The Center for Innovative Media

CIM Global Digital Media Workshops

The Art and Industry of Non-Fiction Storytelling

documentary. . . . journalism. . . . social media. . . production training. . . . multi-platform storytelling

ABOUT

The Center for Innovative Media (CIM) at The George Washington University is home to compelling, challenging, and cutting-edge professional workshops in digital non-fiction storytelling. These custom-designed programs are intended for mid-career (5-15 years experience) documentary and journalism professionals from emerging media markets across the globe.

From the theoretical to the practical, CIM Global Digital Media Workshops help international producers and directors harness the tools of digital storytelling, enhancing their knowledge of new media platforms and honing their artistic and technical skills.

WORKSHOP OFFERINGS

Media markets vary greatly from region to region. The Center for Innovative Media recognizes that there is no "one size fits all" solution when it comes to professional media training, so every Global Digital Media Workshop is custom-made. Leadership staff from CIM work closely with individual international agencies and organizations (professional trade associations, broadcasters, foreign governments, etc.) to tailor workshops to their specific interests needs, and goals. Programs typically run anywhere from four days to six weeks and can address a wide range of topics.

The following list illustrates the range of training offered in previous Center for Innovative Media programs.

STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES

The Center for Innovative Media at the George Washington University is home to:

• • A world-class faculty in documentary, journalism and political communication
• • A vibrant campus of 20,000 students, 5,000 faculty
• • A prime location:
•      ⋅ six blocks from the White House
•      ⋅ one block from The World Bank and the IMF
•      ⋅ within commuting distance of all embassies
•      ⋅ in the heart of the non-fiction capital of the United States – "Docuwood" – providing access to
          programming executives from PBS, National Geographic, Discovery Communications and
          international news organizations
•      ⋅ offering year-round accommodations within walking distance and on-campus
          accommodations during the summer months
• • Unique opportunities for non-fiction storytellers:
•      ⋅ Realscreen Summit, the most important US industry forum on non-fiction film & television (late January, Early February)
•      ⋅ AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival (mid-late June)
• • State-of-the-art facilities with advanced video technology

State-of-the-art facilities

Production Facilities

The School of Media and Public Affairs is home to its own Richard Eaton Broadcast Studio. In the studio, four cameras, a news and interview set, a professional control room and audio board provide plenty of room for workshop participants to put together their own productions as well as produce class projects. Workshop participants are trained on broadcast standard cameras, and also have access to HD cameras for more advanced work. Workshops can also take advantage of audio mixing facilities, chyron, a teleprompter and a graphics computer.  

Computing/Editing Facilities

The fifth floor of the Media and Public Affairs building is home to three teaching labs featuring 42 "Final Cut Pro" edit stations that are available nearly 24 hours a day/ seven days a week for workshop participant use. A new state of the art Final Cut Server provides a common storage site for participants' work. This facilitates collaboration among workshop participants, allowing each participant to see what other participants are doing. Not only are CIM workshop participants taught on the same high-end equipment and software used in professional editing houses and Hollywood movie studios, but they also gain a full understanding of the video production process: from editing techniques for both news and documentary-style multimedia, to video compression, uploading to the web, and producing DVDs.  

Flash Studio

The flash studio, located on the 2nd floor of the Media and Public Affairs Building, is used for professional radio (including XM/Sirius satellite radio programs) and television production (including live interviews with CNN and other major networks.) Faculty, staff, students and VIP guests to the MPA Building have been able to use the flash studio for a variety of live and recorded programming.  

Workshop Participant Equipment Checkout

Workshop participants have the opportunity to check-out many different types of technical equipment. They can work with high-end cameras: the broadcast standard Sony 2100 and Sony 250, as well as the Panasonic High Definition HVX camera, depending on workshop requirements. For advanced shooting projects, there are portable lighting kits, radio microphones and pole microphones. Also available are digital audio recorders and Nikon D-40 digital still cameras.  

Jack Morton Auditorium

The Jack Morton Auditorium, a 244-seat auditorium in the MPA Building, offers full TV production capability, digital sound and video recording and video conferencing. It is an ideal location for any event involving current issues, cultural performances or public/government affairs. The JMA has recently undergone $600,000+ in renovations to its sound and lighting systems and its appearance.

RECENT WORKSHOPS

International Emerging Filmmakers Fellowship
CIM/KPDE
Click here for more information on the Center for Innovative Media

CONTACT

The Center for Innovative Media
School of Media & Public Affairs
The George Washington University
805 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20052
202.994.6787
cimintl@gwu.edu

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