Every filmmaker wants to tell a story that matters. But, how do you do that when you don’t have the full story? This is the root of every documentary filmmaker’s mission and it’s not a skill that comes easily. Learn how to find your story, adapt to its needs, and tell it in a way that touches viewers.

Do you have a real-life world or story that you’re dying to tell?

Do you know how to get the sources you need to tell that story?

Do you have the skills to adapt when the truth changes before your eyes?

Have you ever shaped a story without a script, knowing that a misstep could cost you your message and audience?

Every documentary filmmaker faces these challenges while shaping a story with a script.

In this Stage 32 exclusive webinar, you’ll learn from an expert documentary producer who made a career of bringing to light stories that few people know.

Your host, Ilan Arboleda, is the Co-Founder and Co-President of CreativeChaos vmg, a full-service finance and production company where he serves as a producer on all company projects.

Ilan and CreativeChaos are currently producing the four-part series surrounding the murder of “God’s Banker” Robert Calvi and its relationship to the Vatican, Italian culture and politics, and global money laundering. Their other credits include THE GREAT DIVIDE, THIS IS PLANET Z, KING OF COOL (TCM), THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING (Starz, Netflix), BLEED OUT (HBO), LOS TIGRES DEL BORTE AT FOLSOM PRISON (Netflix), THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE (Hulu), and CASTING BY (HBO).

Ilan’s films have nabbed two honorary Oscars, an honorary Emmy, an Emmy nomination, a Latin Grammy win, National Board of Review awards, two Critics Choice Awards, three LA Press Club awards, and two Gracie Awards.

Most importantly, his films have inspired industry change, policy overhaul, and legislation at the state and national levels. In 2019, he co-wrote legislation with Congressman Seth Moulton that became part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

Using his years of experience as your guide, Ilan shows you how to:

• Establish your story before you start filming
• Build your network
• Define your style and what you need to achieve it
• Identify the main players in your story
• Create a framework while you’re shooting
• Manage production
• Create a post-production workflow
• And more

Ilan and his proven experience are just what you need if you’re looking to produce a story that makes a lasting impact on viewers.

PRAISE FOR ILAN'S TEACHINGS:

"Such a wide array of USEFUL information in such a short period of time...it's really just incredible. I'm not a big compliment-giver but this guy has such a high level of relevant understanding and the ability to frame it in a way that is so approachable, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful to have been here.
I've spent HOURS (WEEKS/MONTHS) reading books on docs...and between this webinar and Ilan's budget webinar, I've learned more practical, applicable material than all of them...BY FAR." -Robert C.

Your Initial Questions

• What is your core thesis?
• What is the reason that the film is being made?
• Do you have access to the people?
• Do you have access to the world?
• What is your creative vision?
• What is your impact vision?

Reimagining Networking

• Every film has a new network to build
• A coalition of the willing

Gaining Trust

• Selling execution
• Selling the outcomes

Defining the Style and the Tools

• Verite/follow doc
• Interviews
• Recreations
• Archival and 3rd Party Material
• GFX/Animation/More

Identifying The People

• Who are your heroes/anti-heroes/villains
• Who is your “greek chorus”
• How do you mine them?
• How do they further the story?

Creating a Framework

• TRUST THE PROCESS
• How do you shoot without a script?
• Finding the third act

Managing Production

• Time in the field
• Predicting workflow
• The Ah-Ha moment!

Post

• What is the post workflow process
• Documentaries are media management
• The “hurry up and fail” cut
• Performance/feedback/revision/repeat!
• The final film

Q&A with ILAN

All levels of directors (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn learn from an expert documentary producer who made a career of bringing to light stories that few people know.

All levels of writers (advanced, intermediate and beginner) looking to learn from an expert documentary producer who made a career of bringing to light stories that few people know.

Producers looking to learn from an expert documentary producer who made a career of bringing to light stories that few people know.

Actors looking to learn from an expert documentary producer who made a career of bringing to light stories that few people know.

"Such a wide array of USEFUL information in such a short period of time...it's really just incredible. I'm not a big compliment-giver but this guy has such a high level of relevant understanding and the ability to frame it in a way that is so approachable, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful to have been here.
I've spent HOURS (WEEKS/MONTHS) reading books on docs...and between this webinar and Ilan's budget webinar, I've learned more practical, applicable material than all of them...BY FAR." -Robert C.