Build a professional practice with short docs!
An indie producers' workshop with Joella Cabalu

Format: 2 classes x 3 hours, over 2 days

$90 + taxes | General Admission
$75 + taxes | Concession; Community Partner Member*
$60 + taxes | Member Admission


Over the course of two classes, Joella Cabalu will cover different aspects and roles of an independent documentary producer. From story development to team building, to creating a budget and festival strategy, Joella will draw from her own experience of producing her own short to mid-length documentaries and working with directors by providing actual written work samples and resources and inviting special industry guests. This seminar-style course is ideal for emerging filmmakers who are either in the early stages of project development or looking to deepen their professional practice.


Class Curriculum

Story Development
A producer knows a good story. Learn how to write a clear and compelling proposal for funders and how to build an appropriate budget from a proposal.

● Proposal writing

● Funding opportunities for short content

● Building a budget


Team building
A producer is a connector. Discover the value of building authentic relationships with industry peers and decision makers.

● Networking and membership groups

● Professional practices and behaviour

● Finding the best team for your project


Festival Strategy
A producer gets works seen. Harness the power of traditional press and social media and create a festival strategy that matches your budget!

● Building relationships with festival programmers

● Writing a press kit

● Determine the best social media platform for your audience

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Instructor bio
Joella Cabalu is an award-winning Filipino-Canadian Vancouver-based documentary filmmaker. Her documentaries have been funded and supported by the National Film Board, BravoFACT, CBC Arts and Short Docs, and OUTtv. Her first hour-length documentary It Runs in the Family (2015) toured across North America and abroad in 2016, winning Audience Choice Awards at the Seattle Asian American Film Festival and Vancouver Queer Film Festival as well as an honourable mention for the Loni Ding Award for Social Justice Documentary at CAAMFest. She produced the uplifting environmental short documentary FIXED! (2016) which premiered at DOXA 2017 and co-directed Do I Have Boobs Now? (2017) , a portrait of trans activist Courtney Demone which won People's Choice for Best Short at the 2017 Vancouver Queer Film Festival and continues to screen in festivals worldwide, including Slamdance, BFI Flare, and OUTFest LA. She holds an Art History Degree from the University of British Columbia (2008), is a graduate of the Documentary Film Production Program at Langara College (2013) and was a participant in the 2014-2015 BC Arts Council Early Career Development program, the 2015 Hot Docs Shaw Media Diverse Voices program, and the 2016 CBC Development Workshop for Diverse Creators.

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*Community parnters include Women In Film, DOC BC and VIVO.

Discounts
Please note: access to membership discounts can be obtained with a Cineworks General Membership ($40 annually). Please email equipment[at]cineworks.ca regarding orientation dates for membership registration.

Accessibility
This training venue is wheelchair accessible. Accessible washrooms are available in our partner's space in the same building, with advance notice. Please call 604-685-3841 (12.00pm-6.00pm M/F) with any requirements or questions regarding accessibility.

Header image: Do I Have Boobs Now (2017);
Co Director / Producer: Joella Cabalu
Co Director / Producer: Milena Salazar