Interviews Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Documentary Business

Discovery Documentaries: SVP Howard Swartz reveals “The docs we’re looking for!”

2021 June 2 / Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, discovery+, Documentary TV, Funding a Documentary, Interviews, Network Profile, Panels, Pitching, Sunny Side of the Doc, Unscripted TV

Howard Swartz is the Senior Vice President Docs and Specials, Factual Networks & Streaming, for Discovery. For Sunny Side of the Doc‘s Meet the Executive session, he joined Peter Hamilton to share Discovery’s documentary strategy and key buckets. Following are session highlights, including clips of several projects that reveal Howard’s priorities. MISSION & STRATEGY What …

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NOVA: What do they want? Watch Sunny Side’s Meet the Executive Presentation

2020 December 6 / Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Digital Video, Distribution, Documentary Production, Foundation Funding, Funding a Documentary, Interviews, Network Profile, Panels, Streaming Video, Sunny Side of the Doc

Meet Chris Schmidt and Julia Cort, Executive Producers of NOVA, and Melanie Wallace, Senior Series Producer. They joined me at this year’s Sunny Side of the Doc for a revealing MEET THE EXECUTIVE presentation, including clips of program highlights. Watch the NOVA / Sunny Side video here: And don’t miss my detailed coverage of NOVA …

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Distributing Discovery’s APOCALYPSE ’45 in the COVID Era. A podcast with Abramorama’s Karol Martesko-Fenster

2020 September 9 / Archive, Distribution, Interviews, Network Profile, Podcast, Producers' Tool Kit, Streaming Video, Theatrical Documentary

Abramorama COO Karol Martesko-Fenster reveals how COVID forced a rapid turnaround in the theatrical distribution strategy for Discovery’s Apocalypse ’45. He describes the ‘virtual theatrical’ release for Oscar nominee Erik Nelson’s gripping archive-based documentary about the Pacific campaign that brought WW2 to an end. Karol shares his pre-COVID strategy and its radical switch into a …

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Making Discovery’s APOCALYPSE ’45: A podcast with director Erik Nelson

2020 September 8 / Archive, Case Study, Distribution, Documentary Budget, Documentary Production, Documentary TV, Footage.net, Interviews, Pitching, Podcast, Theatrical Documentary

Director Erik Nelson describes Apocalypse ’45 as the “first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan meets Apollo 11.” He shares his original concept; how his almost casual pitch to Discovery‘s Howard Swartz led to a full commission; the archive research and transfer process; his veteran interviews; the pre-edit planning, editing and final delivery. Our informative …

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How Discovery is positioning for long-term growth with the next generation of fans: Nancy Daniels podcast for CTAM

2020 August 25 / 'Sweet Spots', Commissioning Process, Coronavirus, Documentary TV, Interviews, Netflix, Network Profile, Reality Television, Unscripted TV

Nancy Daniels oversees Discovery Channel, Science, and Animal Planet, including day-to-day operations and creative production development. She shared her thoughts on Discovery’s strategy in a recent podcast interview with CTAM‘s Vicki Lins. LISTEN CTAM’s Vicki Lins interviews Nancy Daniels, Chief Brand Officer, Discovery & Factual (27 minutes, July 13, 2020) NOTES What are your days …

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BBC History Strategy: Sunny Side interview with commissioner Simon Young, buyer of 70+ hours / year

2020 August 20 / 'Sweet Spots', Archive, Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Coronavirus, Distribution, Documentary Budget, Documentary Production, Documentary TV, Interviews, Network Profile, Pitching, Public Television, Ratings, Sunny Side of the Doc, UK, Unscripted TV, Webinars

For my Sunny Side of the Doc Meet the Executive interview, the BBC‘s Commissioning Editor for History Simon Young, shared his vision, priorities and three notable examples. Pipeline BBC History: 70-80 hours. Specialist Factual: 400 hours. History’s broad remit: Ancient to Early 21st century. The BBC’s Documentary unit also commissions recent History programs. Simon Young …

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CuriosityStream Strategy. 3,000 Titles: What do they want? Meet Jorge Franzini. (Video + Notes)

2020 July 27 / 'Sweet Spots', Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Documentary Production, Documentary TV, Interviews, Network Profile, Sunny Side of the Doc, Unscripted TV, Webinars, Workshops

CuriosityStream is the highly regarded streamer dedicated to traditional factual programs, and launched by Discovery founder John Hendricks: What is CuriosityStream‘s unscripted strategy? What do they want? What are examples of recent hits? For a Sunny Side Meet the Executive session, Jorge Franzini shared CuriosityStream’s vision and programming priorities. Watch our informative and exclusive Sunny …

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France Télévisions’ Documentary Strategy for 1,900 hours: An interview with Catherine Alvaresse for Sunny Side. Watch the video!

2020 July 24 / 'Sweet Spots', Archive, Commissioning Process, Conferences & Markets, Documentary Production, Documentary TV, Interviews, Network Profile, Sunny Side of the Doc, Unscripted TV, Webinars, Women and Film, Workshops

France Télévisions is France’s multi-channel public broadcaster, buying 1,900 hours of documentaries / year. For a Sunny Side Meet the Executive presentation, Catherine Alvaresse shared France Télévisions’ vision. Watch my informative and exclusive conversation with Catherine Alvaresse: FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS: CATHERINE ALVARESSE Recorded June 15, 2020 Overview What is the big picture for France Télévisions? Describe …

France Télévisions’ Documentary Strategy for 1,900 hours: An interview with Catherine Alvaresse for Sunny Side. Watch the video! Read More »