Here' s a possible timeline for the doc futures project.
1) August - Gather a list of names of people from MIT who could be interested in this project and list of people outside MIT who are innovators. Research other centers/websites to see what's out there and who is funding them.
2) Late August/early september -- Hold a brainstorming meeting with all interested and available at MIT. Ask the question, "what do you see as the future of documentary?" I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY PREPARE FOR THIS -- HOW THE QUESTION IS ANSWERED WILL TO SOME EXTENT REFLECT WHO IS IN THE ROOM, AND WE NEED OT BE SURE TO COUNTERBALANCE THE FILMMAKERS WITH OTHERS WITH A DEEPER INTEREST IN SOCIAL MEDIA
3) September - write up letters of inquiry and send to foundations to start gaging interest and getting feedback
4) Sept - May - seminar series - bring in people and/or examples of innovative non-fiction time based (is this the right term?) storytelling YES -- NEED TO GET STARTED HERE, AND WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, SINCE WE WILL QUICKLY FIND OURSELVES PEGGED AS 'INTERACTIVE DOCUMENTARY';
5) October - November -- film retrospective of MIT/Harvard docs in 70s (Chris Walley's idea and she wants to work on this) I THINK WE MIGHT DO A FAR MORE AMBITIOUS TAKE AT THIS; A FILM RETROSPECTIVE IS A WAY TO GET THE JUICES FLOWING AND I SUPPORT IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A MAJOR CONFERENCE ON THIS WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO LATEST -- WITH HARVARD AND WGBH AT LEAST ... AND POSSIBLE WITH THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE PEOPLE. WE ARE AT OR NEAR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'DIRECT CINEMA' ... THOUGH THE MIT AND HARVARD BITS MIGHT BE A BIT LATER.
6) September - May -- submit grant applications and solicit funders -- NEED TO CHECK THE FUNDING CYCLES, BUT THIS SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.
1) August - Gather a list of names of people from MIT who could be interested in this project and list of people outside MIT who are innovators. Research other centers/websites to see what's out there and who is funding them.
2) Late August/early september -- Hold a brainstorming meeting with all interested and available at MIT. Ask the question, "what do you see as the future of documentary?" I THINK WE HAVE TO REALLY PREPARE FOR THIS -- HOW THE QUESTION IS ANSWERED WILL TO SOME EXTENT REFLECT WHO IS IN THE ROOM, AND WE NEED OT BE SURE TO COUNTERBALANCE THE FILMMAKERS WITH OTHERS WITH A DEEPER INTEREST IN SOCIAL MEDIA
3) September - write up letters of inquiry and send to foundations to start gaging interest and getting feedback
4) Sept - May - seminar series - bring in people and/or examples of innovative non-fiction time based (is this the right term?) storytelling YES -- NEED TO GET STARTED HERE, AND WE NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, SINCE WE WILL QUICKLY FIND OURSELVES PEGGED AS 'INTERACTIVE DOCUMENTARY';
5) October - November -- film retrospective of MIT/Harvard docs in 70s (Chris Walley's idea and she wants to work on this) I THINK WE MIGHT DO A FAR MORE AMBITIOUS TAKE AT THIS; A FILM RETROSPECTIVE IS A WAY TO GET THE JUICES FLOWING AND I SUPPORT IT, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A MAJOR CONFERENCE ON THIS WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO LATEST -- WITH HARVARD AND WGBH AT LEAST ... AND POSSIBLE WITH THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE PEOPLE. WE ARE AT OR NEAR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF 'DIRECT CINEMA' ... THOUGH THE MIT AND HARVARD BITS MIGHT BE A BIT LATER.
6) September - May -- submit grant applications and solicit funders -- NEED TO CHECK THE FUNDING CYCLES, BUT THIS SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.
7) July - launch Center