PLAY THE NEXT EPISODE: THE ART OF DOCUMENTARY AND FACTUAL SERIES

Join us for an insider’s guide to developing a documentary or factual series that’s ready to thrive in the current market and has a lens on series’ futures. 

Helmed by Stephen Oliver (ABC), join the stellar creatives and commissioners representing a breadth of series like the blockbuster Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator (ABC), local factual Salvage Rescue Down Under (Wildbear Entertainment), hybrid The People vs Robodebt (SBS) and all new Empire in Colour (Stranger than Fiction) as they share their first hand knowledge at how to get a series off the ground – and how bold and impactful serialised stories can continue to shape the cultural conversation.

This in-depth session will cover the ins and outs of developing a nonfiction series, including approaches to longitudinal stories, crafting the overarching themes, as well as springboards that will engage audiences across the series. And, as audience viewing habits and commissioning priorities continue to evolve, we’ll discuss how to build with your platform and audience in mind, how to maximize your IP for a sustainable return, reach new audiences across platforms, and prepare digital and social media strategies from day one.

MODERATOR: Stephen Oliver (ABC)

SPEAKERS: Bethan Arwel-Lewis (SBS), Bettina Dalton (Wildbear Entertainment), John Harvey (Brown Cabs)

Image credit: Stuff the British Stole, Season 2 (WildBear Entertainment, Cream Productions & Wooden Horse, 2024)