Looking Back at a Year in Docs

2011 was a great year for Docs, and with the Citizen Voices’ open-source curriculum published and Doing Your Doc coming up this February, NOVAC is basking in the non-fiction frenzy. Check out NOVAC’s highlights of a Year in Docs as well as some docu-goodies waiting in the wings.

Citizen Voices
NOVAC was thrilled to join forces with the New Orleans Film Society on Citizen Voices, a panel discussion and breakout series held at the Louisiana Humanities Center covering ethics, techniques and best practices of non-fiction filmmaking. Presented during the New Orleans Film Festival, topics included ethics of representation, legal issues and fair use, constructing your story, and funding and outreach and contributing to the panel and breakouts were award-winning documentary filmmakers, featured guests for the New Orleans Film Festival and seasoned video-journalists including: Sandra Dixon (Wake Forest University) Rebecca Ferris (Miller’s Tale), Ben Lemoine (The Experiment), Angela Tucker ((A) Sexual), Lusia Dantas (Land of Opportunity), Ada McMahon (bridgethegulfproject.org), Nancy Schwartzman (The Line), Rebecca Snedeker (By Invitation Only, Desire), Tim Watson (Video Veracity) and Bryan Myers (Peabody and Emmy Award Winning Video Journalist).  Missed it? Browse the Citizen Voices videos covering the day’s panel and breakout sessions.

MediaNola Wiki
Citizen Voices was structured during a series of development meetings, where NOVAC and seasoned documentarians worked to design a reference tool for Tulane University’s MediaNola Wiki. This project was not only created for use at Citizen Voices but serves as an open-source curriculum available for any educator or filmmaker interested in developing their non-fiction filmmaking skills or those of their students.  Interested to learn more? Check out the Citizen Voices curriculum at the MediaNOLA Wiki.

If the Children are OK
NOVAC is the proud fiscal sponsor of the documentary film, If the Children are OK. Written and directed by Vincent Morelli.  If the Children are OK follows Louisiana’s beleaguered public school system – featuring students, parents, educators, activists, politicians and more, documenting their personal experiences as well as the massive transformation of  Louisiana’s public school system since Hurricane Katrina. The film examines the film’s subject in the larger context of international educational trends. Pictured: Vincent Morelli

And the Nominees Are…
Some killer docs graced the screens in 2011 including Wim Wenders’ Pina, and the highly anticipated Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, both nominated for Academy Awards. This year NOVAC is thrilled that NOFS and the Prytania are partnering to showcase 2011′s nominees for Best Documentary Short on February 9th, a cant miss opportunity for New Orleans doc lovers. Click here for more on the event and the complete list of nominees. And don’t forget to root for your favorite doc at NOFS’ annual Oscar Party on the big night. Pictured: Image from PINA

Doing Your Doc
Kicking off 2012 in high gear, NOVAC is teaming up with the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) to co-sponsor, Doing Your Doc: Diverse Visions, Regional Voices, a three part intensive led by renowned documentary doctor, Fernanda Rossi and covering issues effecting every documentary filmmaker.  Doing Your Doc will cover topics like structuring your documentary and trailer mechanics and will also offer filmmakers an opportunity to work one on one with a NALIP mentor. For more information on the syllabus or how you can participate click here. Pictured: Image from DOING YOUR DOC

So there it is my friends, a Year in Docs.  If you are a documentary filmmaker or lover join us at the 2012 docu-jump-off for the screening of Rebel followed by the Doing Your Doc kickoff Q&A on February 10 at Second Line Stages. For more on Rebel or to view the trailer click here.  For more information about Doing Your Doc or to register click here or call 310-395-8880.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012 at 2:11 pm. It is filed under NOVAC Blog, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.