Qualification
CREA Module
Overview
Develop your documentary project as a team, shoot a teaser and prepare to present it to industry professionals.
CREA is a four-month complementary module for students completing ESCAC’s University Master’s Degree in Documentary and Non-Fiction, as well as the school’s alumni. Its aim is to develop up to four documentary projects in teams of three or four, from research and narrative treatment through to the production of a teaser, a complete industry dossier and a final pitch to industry professionals.
Each team will receive funding and technical equipment from ESCAC to produce its teaser. The methodology is based on independent and collaborative work, supported by practical seminars and tutorials with working professionals, especially during preparation and filming.
The module is open to all non-fiction languages and formats, from observational documentary to animation and docufiction, and to short films, feature films, series and digital content. Projects will be assessed for the originality of their stories, their viability and their ability to connect with audiences, whether author-driven or for entertainment, with special attention to stories and perspectives from Latin America.
The programme culminates in a presentation to representatives of the documentary industry, where participants can receive professional feedback and explore possible avenues for developing and producing their projects.
Intended audience
For students completing ESCAC’s University Master’s Degree in Documentary and Non-Fiction who wish to continue developing a project. If places remain, alumni of this master’s programme or other specialisations may join, either with their own project or to join a team.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, teams will have developed a documentary project, a teaser, a presentation dossier and a pitch tailored to potential industry contacts.
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Creative and narrative skills
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Research stories, characters and documentary contexts.
Define the point of view and narrative approach.
Develop a synopsis, treatment and outline.
Choose the right format and language for each project.
Build a teaser that conveys the proposal’s potential.
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Technical skills
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- Prepare and shoot a documentary teaser.
- Organise the project’s image and sound requirements.
- Edit and post-produce the piece.
- Prepare an industry dossier with a one-pager and an outline.
- Use the technical equipment provided by ESCAC.
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Analytical and planning skills
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- Assess a proposal’s narrative and production viability.
- Identify audiences and potential paths for the project.
- Design a work schedule and allocate responsibilities.
- Prepare an initial budget and manage resources.
- Analyse real-world cases and briefs to make decisions.
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Interpersonal and communication skills
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- Collaborate in teams of three or four participants.
- Allocate responsibilities and coordinate collaborative work.
- Present and discuss projects in group sessions.
- Incorporate feedback from tutors and professionals.
- Personal and professional development skills·Defend the project in a pitch to the industry.
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Personal and professional development skills
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- Organise independent work and meet development milestones.
- Adapt to unforeseen challenges in research and filming.
- Develop editorial judgement and the ability to review work.
- Act responsibly towards protagonists and communities.
- Identify realistic next steps for the project.
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Career opportunities
The module introduces participants to the processes involved in developing and presenting documentary projects. The skills acquired can be applied to independent creation, audiovisual production and the development of non-fiction content for different formats and audiences.
Fields:
- Documentary film and author-driven non-fiction
- Documentary series and content for television and platforms
- Digital documentary and hybrid formats
Documentary creation
- Documentary director
- Documentary screenwriter
- Documentary researcher
Audiovisual production
- Documentary producer
- Production coordinator
- Assistant director
Development and content
- Documentary project developer
- Non-fiction content creator
- Digital content director
Curriculum
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Documentary writing and treatment
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Define the story, protagonists, audience and how to tell it. Prepare a five-line presentation, a short and long synopsis, and a treatment with a brief research dossier: characters, locations, pre-interviews and relevant archives.
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Directing and filmmaking
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Work with an experienced director to decide what to film for the demo and how, developing the situations, the relationship with the protagonists, the image and the sound.
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Production and post-production
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Organise responsibilities, resources, budget, filming, editing and delivery of the demo, with a realistic schedule leading up to the final presentation.
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Pitch and sales strategy
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Decide who to present the project to, what to highlight and what support to seek. Rehearse the presentation, how to use the dossier and demo, and how to respond to the jury.
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General project mentoring
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Support progress, resolve difficulties and connect the four workshops.
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Methodology and assessment
CREA is a development lab for teams of three or four people. Most of the work is independent, supported by a small number of weekly sessions: practical seminars, case studies, mentoring and meetings with professionals, all tailored to each project’s needs. Proposals are selected and developed in September and October; from November, mentoring sessions are added for teaser preparation and filming; in December, the materials are finalised and the pitch is rehearsed. Each team receives financial support and a technical kit from ESCAC. There are no conventional theory classes.
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Documentary project labs
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Development and follow-up spaces where students work on their own proposals, from initial research through to shaping the project.
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Presentations and pitching
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Oral presentations of projects and research to faculty and invited professionals, simulating situations typical of the audiovisual industry.
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Assessment criteria
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Assessment of teamwork and project progress; the coherence and feasibility of the proposal; the quality and suitability of the teaser and industry dossier (including the one-page and outline); and the clarity of the final pitch.
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Teaching team
The module combines general mentoring with workshops led by practising professionals in writing, directing, producing and presenting documentary projects.
Orlando Arriagada
A Chilean-Canadian documentary filmmaker and producer based in Montreal, he is the founder of Al Dente Films, Tutti Frutti Films and Pimiento, and co-founder of Cayenne Media. He has produced hundreds of hours of documentaries and series for Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec, Bell Media, TV5MONDE, ARTE and France Télévisions, among others. His documentary L’ADN du ceviche was selected for the San Sebastián Festival. Curiosity about other realities and encounters between cultures run through his work, alongside his commitment to young talent, creators from diverse backgrounds and the First Nations of Canada. As director of ESCAC’s University Master’s Degree in Documentary and Non-Fiction, he brings this experience into the classroom: learning by doing, going out to find stories and turning them into documentaries that move people, leave a mark and can create social impact.
