Workshop Registration

The Art of the Interview

Within the practice of documentary filmmaking the interview is central and often forms the core of your film. It’s also an exchange of respect and trust where something is revealed and both parties feel they’ve benefited from the experience. This six-hour workshop will look at examples and use in-class practical exercises to explore the building of trust and ethical considerations in addition to technical and stylistic applications for directing and shooting an interview. Discussion will include approaching interview subjects, and conducting preliminary as well as on-camera interviews. Participants will investigate how to research and craft questions relevant to their projects. Hands-on practice will include face-to-face mock interview sessions in different shooting styles. Participants are encouraged to bring projects in development and/or production. Discussion and feedback are encouraged throughout.

The Introduction to Independent Filmmaking is recommended as a prerequisite. This workshop is recommended as a companion to the Documentary Film Writing, Producing Documentary Film, Directing Documentary Film and Documentary Film Editing workshops.​

part 1: Mon 27 July 2026, 6 - 10 pm   
part 2: Wed 29 July 2026, 6 - 10 pm   
(Registration deadline is Mon 27 July 5:00 pm)

Instructor: Scott Dobson

Scott Dobson is an established award-winning producer, director and story editor who has worked in documentary, television, and podcasting. For these projects he has interviewed scientists, politicians, comedians, Elvis impersonators, artists, survivors, and sometimes really unpleasant people. He co-produced the CBC podcast “Boys Like Me" which won the 2023 Webby Award “Crime and Justice” category and he directed and produced the 2018 Short doc “Fix and Release” which won 17 film festivals including Yorkton, Planet in Focus, and Scinema Australia. In 2024 he directed a one-hour documentary, “Tomoshibi Stories”, with his mother in law tracing her Internment as a Japanese Canadian during WWII. Currently, he is finishing producing a documentary on the seminal 1980’s band The Plasterscene Replicas. Projects in development include “Test Your Metal” a documentary about Canadian rocker legend Lee Aaron and “Going To SEED” a look at the history of alternative schools in Canada. 



Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Directing
Maximum Capacity: 12
6 hours of instruction in 2 parts$125 /member$150 /nonmember
Registration opens
Tue 19 May at 10am