LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will be able to recognize key players of documentary film production and financing in Finland.
Students will be able to examine different strategies and avenues to finance their documentary film projects.
Students will be able to understand the specifics of documentary film production and financing.
Students will be able to identify the different phases of a documentary project from the point of view of production.
Credits: 3
Schedule: 29.04.2024 - 10.05.2024
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Miia Haavisto, Arturo Delgado Pereira, Anna Heiskanen
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
Inka Achté Inka Achte inka@rainafilms.com
+358 50 534 3213
Miia Haavisto
miia.haavisto@aalto.fi
+358 50 527 7172
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
The course introduces lectures, case study presentations and team work on the special features of documentary film production in collaboration with production students. The course will provide a basic understanding of the process of financing a documentary film, but also the organization of the various phases of a documentary film project from the point of view of production, basic budgeting and tracking, managing various filming and post production arrangements, etc.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Attending lectures and doing assignments.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Lectures (ratio 1:1): 41 hours (max) Independent Studies/Workshop (ratio 1:2): 40 hours (máx) Total: 81 hours.
At least 80% participation in face-to-face teaching is mandatory to complete the course. If, due to absences, the student does not achieve the learning outcomes defined in the course description, the remaining 20% may have to be compensated as determined by the responsible teachers of the course.
All absences must be reported to the teachers in charge. The responsible teachers of the course will specify the necessary compensating assignments.Study methods changed by decision of Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 1st of February 2023.
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
Study material changes according to course content.
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
3 Good Health and Well-being
4 Quality Education
5 Gender Equality
10 Reduced Inequality
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language : English
Teaching Period : 2022-2023 No teaching
2023-2024 Spring VEnrollment :
Registration for courses: Sisu. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture, https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts
Minimum number of students: 2
Maximum number of students: 15
Students must attend the first session of the course to secure their place of study.
applies in this implementation
Pre-assignment
Bring with you a documentary film project idea, even if in a very early stage. Ideally, it is an idea that you can work on during the course from the point of view of development, financing, distribution, marketing and packaging. Please note that the course will not be about content development, but rather about how to make your idea into a project, what kind of resources are needed for the project to move forward and to become presentable to potential co-producers, financing partners, grant applications etc. Please note that it is also possible to team up with someone in the course for this purpose.
Details on the schedule
applies in this implementation
SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 (29.4 - 3.5)
MONDAY 29.4.
9.30 - 12.30
Introduction by Inka Achté -We go over the aims of this course and present the visiting lecturers.
Students introduce their project ideas.
13.30 - 16.00
Go over assignments 1-3 and start independent work with those.
Inka will be present for discussion and questions until the end of the day.
1st Assignment
Write a development plan for your documentary film idea for internal use, namely for the
purpose of the producer and the director. This will include the steps that need to be taken in
order for you to take the project further in an effort to present it anywhere. Have a schedule
for the work to be done. Depending on the stage of your project, you might think about what kind of film project it is (short/feature doc, doc series, interactive doc, VR, etc.), where/when would you like to make it (one site, multi-sited, abroad etc.) how do you envision the production of it (continuous shooting, in blocks, research/fieldwork needs, etc), what kind of financing you might need and when, etc. The idea is to start thinking about concrete production and financing aspects from the beginning so the film idea (what) and the film project (how) inform each other.
2nd Assignment
Make a draft budget for the development work indicated in the previous assignment and a financing plan to go with it for the first stage of the development.
3rd Assignment
Study the guidelines of the Finnish Film Foundation, which are relevant to creative
documentaries. Look for information on how to approach YLE with a documentary film
concept. Prepare two questions for both the morning and the afternoon session on Thursday with our guests.
TUESDAY 30.4.
9.00- 16:00
Independent remote work with the assignments 1-3
WEDNESDAY 1.5. HOLIDAY
THURSDAY 2.5.
09:00 - 12.00
Discussion about the development of creative documentaries and best practices with future applicants. Speaker TBC
13.00 - 16.00
Creative documentaries and public broadcasting - What, how and to whom Yle wants to cater to? Speaker TBC
FRIDAY 3.5.
09:30-11:30
Screening of ‘Golden Land’ directed by Inka and produced by Liisa Karpo at napafilms
12:30-14:30
Case study: Developing & Financing creative feature documentary ‘Golden Land’ by Liisa Karpo & Inka Achté
14:30-16:00
Go over assignments 4 & 5 and start independent work on those
4th Assignment
Now it is time to work on your internal development plan from the 1st Assignment and to start
thinking about your first financing application. Where will you be applying from and why? What
is required of the application and what will you be needing in terms of attachments for the
application. The point is not to make a full application as an assignment, but to think it through and make notes about what you might already have and what you still need to do in order to have a strong application. The most fruitful exercise would be one where you do not pretend to be further than you actually are, but rather write down points that need more work or information
before you can put it in your application file. Focus on the development plan, cover letter and the producer’s word / director’s word.
5th Assignment
Of the tasks below, complete three out of five:
-Write a short financing synopsis and the first version of a marketing synopsis for your
project.
-Produce 1-3 logline suggestions to talk about with your director/producer.
Note that this is to raise an urge to see this film.
-Formulate three important questions that characterize this project which might be useful when pitching it.
-Explain briefly why you of all people are the one to make this particular project happen?
What do you have to give? If you are a producer/director team, explain also briefly why
the other member of the team is vital to the project.
-Summarize key ideas for the visual execution of the project at this stage of the project
or provide 1-5 key images.
WEEK 2 (6.5.-10.5)
MONDAY 6.5.
9:00-16:00
Independent work on Assignments 4 & 5
TUESDAY 7.5.
09.30 - 12.00
Students discuss their progress with their assignments/projects with the class.
13.00 - 16.00
Festivals & the distribution cycle: Watch examples of short documentaries and discuss their festival path
WEDNESDAY 8.5.
10:15 - 12.30
International co-productions and how to get there. Speaker: Liisa Karpo/Producer
13.30 - 16.00
Impact and Audience Engagement. Speaker: Sini Hormio/Impact Producer
Thursday 9.5. HOLIDAY
FRIDAY 10.5.
9.30 - 12.30
Independent Study for polishing all the assignments of the entire course in light of the
lectures and other materials.
13:30-16:00
Presenting the assignments for other members of the course.
TO CONCLUDE: Put the assignments together in one file in a package-like format and return to the teachers through MyCourses.