Classes

STF artistic director Thom Powers teaches "Documentary Development, Research & Financing" at New York University's School of Continuing Professional Studies during the fall and spring semesters. The class is now in its 11th year. You can enroll without taking any other courses at NYU. Whether you're just starting out or mid-career in the film business, this class can help you avoid pitfalls in the conception, production and distribution of a documentary. Former students 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

FALL 2011: Wednesdays 6:45-9:15 PM, Sept 21 - Dec 14.
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. FALL GUEST SPEAKERS TBA.

SPRING 2011 GUEST SPEAKERS
Doug Block (dir, 51 BIRCH STREET and THE KIDS GROW UP; founder D-Word.com)
Mike Galinsky (co-dir, HORNS AND HALOS and THE BATTLE OF BROOKLYN)
Reva Goldberg & Adella Ladjevardi (Cinereach)
Peter Hamilton (DocumentaryTelevision.com)
Matt Makar (co-dir NURSERY UNIVERSITY; prod UNRAVELED)
POV representative TBA

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)