Developing a generation of professional film and television producers in the Southern African region – developing their projects, refining their business strategies, targeting their markets, both nationally and internationally and establishing a common language, methodology and approach to the stages of development and production.
Who should apply?
These workshops are aimed primarily at independent film and television producers who wish to increase their knowledge as producers and their presence in the national and international market places, as well as writers / directors who wish to establish themselves as producers. It is also aimed at commissioning editors, development executives, lawyers, bankers and agents with a view to developing a common understanding and language of independent production.
The training is open to applicants within the Southern African region. The working language is English.
Project Description and Methodology
This is a professional training facility. Its focus is the producers with hands-on development of real projects, with the objective of increasing the likelihood of their reaching production. It is a programme involving an exchange of ideas and developing networking.
It offers detailed, in-depth project evaluation from a pool of experts, leading local and international producers, distributors and broadcasters. In the process, it also gives participants direct access to a wide range of decision makers and potential partners.
The Programme
This programme consists of a 21-day programme, made up of three sessions of 7 days each spread over one year with the last session taking place in November, just before the South African Film Market, Sithengi.
The AVEA project, year by year, is developing and extending a dynamic network for graduates of the programme, plugging them as well into the European landscape through the network of the producing programme, EAVE.
Selection of Participants
The two Heads of Studies, responsible for the pedagogy of the programme, interview short listed candidates and select between 20 - 30 producers from the Southern African region. At least half of them are selected with projects. It is important to note that the quality of the candidate is more important than the quality of the project. Thus interviews are essential in order to establish the level of the group and its homogeneity. Candidates must be fluent in English.
Producers are encouraged to bring their writers to the first two sessions to share in the intensive script development work and to ensure that the producer and the writer ‘talk the same language'.
Activities
Session 1 Development - concentrates on script analysis, development finance, company management, legal issues, introduction to marketing, pitching and production strategy. By the end of the first 7 days, individual project tasks are set according to development necessities for the next session.
Session 2 Packaging and finance - includes further script development, production budgeting, financial planning, further business planning, legal, production and co-financing strategies.
Participants prepare their packages with a view to their presentation to the market place, the potential buyers / co-producers invited to the third session.
Session 3 Finance and distribution - focused on negotiation techniques, pitching techniques, the package and business strategy. Individual meetings are organised with potential partners, including distributors, broadcasters, both local and international, as well as with advisory experts.
This session extends beyond developing skills to building bridges between concrete projects and new business.
The week's schedule is broadly organised with plenary sessions presented by visiting experts in their field, followed by a combination of group work and individual meetings with the experts.
During all three sessions, evenings are set aside for screenings of the participants' work, followed by discussions and / or case studies.
VENUES
Sessions will be live-in and take place in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa on the following dates;-
Session 1 : April - May
Session 2 : July - August
Session 3 : November
The dates to be confirmed in line with film festivals.
Trainers
A large pool of trainers is constantly researched and targeted for strategic expert interventions in the programme. All trainers/experts are active as producers, script editors etc. and are not drawn from academic institutions. This ensures that there is a direct sharing of experience and that all new developments in the industry are accessed firsthand. This is an important strength of this programme.
AVEA, like EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs), the European programme on whose experience AVEA is building upon and adapting, aims to train producers to a level where, with solid industry experience behind them, they in turn become trainers for the programme and the industry at large.
Heads of Studies
Clare Downs Forever Films/National Film School, UK
Luciano Gloor Metropolis Filmproduktion, Germany/Switzerland
A South African Head of Studies is being identified to take over part of this role.
Cost
APPLICATION FEE:
Participants with projects - R 0.00
Participants without projects - R 0.00
Writers accompanying producers with projects- R 0.00
NB: The extended deadline for application forms is the 22nd February 2005.
ENTRANCE FEE FOR SELECTED PARTICIPANTS:
Participants with projects - R 8000.00
Participants without projects - R 4500.00
Writers accompanying producers with projects - R 4000.00
Training accommodation and facilities will be arranged by the AVEA organisation. Travel to and from Johannesburg, Durban & Cape Town will be at the participant's expense.
NB: The entrance fee must be paid before the 15th March 2005, to ensure all the necessary arrangements.
PAYMENT METHOD:
Cash, cheques payments, or direct transfers can be made to our bank account,
Bank name: First National Bank
Name of account: AVEA - Audiovisual Entrepreneurs of Africa
Branch name: Bank City Branch
Account number: 6207 453 3110
Branch code: 250-805
Please fax a deposit slip as a proof of payment to AVEA Centre, (011) 482 1594
Please scroll down for link to application form.
For more information, contact;
AVEA Centre - Audiovisual Entrepreneurs of Africa
Vincent Zulu / Janine Williams
Office 12, Level 5
Atlas Studios, 33 Frost Avenue
Milpark, Johannesburg, 2092
Tel + 27 11 482 1594 / fax + 27 11 482 1594
e-mail - [email protected]
Posted on Monday 14 Feb 2005
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AVEA Producers Application Form (89 kB)
