We make highlights from our masterclasses available for everyone. Learn about documentary making from highly respected filmmakers. You can navigate via the tags by theme, or by filmmakers. We’re uploading new ones every week, so come bookmark this page.
Donal Mosher & Michael Palmieri | Part 1
Insights into the making of feature doc debut ‘October Country’. In part 1 Mosher & Palmieri talk about the initial stages of making the film.
Donal Mosher & Michael Palmieri | Part 2
Mosher and Palmieri talk in more detail about their approach and inspiration.
Donal Mosher & Michael Palmieri | Part 3
Michael Palmieri compares the making of music videos and documentary filmmaking.
Donal Mosher & Michael Palmieri | Part 4
The filmmakers discuss an interesting aspect of the editing process when chronology needs to be reconstructed or altered.
Donal Mosher & Michael Palmieri | Part 6
Mosher and Palmieri talk about the experience of filming your family.
Violeta Ayala | Part 3
Ayala explains her decision to introduce the music only at the final cut stage.
Henry Singer | Part 1
Henry Singer talks about making the excellent intimate portrayal of gambling addict James in ‘The Confession’.
Masterclasses
Scottish Documentary Blog
- Documentary ONLY: Hot Docs and their new cinemaHot Docs has an amazing and magical pull as a documentary festival that brings together filmmakers from all around the world – but more importantly, year after year, Hot Docs develops new ways of increasing their local audience. This year, they offered free screenings to students and anyone above 60, creating the most challenging, yet welcoming audience one […]
- Bridging the Gap – in progress: PolarisReports from the production of this year's Bridging the Gap short documentaries, part 4 For a long time, skippers in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire could not find locals to work on their fishing vessels. That was the reality until Filipino fishermen started coming to town. Now they crew most of the boats, but they have to deal with the vast sea and the enor […]
- Bridging the Gap – in progress: In Search of the WallabyReports from the production of this year's Bridging the Gap short documentaries, part 3 The Isle of Islay, Scotland. Human population: 3,457. Sheep population: 20,000 (or thereabouts). Wallaby population: 1 (deceased)? We have come to Islay with one intention – to solve the mystery of the wallaby. A wallaby is a small kangaroo more often associated with […]
- Poets of Protest: "You need to get out fast and now!"There is something very enticing about filming poets. Here are these characters, reflective and questioning by nature, living through a truly historic time of change in the Middle East. The idea for the documentary series Poets of Protest came after I had been commissioned by Reel Festivals to make three short films during their poetry festival in Beirut in […]