Classes
STF host and curator Thom Powers teaches documentary making at New York University's School of Continuing Professional Studies during the fall and spring semesters. It is not necessary to take other classes at NYU to enroll in this course. Alumnis of this course include Jennifer Venditti (director of the award-winning BILLY THE KID) and Beth Kruvant (director of the award-winning HEART OF STONE).
NYU SCPS: Documentary Development, Research and Financing
(course x34.9425)
FALL 2010: Wednesdays 6:45-9:45 PM, Sept 22 - Dec 8.
(No class Nov 26)
The lecture-based course is designed for students interested in developing and producing documentaries. Over 12 classes, we cover researching, proposal writing, distribution and marketing of non-fiction films. Students are expected to develop a documentary proposal under the supervision of the instructor.
GUEST SPEAKERS FROM PAST SEMESTERS:
Lisa Ades (MISS AMERICA)
Matthew Akers (camera, HEIR TO AN EXECUTION)
Kelly Anderson (OUT AT WORK)
Vanessa Arteaga (Wellspring)
Rick Baitz (composer, GUNS & MOTHERS)
Mark Becker (ROMANTICO)
Allison Berg (WITCHES IN EXILE)
Jessica Berman-Bogdan (Footage Finders)
Doug Block (51 BIRCH STREET, THE KIDS GROW UP)
Yvonne Body (formerly at Tapestry International)
Rachel Boynton (OUR BRAND IS CRISIS)
Josh Braun (Submarine)
Yoni Brook & Musa Syeed (BRONX PRINCESS)
Peter Bull (NOW with Bill Moyers)
Nanette Burstein (KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE)
Gillian Caldwell (Witness)
Cathy Carapella (Diamond Time)
Purcell Carson (editor, DOUBLE DARE)
Nicole Cattell (REVOLUCION)
Mridu Chandra (BROTHER OUTSIDER)
Katy Chevigny (DEADLINE)
Dan Cogan (Impact Partners)
Jem Cohen (BENJAMIN SMOKE)
Marshall Curry (STREET FIGHT, RACING DREAMS)
Nina Davenport (PARALLEL LINES)
Mona Davis (editor, LOVE AND DIANE)
Jasmine Dellal (AMERICAN GYPSY)
Tina DiFeliciantonio (GIRLS LIKE US)
Joe Dorman (ARGUING THE WORLD)
Sandi Dubowski (TREMBLING BEFORE G-D)
Jennifer Dworkin (LOVE AND DIANE)
Stephen Earnhart (MULE SKINNER BLUES)
Sarah Eaton (Sundance Channel)
Michael Epstein (HITCHCOCK, SELZNICK …HOLLYWOOD)
Mark Fichandler (Court TV)
Amy Flannery (Yellow Cat Productions)
Yance Ford (POV)
Liz Garbus (THE EXECUTION OF WANDA JEAN)
Tony Gerber (former executive, AMC)
Nancy Gerstman (Zeitgeist Films)
Alex Gibney (TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER)
Dan Gold (BLUE VINYL)
Julie Goldman (CACTUS 3)
Joshua Green (EMERGING PICTURES)
Carter Gunn (COLONY)
Melissa Hacker (MY KNEES WERE JUMPING)
Jill Hawkins (FOCAL)
Lisa Heller (HBO)
Gary Hustwit (OBJECTIFIED)
Eugene Jarecki (THE TRIALS OF HENRY KISSINGER)
Cynthia Kane (Sundance Channel)
Krysanne Kastoolis (CACTUS 3)
Ross Kauffman (BORN INTO BROTHELS)
Rory Kennedy (PANDEMIC)
Rina Kosersky (music supervisor, EYES ON THE PRIZE)
Adella Ladjevardi (Cinereach)
Shari Levine (Bravo)
Kathy Levitt (Global Images)
James Longley (GAZA STRIP)
Joseph Lovett (Lovett Productions)
Mike Maggiore (Film Forum)
Mark Mannucci (EGG: THE ARTS SHOW)
Hilla Medalia (AFTER THE STORM)
Liz Mermin (BEAUTY ACADEMY OF KABUL)
Jonathan Miller (First Run/Icarus)
Raphaela Neihausen (MISS GULAG)
Brian Newman (former Executive Director of Tribeca Film Institute)
George Nierenberg (SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY)
Susan Norget (publicist)
Ian Olds (OCCUPATION: DREAMLAND, THE FIXER)
Mike Palmieri (OCTOBER COUNTRY)
Dan Partland (AMERICAN HIGH)
David Petersen (FINE FOOD, FINE PASTRIES)
Christopher Quinn (GOD GREW TIRED OF US)
Klaartje Quirijins (THE BROOKLYN CONNECTION)
Greg Rhem (HBO)
Robert Richter (Richter Productions)
Nancy Roach (LIFE 360)
Jan Rofekamp (Films Transit)
Ann Rose (Sundance Channel)
Steve Rosenbaum (Camera Planet)
Michael Rosenblum (DV Dojo)
David Sampliner (DIRTY WORK)
Dan Satorius (attorney, Abdo, Abdo, Broady & Satorius)
Steve Savage (New Video)
Catherine Scheinman (7TH STREET)
Garrett Scott (OCCUPATION: DREAMLAND)
Amanda Sherwin (THINKfilm)
Stephen Segaller (WIDE ANGLE)
Anne Siedlitz (freelance proposal writer)
Kris Slava (Trio)
Meema Spadola (RED HOOK JUSTICE)
Jonathan Stack (LIBERIA: AN UNCIVIL WAR)
Peter Stamelman (Stamelman Group)
David Sternbach (A&E)
Jeremy Stulberg (co-editor, THE EDUCATION OF SHELBY KNOX)
Stacy Sullivan (THE BROOKLYN CONNECTION)
Rachel Talbot (EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS)
Banks Tarver (MTV)
Astra Taylor (EXAMINED LIFE)
Mahyad Tousi (Tousi Productions)
Basil Tsiokos (Sundance Film Festival)
Matt Tyrnauer (VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR)
Nilita Vachani (WHEN MOTHER COMES HOME FOR CHRISTMAS)
John Vanco (IFC Center)
David Van Taylor (CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE)
Rosadel Varela (producer, CONTROL ROOM)
Sandya Viswanathan (co-producer, THE FRENCH REVOLUTION for History Channel)
Jane Wagner (GIRLS LIKE US)
Tommy Walker (GOD GREW TIRED OF US)
John Walter (HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY)
John Walter (THEATER OF WAR)
Joshua Weinstein (FLYING ON ONE ENGINE)
Chris Wilcha (TARGET SHOOTS FIRST)
Pamela Yates (WHEN MOUNTAINS TREMBLE)
Peter Yost (Traveling East Productions)
Koethi Zan (attorney, MTV)
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Upcoming Screenings
Sep 20: THE HOUSE OF STEINBRENNER
by Barbara KoppleSTF pre-season MONDAY SPECIAL (Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale Fri. Sept. 17, subject to availability) Love them or hate them, ...
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Sep 28: MARWENCOL
by Jeff MalmbergSTF Fall Season Opening Night (Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale later in Sept.) STF kicks off its fall season with MARWENCOL, ...
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Oct 5: AMERICAN SPLENDOR
by Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini(Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale later in Sept.) STF pays tribute to Harvey Pekar, who recently died, with this special screening ...
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Oct 12: ON COAL RIVER
by Francine Cavanaugh & Adams WoodON COAL RIVER takes viewers on a gripping emotional journey into the Coal River Valley of West Virginia, where longtime local residents begin to uncover the toxic effects of America’s increased ...
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Oct 19: THE CANAL STREET MADAM
by Cameron YatesUntil an FBI bust upended her life, Jeanette Maier was a successful New Orleans madam. Her discreet clientele included a number of powerful, high-ranking politicians. The ensuing very public trial - ...
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Oct 26: TAKING ON THE KENNEDYS
by Joshua Seftel“A film that would be mistaken for a Robert Altman political satire if it weren’t absolutely and horribly true.” —USA TODAY When Kevin Vigilante took on Patrick Kennedy for a seat in the U.S. House ...
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Nov 2: WO AI NI MOMMY (I LOVE YOU MOMMY)
by Stephanie Wang-BrealIn presenting WO AI NI MOMMY with the Sterling Award for Best US Feature this past June, the jury at Silverdocs noted: “The film dives so deeply into its story that the filmmaker’s hands disappear. ...
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Nov 9: WAR DON DON
by Rebecca Richman CohenProfiled in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces in Independent Film as an “up-and-comer poised to shape the next generation of independent film”, Rebecca Richman Cohen won Special Jury at SXSW and the ...
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Nov 16: 12TH & DELAWARE
by Heidi Ewing & Rachel GradyHeidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, the filmmaking team behind the 2006 Oscar-nominated doc JESUS CAMP, take us on another controversial journey with 12TH & DELAWARE. Description from Sundance 2010 ...
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Nov 23: MARLENE
by Maximilian SchellDirector Maximilian Schell got the reclusive Marlene Dietrich to agree to appear in this documentary only on the stipulation that she not be photographed as she looked today. Instead, we only hear ...
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Nov 30: SURVIVING HITLER: A LOVE STORY
by John-Keith WassonWinner of the Inspiration Award at the 2010 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival As a teenager in Nazi Germany, Jutta is shocked to discover she is Jewish. She joins the German resistance and meets ...
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