Mentorship Program Step 3: Reach Out to Your Mentor
The Doc Project | CBC News | Posted: April 6, 2017 2:39 PM | Last Updated: March 9, 2018
Each mentor in the Doc Project Mentorship Program is a producer with a specific CBC Radio show. Generally, the docs they produce in collaboration with the mentorship program will air on their show (e.g. Alison Cook mentors docs that will appear on The Doc Project show, and Jeff Goodes mentors docs that will appear on White Coat, Black Art).
It's not required that you reach out to your proposed mentor before you apply, but it's a good idea. Why? Think of it as an open-book exam. It's your chance to make first contact with the person you'd like to work with and learn from, and their chance to get to know you and your pitch a bit. Meanwhile, your proposed mentor can give you their take on whether your pitch needs re-working before you submit — or possibly recommend another mentor if your pitch isn't right for them.
Still unsure about the right home for your documentary idea? No worries. E-mail us at docmentorships@cbc.ca and we'll see if we can help you out.
Alison Cook – Doc Producer & Editor, The Doc Project
Montreal | alison.cook@cbc.ca
- When pitching to me, producers should always... tell it as a story. What happens in your piece? What kinds of scenes will I see in my mind? Tolstoy wrote that all great literature is one of two things: a man goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town. If your pitch is one of those, it's a winner.
- My style as a doc editor in a few words... hands on, as needed. I am here to help you do your best work.
Karen Levine – Doc Editor, The Sunday Edition
Toronto | karen.levine@cbc.ca
- When pitching to me, producers should always... be clear, excited and thoughtful about why their story would make good radio for The Sunday Edition.
- My style as a doc editor in a few words... tough (okay, a perfectionist), nurturing and passionate about stories.
Joan Webber – Doc Editor, The Current
Vancouver | joan.webber@cbc.ca
- When pitching to me, producers should... tell me the tale they want to tell, not the topic (think dust jacket descriptions).
- My style as a doc editor in a few words... Enthusiastic. Experimental. Thoughtful.
Jeff Goodes – Producer, White Coat, Black Art
Toronto | jeff.goodes@cbc.ca
- When pitching to me, producers should... ask themselves what's in it for the listener.
- My style as a doc editor in a few words... head, heart, creativity.
Nicola Luksic – Doc Producer & Editor, Ideas
Toronto | nicola.luksic@cbc.ca
- When pitching to me, producers should always... have a basic idea of what the show is about. Easy to do. Just go to the website, listen to a handful of episodes and you'll get the sense of it. Producers should also come with a story they want to pitch and why it would be a good fit for the show and why they should be the one to produce the story. Don't worry about having all your guests lined up. But basic research is helpful to start a conversation.
- My style as a doc editor in a few words... collaborative, unconstrained, but thorough.
Ready to write that pitch?
Step 4: Application Guidelines
Step 4: Application Guidelines