers, funders and communication experts we've assembled for the December 2010 Doc U will address all of these questions and many more. What they have to say could change the way you think about changing the world.

Jennifer Arnold, Director, A SMALL ACT
Jennifer Arnold graduated from UCLA and University of Nairobi with a B.A. in African History and returned to UCLA for a MFA in Film. Her award-winning film, MAID OF HONOR screened at Sundance before airing on HBO/Cinemax and Film 4. Jennifer returned to Sundance with her internet series, "The Mullet Chronicles," which was developed into the documentary, AMERICAN MULLET and released by Palm Pictures and Lionsgate. Jennifer also co-directed a documentary for Ethan Coen and wrote a motorcross script, SPEEDWAY, which was selected for Berlin Talent Campus’ script clinic, IFP's No Borders and FIND’s Directors Lab / Fast Track Program. A SMALL ACT, Jennifer Arnold’s current film, premiered at Sundance in Documentary Competition, was broadcast on HBO and is the winner of the Humanitas prize for Documentary and the Adrienne Shelly Director’s Award.

Robert Kenner, Director, FOOD, INC.
Robert Kenner's last film, Food, Inc., is one of the 20 top-grossing theatrical documentaries of all time.  Food, Inc. has received widespread critical acclaim, dozens of awards and nominations, and has had an impact on current food policy decisions.  Kenner received a Peabody and a national Emmy for Two Days in October, which is told from the perspectives of all who took part, from Vietnam Vets, to former Vietcong, to police and anti-war students.  He was co-filmmaker with Richard Pearce on The Road to Memphis for the Martin Scorsese series, ‘The Blues," and has directed numerous specials for National Geographic and American Experience, as well as award winning commercials and corporate films for a wide range of clients.  

Cara Mertes, Director, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program
Cara Mertes is Director, Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program, overseeing the activities of the Documentary Film Program and Fund, including granting between $1 and $2 million per year to independent documentarians globally, directing three Creative Documentary Labs at Sundance Resort, supporting documentary programming and panels at the Sundance Film Festival and the Sundance Creative Producers Summit, curating work-in-progress screenings with partnering museums and festivals and other initiatives of the DFP. Since joining Sundance, she has inaugurated several creative partnerships, including STORIES OF CHANGE: Social Entrepreneurship in Focus Through Documentary, a $3 million, 3 year partnership between the DFP and the Skoll Foundation which has funded 10 films on social entrepreneurs meeting today’s global challenges. The Good Pitch is a partnership between the DFP and the UK Channel Four Foundation. The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture has partnered with the DFP to support Arab documentary filmmakers working in the Middle East. Most recently, the Gates Foundation has partnered with the DFP to develop a series of short films on Foundation issues. She is also a key programmatic strategist for Sundance Institute.

Dennis Palmieri, Director of Communications, ITVS
Dennis Palmieri has been working in public and community relations and marketing communications for large nonprofits for over ten years. As Director of Communications, Dennis oversees the publicity, marketing, community engagement & education and interactive teams at ITVS. Previously, Dennis served as public relations officer and deputy regional director for the western U.S. with Amnesty International, leading communications, advocacy and civic engagement efforts around global human rights issues throughout the western 13 states. Later, as senior communications officer for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Dennis managed all communications programs for the largest scholarship provider to the U.S. Hispanic community. He joined the ITVS team in 2005 as national community relations manager, spearheading efforts to re-design ITVS’s community engagement activities, including the creation of the ITVS Community Cinema program. Dennis is fluent in Spanish, speaks French and Portuguese proficiently and holds an MA in Public Policy and International Relations from the University of Washington. Dennis lives in Oakland, CA where he maintains a rooftop vegetable and herb garden.

Sara Hutchison, Moderator
Sara Hutchison is a producer, writer and director specializing in non-fiction television production and concept development. She is the co-founder of Good Gravy Entertainment, a media company producing for television, the internet and other platforms. Sara's entertainment career began at National Geographic Television as part of the Emmy-award-winning team responsible for primetime documentary specials on NBC and PBS. A passion for education and cutting edge media production led her to UniversityAccess.com where she produced website content to compliment educational programming for PBSU. From there, she joined Greystone Television and Films as Producer and VP of Development, where she successfully developed over 100 hours of programming as series and specials on A&E, Court TV, Fine Living, The Food Network, The Travel Channel, and the History Channel among others. Sara serves on the Executive Board of the International Documentary Association, the Non-fiction Peer Group Executive Committee of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and is an active member of the Director's Guild.

The evening's on-stage conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A, and a reception on the Cinefamily's backyard Spanish patio!

IDA members: $15
Non-members: $20

Seating is limited so buy your tickets now to be guaranteed admission
to this very special engagement.

Join IDA now! For discounted admission prices and more!

(Purchase admissions above.)

What:

Doc U: Can Your Doc Really Change The World?

When:

Monday, December 20, 2010
Doors Open: 7:00pm
Discussion & Audience Q&A: 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Wine Reception to Follow

Where:

The Cinefamily at The Silent Movie Theater
611 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Parking:

Metered parking available for free after 6pm, and non-permitted parking
in neighborhoods behind the Silent Movie Theatre

Doc U is the International Documentary Association's series of educational seminars and workshops for aspiring and experienced documentary filmmakers. Taught by artists and industry experts, participants receive vital training and insight on various topics including: fundraising, distribution, licensing, marketing, and business tactics.

Special support provided by: