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What are DocTalks?

This spring DFG introduced a new strand of mini-masterclasses , heavily subsidised for DFG Members, taking an in-depth look at the creative process of documentary filmmaking, starting with masterclasses led by award-winning editor David Charap. Over three sessions, Charap deconstructed several of his films, focusing on key aspects of the editing process: narrative technique, characterisation, and the all-important editor/director partnership. In the final session he was joined by director Marc Isaacs for a candid look at the process of collaboration in the edit.

Following the great success of the first DocTalk events, DFG are launching an autumn season kicking off with The E8 Summit, a forum of established editors bought together by DFG to discuss the art and craft of documentary editing in an informal setting in front of an audience.

DocTalks: The E8 Summit

Whenever editors emerge from the edit suite and come face to face or work together on a series, they find that they have many issues in common but their working practices can often differ to a surprising degree. This is true in how they customise their equipment and software, but also in how they set about constructing their project. When editing became digital there was no longer an opportunity for an apprenticeship in the cutting room - now aspirant editors pick up tips from other editors along the way, and develop their own idiosyncratic ways of going about things: the end results may look much the same, but the processes may have been quite different.

The E8 Summit brings together a panel of professional documentary editors, chaired by the award-winning Steve Stevenson. This is a one-off opportunity to share a full round-table debate on the many facets of the art and craft of editing, hear how the professionals approach their edits and learn from the experts. Participants can submit questions in advance, with the most pertinent put to the editors on the night.

The panel for the round table will be drawn from across the field, from drama doc to obsdoc, broadcast and theatrical, long and short form, and working within the parameters of current industry practice. The E8 Summit  will examine – and attempt to define – the role of a modern documentary editor.

Key topics the panel will include:

• Strategies for kicking off a project; how to cope with “editor’s (or director’s) block”
• How does editing contribute to a definition of a documentary; boundaries blurring the genres
• Narrative technique; characterisation, and the all-important editor/ director partnership.

Chair: Steve Stevenson

Steve Stevenson is an award winning editor whose work ranges widely across observational films, long-form documentaries and drama docs. His recent credits include Channel 4's Human Zoo (2009) and the BBC2 series Extreme Pilgrim (2008) which won a Sandford St Martin Trust Award and a Royal Television Society Award for Best Network Factual Series.  Other credits include George Orwell, A Life in Pictures (2004), BBC2, which earned Steve a BAFTA nomination for editing, and won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary on the Arts, and the International Emmy for Best Arts Programme.  Steve has produced and directed films for the BBC, Channel 4 and National Geographic, including two award-winning Equinoxes, and from time to time self-shoots environmental films for BBC World & UNESCO.  Steve is a regular tutor on DFG's Grammar of Documentary Editing and at Brunel University where he teaches on the MA course in Documentary Practice.

Confirmed Panellists

Susan Brand: is a documentary editor with over 15 years experience in London and New York. Credits include award winning What We Still Don't Know (2004), Channel 4, nominated Britain From Above (2008), the notorious Man Who Ate His Lover (2004), Channel 4 and independent documentary feature Mutiny! Asians Storm British Music (2003). She is currently editing Wonders of the Universe presented by Brian Cox. Susan also teaches 'Storytelling in the Edit' at the National Film and Television School and has set up a website devoted to the subject, Electric Story. She runs an occasional series of events screenings films she has chosen where the style and storytelling are particularly interesting.

Ben Stark: has an editing career spanning from commercials to feature length documentaries and dramas. Always on the lookout for the offbeat, his strong sense of narrative, journalistic standard and visual flair have seen him collaborate on an extensive mix of projects. Ben’s most recent credits include this year's forthcoming BBC documentary Stones in Exile (featuring never seen before rushes of The Rolling Stones shot by iconic photographer Robert Franks), The last Nazis (2009) BBC2, RTS award-winning and Bafta nominated A Boy Called Alex (2008), Channel 4, and Henry Singer's highly acclaimed 9/11- The Falling Man (2006), Channel 4 - nominated for International Emmy, RTS and Bafta awards. Other credits include Murder on the Lake (2009), BBC2, and The kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart (2005) Channel 4. Visit Ben's website for more.

Bert Hunger: Prior to moving to the UK, Bert had been working as a director of short films, commercials and music promos in Vienna, Austria. While making his first feature length film he discovered his preference for the immersive world of editing, and he enrolled at the NFTS to study this profession in depth. Since graduating with an MA in film editing in 2006 he has worked on a variety of documentaries, art and fiction films. Most recent credits include the award winning BBC Storyville feature documentary Horses (2009) by Liz Mermin, single screen installation Facade (2010) by artist Phil Coy, The Trouble With Waiting (2008), Al Jazeera, This Is My Africa (2010), HBO and forthcoming feature films Lotus Eaters by first time director Alexandra McGuinness and seasoned US director Jane Spencer’s Men Don’t Lie. Visit Bert's website for more.

David Charap: Trained at a British Film School and in the editing rooms of the BBC, David established himself as a prolific film maker in the Czech Republic. He edited dozens of acclaimed projects ranging from full-length feature films like Buttoners to prestigious commercials for the UN. Returning to England, he established a London cutting room and edited projects for both US and UK producers including the award winning feature Last Resort and the documentary A Trial in Prague. His most recent credits include the drama Mrs. Mandela (BBC Four) and the documentaries Men and The City (2009) and In The Land of The Free (2010). Selected editing credits include Men of the City (2009); All White in Barking (2008); Calais: The Last Border (2003) and Someday My Prince Will Come (2005) with director Marc Isaacs; My Summer of Love, the BAFTA winning film directed by Pawel Pawlikowski (2004); BAFTA award-winning The Train, director Donovan Wylie; The Year of the Devil, which was awarded the Czech Lion (a Czech Oscar) for Best Editing in a Cult Feature Film 2002, Last Resort, BBC 2000, Dir: Pawel Pawlikowski.

Russell Crockett: Russell began his filmmaking career as a researcher on The Animals Film -  the debut film in the "World Cinema" slot, broadcast on Channel 4's first week on air in 1981. After assisting on numerous 16mm productions, he eventually got the chance to cut his own music promos and for broadcast, the very first Harry Enfield series for the BBC (1990). Russell's recent credits include Mendelssohn, The Nazis & Me, BBC4 (2009), BBC4 Storyville's Swim (2009) which won the Audience Award for Best Feature at Silverdocs Festival, Undercover Mosque for Channel 4's Dispatches (2007) and Who Do You Think You Are - Boris Johnson, BBC2 (2008). Russell frequently works with first time directors cutting 5 First Cuts for the Channel 4 slot. Other selected credits include:  the groundbreaking The Cult of the Suicide Bomber, Channel 4 (2005) which was shortlisted for BAFTA, RTS, Grierson & Emmy, Marc Issacs’ RTS & Grierson award-winning Lift, Channel 4 (2001), the BAFTA nominated Visions of Space - Albert Speer, BBC4 (2003).

Watch this space for more names over the next few days, DFG are busy confirming panellists as you read this.

Special offer for DocTalks: The E8 Summit attendees. Doc Talk attendee's will receive a 10% discount when they book onto October's The Grammar of Editing with Steve Stevenson. More info will be sent to you once your booking is confirmed