This four-week workshop is led by two time Emmy Award-winning journalist and former ABC News correspondent Jay Schadler. Participants will be provided with hands-on experience in the exciting field of news feature storytelling.

Participants will begin by investigating possible stories in the Westport area, although topics of national interest with a local angle are certainly welcome. Discussions will include: What makes a story newsworthy? Investigations versus human interest. The importance of immersing yourself in multiple points of view.

Laying the groundwork for collecting information and sources for the story. Discussions will include: What makes a source credible. Background sources versus on-the-record.

The keystone of every great news story will be found in the quality of your interview(s). Discussions will include: Preparing for an interview. Developing your questions. The essential art of listening.

There is no room for waste in a 3 minute feature story so how you structure, write, and edit your piece is critical. Discussion will include: Developing your lead and open. Crisp and clear writing as the focus. Developing a point-of-view.

An on-camera stand-up can help elucidate an idea and jumpstart a sluggish portion of a script. Discussion will include: Choosing an on-camera location. Weaving your stand-up seamlessly into the story.

Using the state-of-the-art production facilities of the Verso Studios at the Westport Library we will record a 20-minute newscast using each of the 3 minute stories developed by the participants. The newscast will be shared with the community.

Jay Schadler is a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and Associated Press “Reporter of the Year.”. As a correspondent and anchor for ABC News he reported and told stories from around the world for more than three decades. IHis work has been aired on ABC News World News Tonight, 20/20, Good Morning America, Nightline, and Prime Time. In addition, he has contributed special reports to National Geographic TV, Discovery, Bravo and PBS.

The Hitchhiker
Known nationally for groundbreaking ABC News Specials “Looking for America.” With hand-held cameras Jay hitchhiked more than 13,000 miles in 3 years, interviewing everyday Americans along the way. His first hour long special for Prime Time Live generated the largest and most positive viewer response in the program’s history and is credited with being one of the first examples of what was to become “Reality TV”.

For more information about Jay’s career: http://jayschadler.com/

Our media studios producer and technical advisor for the Filmmaking Camp, David Bibbey, is an Emmy Award winning broadcast TV producer, host/presenter, corporate videographer, event emcee and a poet laureate.

David hosted and produced CPTV’s ‘All Things Connecticut’, ‘Connecticut Cultural Treasures’ and was the concept creator, producer and host of the ‘Breaking Bread’ series.

Leigh Anne Sides is a director, editor, producer, and writer who has been working in the entertainment industry for many years. In addition to work on documentaries for PBS and National Geographic, Sides worked as an editor/producer for CNN's Amanpour & Co, Sides has worked for CBS, NBC, The History Channel, A&E, The Discovery Channel and many other major broadcast, cable and digital outlets.

Sides was invited to take part in the Sundance Institute's Filmmakers’ Workshop and she has received various awards and honorable mentions for her work, including an Oscar, a Peabody, nine national Emmy nominations and a Ciné Golden Eagle for her work on the Exposé episode “In a Small Town”.