Thanks to Screen Tasmania I had the brilliant opportunity of attending Alex West's Documentary Masterclass today. It might seem a little left-field for me to be there as a songwriter and composer, but the intersection of music composition and visual media is everywhere. Besides, those who know my artistic history know that I've dipped my toes in.
Much of what Alex shared actually translates across art forms: tips on pitching your project, connecting with your audience and understanding what makes a good story. “Pitch the story, not the form,” he advised, and that stood out:
Having an issue that is worth highlighting, that you care about, doesn't mean you have yourself a potential documentary. You need a story, one that the audience can relate to, in which they can see a character develop. So ask yourself, “What is the plot? Where is the conflict? Where is the fight?”. These are narrative fundamentals that I can take on board in developing my one woman show.
I loved spending the day in creative company, with artists working in film and documentary making, and it was an absolute privilege to listen to Alex West share from his wealth of experience.
His advice:
