Overview

BY DEFINITION A documentary is something that 'documents' a real happening whether it's an event, a journey, a life, or a moment in history. Documentaries have been around for a long time. Often they're considered more respectable. But people are catching on.

Just ask Al Gore (An Inconvenient Truth). Or Michael Moore (Sicko, Bowling for Columbine)or Seth Gordon (King of Kong). Combined, these documentaries made hundreds of millions of dollars. People of all ages and interests have stopped mid-yawn to pay attention.

The Toronto Youth Documentary Project has been designed to give you a hands on film making experience with a Discovery Channel producer. You'll learn the important components of a documentary, what makes it different from other genres and how take your story and transform it into a short documentary film. Beyond the big ingredients of story telling, using a camera, and understanding documentaries, there is another aspect to this project: thinking about your responsibility. Is your documentary an instrument for good or evil? What you put on YouTube, or your blog, or a big screen impacts the greater viewing world. Contribute your witty, smart, passionate, hopeful or even depressing documentary. Make it count.

How long is short?

Short is exactly what it sounds like - less than 15 minutes long. But don't be fooled. A good 5 minute film can take just as long as a mediocre 60 minute one.