June 2025 - Producing A Documentary
LAB DESCRIPTION
Welcome to the Preparing Producers Program - a workshop designed to demystify what it truly takes to bring your documentary to life. Whether you're starting with a blank pitch deck or deep in production, this class is built to sharpen your instincts, expand your producing toolkit, and prepare you to lead with clarity and impact.
We’ll cover the full lifecycle of a nonfiction project: from development and packaging to budgeting, production planning, post-production, and rights clearance - including archival and legal considerations. The goal is to ensure your project is market-ready, equipping you to navigate the festival circuit confidently and pursue potential sales or distribution opportunities.
This course is for emerging producers, documentary directors balancing creative and logistical demands, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of how to bring nonfiction stories to screen - practically, creatively, and with purpose.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
LAB DATES
June 7, 2025 - Development Workshop
June 8, 2025 - Production Workshop
June 14, 2025 - Post Production
June 15, 2025 - Legal/Archival
Additional Hour TBD on the 14th or 15th - Discussion on Production of a Project w/ Guest Speaker
LEADERSHIP LAB INSTRUCTOR
Gautam Singhani
Having produced features, unscripted documentaries, series, and immersive media, Gautam Singhani is a multifaceted producer with 10+ years of Film & TV experience across NYC, LA, and Mumbai for networks such as Apple, HBO, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon MGM Studios. His expertise extends to every aspect of the production cycle, including development, production, post-production through to finishing and delivery.
Through his consulting practice, Gotoma, Gautam offers one-on-one guidance to creatives seeking to better understand the business side of filmmaking and receive professional support on their next big project. By drawing on his extensive industry experience, he provides services ranging from Budget Creation and IP Development to Post-Production Management and Distribution Strategy. Beyond the traditional Film Producer skill set, Gautam has worked as an Avid Technical Engineer and helped deliver the cutting-edge 2D/3D immersive experience BONO: STORIES OF SURRENDER for the Apple Vision Pro, produced by RadicalMedia.
Notable projects Gautam has helped deliver include the Oscar®-nominated short documentary THE BARBER OF LITTLE ROCK, the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary ALLEN v. FARROW, National Geographic's BAFTA-nominated Documentary BECOMING COUSTEAU, and GLAAD Nominated Documentary LIL NAS X: LONG LIVE MONTERO for Universal Pictures. Gautam has worked for award-winning production houses RadicalMedia and Story Syndicate, helping to deliver a high standard of premium non-fiction and branded content for top-tier platforms.
