1st Symposium 2009
Seriously on Series
The Art and Business of Making Documentary TV Series
Documentary series are not pitched at the major documentary forums yet broadcasters need documentary series and independent producers would like to produce many more of them. Today some broadcasters only work with series and many would like to commission series or are now starting to commission them. Two rather distant examples: Arte has always overlooked series but after the docu-soap experience they are now changing their mind. Discovery Channel, as we have heard many times at the pitching forums, only gets engaged in series. The smaller channels, like the subscription channels in certain countries, desperately need series but can only acquire them from abroad, risking the local approach they need to hook their audience. For sure hundreds of hours of series are produced every year.
So how does it work? Who decides on the series that will be produced? Who in the stations commission series? Are series coproduced with other channels? Which independent companies are the broadcasters commissioning their series from? How are these chosen? How are ideas for documentary series pitched?
The Open Training Session aims to answer these questions and it will start with asking the major players in Europe and North America: Discovery Communictions Europe, France 5, PBS International and ZDF/ARTE to define a documentary series. We know there are mini-series, season series, ever-lasting series. What are the differences and which work for which TV channels and programmes?
Then we will go deep into the nature of a documentary series. What are the elements that make a series: continuity, subject, dramatic structure, repetition, format or style? If drama is important, what is the dramatic structure or narrative arch of a series? Do series have to keep the tension from the first episode to the last? Can series have a very personal approach, or are they closer to more formatted television works and actuality?
We will also ask the independent producers what they think of series. A few successful case studies will lead us through the do's and don'ts in the production of a series, and will answer the basic questions: are they economically worthwhile? Can series be produced and co-produced on the same principle as single documentaries? How to get a commission for a documentary series with only one-offs in the company's track record? Can a one-off lead to a documentary series?
The case studies will concentrate on a mini-series as well as a longer series with at least 12-13 episodes. Both broadcasters and producers will intervene illustrating the key obstacles they had to face from the initial idea to the production. And once aired, what feedback they had from the broadcasters and what was the audience response. Some series start as seasonal series but are so successful that they become longer running series and even formats. Is this what we are all hoping for?
All the participants will be highly engaged in exploring the world of documentary series as it stands today. We would like to overcome the divide that exists among one-offs and series. Is this seriously possible?
Concept:
- Leena Pasanen, YLE Fact & Culture, Finland
- Stefano Tealdi, Stefilm, Italy
The Discovery Campus Masterschool is supported by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union, Bayerische Staatskanzlei, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM), Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg and Sächsische Stiftung für Medienausbildung.
Dates & Programme
Sat, 7 Mar 2009 - Sun, 8 Mar 2009
Location
Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung
Konferenzzentrum München
Lazarettstraße 33, Munich
Germany
Public Transport: Subway U1 in direction "Olympia-Einkaufszentrum"
Stop: "Maillingerstraße" (just 2 stops away from the main train station "Hauptbahnhof")
Fee
Participation Fee:
Regular: € 150.00 (incl. catering)
Students & East Europeans: € 100.00 (incl. catering)
NEW! Reelisors get a 10% discount and pay € 135.00 only.
Make sure to take advantage of this deal and join now at www.reelisor.com!
Experts
- Richard Bradley Managing Director & Vice President of Content, Lion TV, London, UK
- Andrew Buchanan Consultant, , Somerset-Bristol, UK
- Hans Robert Eisenhauer , , Mainz, Germany
- Dr. Patrick Hörl Managing Director, Autentic, Munich, Germany
- Ann Julienne Head of International Development, France Télévisions, Paris, France
- Tom Koch Vice President, PBS Distribution, PBS International, Boston, USA
- Thomas Kufus Managing Director, zero one film, Berlin, Germany
- Christine Lubrano Vice President Original Programming & Branded Entertainment, IFC, New York, USA
- Olivier Mille Director General, Artline Films, Paris, France
- Leena Pasanen Coordinator of Programmes, YLE Fact and Culture, Helsinki, Finland
- Lynne Polak Project Manager, EBU, Geneva, Switzerland
- Jan Ronca Director of Programming & Production, Fox International Channels Italy, Rome, Italy
- Stefano Tealdi Director / Producer, Stefilm, Turin, Italy
- Thomas Wartmann Director / Producer, Filmquadrat.dok, Munich, Germany
- Lisa Weinbrenn Head of Development & Production, EMEA, Discovery Networks Europe, London, UK
Hotels
Please find below a list of hotels close to the venue:
Eden Hotel Wolff
Arnulfstrasse 4
80335 Munich
T: +49-89-55115-0
F: +49-89-55115-555
E: sales@ehw.de
www.eden-hotel-wolff-muenchen.de
Location: The Eden Hotel Wolff is located within 15 minutes walking distance from Munich’s old town. If you prefer discovering Munich’s sights by S-Bahn, Subway or Streetcar, there are various stops of all means of transportation in close vicinity to the hotel. The Airport Shuttle Bus that stops opposite the hotel will bring you straight to the airport within 45 minutes.
Hotel Europa München
Dachauer Straße 115
80335 Munich
T: +49-89-54242-0
Location: From Munich Intl. Airport take the S8 (rapid transit train) to the Hauptbahnhof (alternatively you can also take the Lufthansa Airport Shuttle). From the Hauptbahnhof, take tram number 20 or 21 in direction "Moosach" or “Westfriedhof”. Get off the tram at the stop "Sandstraße". From there, follow "Dachauerstraße" for about 80m and you will see Hotel Europa on your left hand side.
Best Western ApartHotel München
Dachauer Straße 199
80637 Munich
T: +49-89-159257-0
F: +49-89-159257-200
http://www.apart.bestwestern.de
Location: From Munich Intl. Airport take the S8 (rapid transit train) to the Hauptbahnhof (alternatively you can also take the Lufthansa Airport Shuttle). From the Hauptbahnhof, take tram number 20 or 21 in direction "Moosach" or “Westfriedhof”. Get off the tram at the stop "Leonrodplatz".
Ibis München City
Dachauer Straße 21
80335 Munich
T: +49-89-55193-0
F: +49-89-55193-102
http://www.ibishotel.com
Location: 300 m from the main railway and underground station, the Ibis Munchen City is a 2 star hotel in central Munich offering 202 rooms with air conditioning, cable TV and telephone, including 2 rooms for guests with limited mobility and some with WLAN. Parking, a 24 hour bar and snack service are also available. The old town centre, museums, theatres and shopping areas are within walking distance. Close to the hotel is a tram station called “Karlstraße”. With line no. 20 (in direction ”Moosach”) and 21 (in direction “Westfriedhof”) you can drive 3 stops to “Lothstraße” from where it is only a short walk to the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung.
Alternatively, the Munich Tourist Board is happy to assist you in booking requests (please mention Discovery Campus and use the booking form provided below).
Your contact person there is:
Munich Tourist Board
FG Hotel-Service
Contact: Robert Leckel
Sendlinger Straße 1
80331 Munich
T: +49-89-233-30237
F: +49-89-233-30319
E: robert.leckel@muenchen.de
www.muenchen-tourist.de