Docsville

Documentary Business

Peter Hamilton Consultants, Inc

The Business of the Documentary & Unscripted Business. Thirteen Case Studies

My newsletter features detailed Case Studies that reveal the life cycles of documentary films, factual television specials and reality series.

  • We tell the inside story of each project, from development through funding, production and distribution.
  • And we usually have the numbers: budgets, copro deals, box office, license fees and more.

Why Case Studies?

  • In my consulting practice, clients tend to become very engaged when they experience business challenges through detailed case studies.
  • That’s the simple premise driving my newsletter.
  • My bulleted format is a response to the work pressure that we endure: Readers can ‘use it or lose it.’

Here is a selection of my unique coverage of the business of the business, all published in the five years since the launch of DocumentaryTelevision.com.

The Archive

The archive-based documentary is a personal favorite genre:

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And a History film which I proudly co-EP’d:

Documentaries

Other valuable Case Studies include:

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Reality

Thanks!

  • Thanks to the many producers and network execs as well as writers who collaborated on our original work!

Next Week

  • Grace Hamilton profiles Every Face Has a Name.
  • Its an award-winning Scandinavian documentary that uses a 4K conversion of a precious WW2 archive, plus social media, to establish new ways of story-telling based on historic footage.
  • BTW, right after Sunnyside, I’ll rush up to Uppsala, Sweden, where our son James Hamilton and Malin Heymann are marrying. That happy event is on June 26.

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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Sunnyside of the Doc, La Rochelle, June 21-25

  • Trends in US Factual Market, Sunday June 21, 330p
  • SVOD Explodes. What It Means for Docs, Monday June 22, 300p
  • Meet the Executives, moderator: Tuesday 23 (Science) + Wednesday 24 (Wildlife), both at 1000a
  • Trends in Contracts, with Michelle Bruce: Tuesday 23, 230p
  • Expert Consultations: Monday 22, 330-500p, Tuesday 330-500p
  • Disney Nature and ‘African Cats’ with Jean-Francois Camilleri: Tuesday 600p

Peter’s Recommendation

  • Don’t miss Sunnyside!
  • I highly recommend attending, for new and established producers.
  • It’s a very compatible market, in a beautiful location, with relaxed access to decision-makers and fellow producers.
  • The panels are very informative, too.
  • Plus: the Manitoba delegation are in attendance for the first time! They bring ideas and tax benefits.
  • Also, watch out for our great friends from South African Indies.