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This 12-week course is designed as an immersive, collective experience into the art of storytelling. The course will focus on documentary film as a creative process and how this medium tells stories in a captivating way sparking a conversation that can contribute to social-political change. Our stories give us insight into other people’s worlds. They help us understand each other. Story-tellers will benefit from this all-inclusive immersive class and will create the

possibility of not only turning their visions into reality, but they’ll also be able to share the
results with others and navigate the process with confidence.

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The 24 classes (2 x 1.5 hours) focus on documentary film as a creative process and how this medium tells stories in a captivating way sparking a conversation that can contribute to social-political change.  Our stories give us insight into other people’s worlds.  They help us understand each other.

 

We explore the following: 

• Finding your story – uniting an idea with truth and emotion 

• The nonfiction narrative: the truth as the core element

• The interview

• The internal change of the protagonist(s)

• Preparation and process 

• Style, approach, structure and aesthetics 

• The visual language and imagery

• Doc styles 

• Paper editing, writing and transcriptions

• Sourcing archival and historical material

• Dramatizations:  should we?

• Developing your voice as a filmmaker while stepping out of the way for the voices in your film

• Breaking the rules.

 

And an overview of:

 

• Developing a Business Plan

• Options for financing

• Assembling a Production Team

• Getting through Post-Production

• Distributing and Marketing the Film

 

Story-tellers will benefit from this all-inclusive immersive class and will create the possibility of not only turning their visions into reality, but they’ll also be able to share the results with others and navigate the process with confidence.

 

Phyllis Ellis is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who has been directing, writing and producing critically acclaimed documentary feature films for over 25 years.  Recently nominated for an International Emmy for Toxic Beauty, Phyllis has been teaching the art of creative and documentary writing and filmmaking over her long career and has a passion for mentoring and sharing the craft.

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This course will be delivered by Phyllis Ellis

Tuition:

$ 2,500.00

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Weengushk Film Institute is located just outside of M'Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. The island is the largest freshwater lake island in the world, surrounded by Lake Huron, Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The natural beauty of the island and the cultural history, make WFI's location a prime spot for media production.

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Filming in the North

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​Manitoulin Island is approximately two-hours southeast of Sudbury - a prime location for the film industry in Northern Ontario. With ties to the Northern Film Industry, WFI students have successfully transitioned into industry professionals. 

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What defines Weengushk?

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• We encourage hands-on experience in the classroom.​

• We provide a low instructor-to-participant ratio.

• We offer one-on-one mentorships with working professionals.

• We provide the opportunity for participants to thrive in a 360-degree learning environment.

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What defines our graduates?

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• They are prepared for entry-level positions in the film and television industry.

• They are emerging artists with distinct voices.

• 80% of graduates are working in the media-arts industry

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