Documentary Storytelling

Documentaries and factual tv programmes come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have a set of organising principles. These are fundamental, easy to grasp and vital in helping you make sense of your idea and your material.

This course will be delivered face to face.

If you know what they are and how to use them, the problems you encounter throughout the film-making process will be more easily solved.

In this course we identify the key elements of a good documentary story, how they work and why they matter – from the moment you start production to the final day of the edit.

The course will be led by experienced documentary director Ashok Prasad - who's been twice shortlisted for an RTS Best Documentary award and won an International Emmy for his work. He is a former Head of the Directing Documentary MA at the NFTS.

The course will:

- Explain what the key elements of story structure are

- Explore how stories work in documentaries

- Help you develop an idea from the page to the screen

- Guide you through the issues that documentaries often have in the edit

The course is aimed at producers at all levels including Development Producers, Edit Producers, Series Producers, Producer Directors, Assistant Producers and anyone who wants to know more about how stories work in documentaries.

Freelance: £365
Corporate: £730

Bursaries supported by the Welsh Government are also available for those who are eligible.

BURSARY INFORMATION

A limited number of bursaries are available for all of our short courses. If you wish to apply for a bursary to contribute to the costs of your course, please read the bursary guidelines below carefully to confirm your eligibility. Please do not apply to a course unless you are sure you meet the bursary eligibility criteria, or if you are able to pay for the course by other means.

Please apply as far in advance of the course date as possible to give yourself the best chance of securing a supported place as we may not be able to accommodate all applications. We aim to advise successful applicants no later than 10 working days prior to the course start date.

Once you have submitted your course application, your bursary application, and supporting documents, should be submitted to wales@nfts.co.uk.

NFTS Cymru Wales Bursary Guidelines (pdf) | NFTS Cymru Wales Bursary Application Form (pdf)

I ddarllen y dogfenau yn Gymraeg:
NFTS Cymru Wales Canllawiau’r Bwrswriaeth (pdf) | NFTS Cymru Wales Ffurflen Gais Bwrswriaeth (pdf)

Freelance Rate: £365
Corporate Rate: £750

Bursaries, supported by Screen Scotland, to contribute to the costs of attending this course may be available to those who are eligible. Please read the bursary guidelines which are published below first to check if you are eligible. If you are eligible, please indicate if you are also applying for a bursary or not.

Please apply as far in advance of the course date as possible to give yourself the best chance of securing a supported place, as we may not be able to accommodate all applications.

Your bursary application and supporting documents should be sent to scotland@nfts.co.uk after submitting this application form. Please submit your bursary application within 24 hours to ensure your course place is reserved while your bursary application is processed – otherwise we may be required to release it to another applicant. Your bursary documents are reviewed by a panel and we aim to be in touch as soon as possible with an outcome for you.

NFTS Scotland Bursary Guidelines

NFTS Scotland Bursary Application Form

If you are not eligible for an NFTS Scotland bursary, please read our Alternative Funding Avenues document, which points you in the direction of a few other places which may be able to help. Please submit your application in plenty of time as timescales for funders differ.

Please fill in the application form.

Tutors

Tutor

Ashok Prasad

Documentary director

Ashok Prasad

Leeds

Scotland

Cymru Wales

Documentary Storytelling

Tutors

Ashok Prasad

Casting for Factual Television

Developing and Pitching Factual Programmes and Documentaries

Directing the Documentary

Documentary Production Management

Documentary Shooting