

Summary
6 spots remain! Learn from an award-winning documentary director whose films have streamed on Prime Video, Tubi, and screened worldwide!
You will walk away with templates for immediate use, tools, real-world strategies, and a step-by-step blueprint to bring your documentary to life!
Right now is an incredible time to be making documentaries. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and every major streamer are actively acquiring compelling documentary content and the demand shows no signs of slowing down. But with opportunity comes competition, and audiences today expect high-impact storytelling. This exclusive Stage 32 class is designed to help you meet that demand by teaching you the step-by-step process of documentary filmmaking. From development to distribution so you can go from “I have an idea” to “I have a finished film ready for the world!"
Documentary filmmaking is a minefield of expensive mistakes waiting to happen. Many passionate filmmakers burn through budgets, film without the right releases, or end up with a documentary they legally can’t distribute. Others run out of money halfway through post, or finish a film with no plan to get it seen. The truth is, the documentary world doesn’t just reward passion, it rewards preparation, professionalism, and business-savvy. Without understanding the legal, financial, and structural fundamentals, even the most important story may never make it past your hard drive. This interactive class will teach you how to avoid those mistakes and set you up to succeed!
Your Stage 32 educator James Kicklighter is a multi-award-winning writer and director whose work has been recognized by The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India, and more! His debut feature Desires of the Heart screened at Cannes and won Best Foreign Film at the Los Angeles Femme Film Festival. He directed the documentary Digital Edition and is developing several Southern-voiced projects with producers behind Se7en and Short Term 12. A Georgia Southern University alum, he was named to their “40 Under 40” for his impact in media and leadership.
You will walk away from this 4-part interactive class with a complete understanding of the documentary production process from concept development and legal foundations, to financing, fair use, filming, editing, and finally, distribution and marketing. You’ll gain tools and templates you can use immediately, learn how to avoid common pitfalls, and build an actionable plan for your next documentary, supported by real examples, industry best practices, and expert instruction.
This interactive Stage 32 class is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with your Stage 32 Educator and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to them. You will have access to your Educator for the duration of your class by email to ask them any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!
PLUS! You will receive the following exclusive handouts to support your projects:
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Documentary Concept Development Worksheet
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Financing Strategy Planner
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Production Planning Toolkit
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Distribution Strategy Blueprint
PRAISE FROM JAMES'S TEACHINGS:
“His experience and expertise as a writer and producer of film were greatly enhanced by his enthusiasm and energy as a speaker. He presented a series of workshops in the production of film, and also was the keynote speaker at our Young Writer's Conference. In both cases, he was able to inspire and connect to many different age groups including several professors in attendance.” - Gareth Jones, Brewton-Parker College
“I think James is a rare breed of artist that combines his business and marketing skills with a cohesive artistic vision. ” - Jason Winn, Film Director
“James is sharp as a razor, quick to grasp an idea, and like mercury when it comes to social media.” - Lilly Lee, Co-Founder, UNICEF Chinese Children’s Initiative
“James exceeds your expectations and helps turn your ideas into reality.” - Susan Woolf, Director of Operations, National Student Leadership Conference
“James is an extraordinary individual. He represents to me, the best of what this business holds in the next few decades.” – Gemma Puglisi, Assistant Professor, American University
What You'll Learn
Session #1: Foundation & Pre-Production
The Documentary Renaissance
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Current documentary landscape and streaming demand
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What separates good documentaries from great ones
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Commercial viability vs. artistic merit
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Case studies: Recent critically acclaimed and commercially successful documentaries
Developing Your Documentary Concept
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Identifying compelling subject matter
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Evaluating commercial potential
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Research and story validation
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Approaching subjects and building trust
Pre-Production Essentials (15 minutes)
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Creating comprehensive budgets
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Crew hiring strategies and key roles
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Equipment planning and rental considerations
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Travel logistics and safety planning
Legal Framework
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Why you need an attorney from day one
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Essential contracts and agreements
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Insurance requirements (General Liability, Workers' Comp, E&O)
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Release forms: appearance, location, and filming notices
Session #1 Assignment:
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Handout: "Documentary Concept Development Worksheet" A comprehensive template for evaluating story potential, commercial viability, and research planning
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Assignment: Complete a detailed concept pitch for your documentary idea, including subject matter analysis, target audience identification, and preliminary budget estimation
Session #2: Financing, Fair Use & Documentary Foundation
Financing Your Documentary
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Grant opportunities and application strategies
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Crowdfunding best practices
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Private investor approaches
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Tax incentives and rebates
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Film fund resources
Fair Use and Licensing
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Understanding fair use doctrine
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When to claim fair use vs. licensing
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Risk assessment and legal implications
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Music, archival footage, and film clip licensing
Documentary Styles and Establishing the foundation
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The 4 Documentary Styles and Storytelling
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Building rapport and trust with subjects
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Crafting effective questions
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Documentarian's ethical obligations
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Balancing truth with subject protection
Session #2 Assignment:
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Handout: "Financing Strategy Planner" - Templates for grant applications, crowdfunding campaigns, and investor pitch materials, plus fair use assessment checklist
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Assignment: Develop a complete financing plan for your project and conduct a fair use analysis for any third-party materials you plan to include
Session #3: Production & Post-Production
Production Best Practices
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Shooting strategies for different documentary styles
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Managing unexpected challenges
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Safety protocols and risk management
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Working with subjects during filming
The Editor Partnership
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Selecting the right editor for your style
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Budget planning for post-production
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Establishing creative collaboration
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Managing the editor relationship
Post-Production Pipeline
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Timeline creation from rough cut to final
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Sound design and mixing requirements
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Color correction essentials
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Music composition vs. licensing decisions
Problem-Solving & Deliverables
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Common obstacles and solutions
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Legal issues that arise in editing
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Technical deliverables for distribution
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Quality standards for different platforms
Session #3 Assignment:
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Handout: "Production Planning Toolkit" - Shot lists, crew contact templates, post-production timeline calculator, and editor evaluation criteria
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Assignment: Create a detailed production schedule and post-production workflow plan, including editor selection criteria and budget allocation for your project
Session #4: Distribution & Building Your Career
Festival Strategy
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Budgeting for festival submissions
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Choosing the right festivals for your film
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Application strategies and timing
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Maximizing festival impact
Distribution Landscape
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Traditional vs. streaming platforms
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Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, Showtime, Hulu requirements
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Self-distribution options
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Revenue expectations and planning
Marketing Your Documentary
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Creating compelling trailers and promotional materials
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Social media strategies
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Building audience before release
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Press and publicity approaches
Business of Documentary Filmmaking
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Building a sustainable documentary career
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Developing multiple projects simultaneously
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Understanding market trends
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Planning your next project
Final Discussion, Action Planning & Wrap-up
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Key takeaways review
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Individual action step planning
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Resource compilation and final Q&A
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Networking and continued collaboration
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Course evaluation and feedback
Session #4 Assignment:
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Handout: "Distribution Strategy Blueprint" - Festival submission tracker, platform requirements checklist, and marketing campaign template
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Assignment: Design a comprehensive distribution and marketing strategy for your documentary, including festival submission plan and audience engagement tactics
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this 4-part series, participants will have:
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A complete understanding of the documentary production process
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Practical tools and templates for immediate use
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A network of industry contacts and resources
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A clear action plan for their next documentary project
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Real-world problem-solving skills for common challenges
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Peer connections for ongoing support and collaboration
Who Should Attend
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Creatives at any stage of the documentary process — from idea to post-production
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First-time filmmakers who want to learn how to start their documentary the right way
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Filmmakers already in production or post who need help navigating legal, financial, or distribution challenges
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Producers, editors, and team members looking to better understand the full doc pipeline
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Anyone with a true story to tell and a desire to make a professional, impactful documentary
Executive

James Kicklighter is a multi-award winning writer/director whose work has been recognized by the world’s press, including The Hollywood Reporter, The Times of India, Film Courage and FilmInk Australia.
James Kicklighter was born in 1988, where he spent the first eighteen years of his life in Bellville, Georgia, population 123. He has gone on to become an award-winning director and producer of narrative films, documentaries and advertising. He is an active member of the Director’s Branch of the Television Academy, and is a p.g.a. producer. His work has been recognized by the world’s press, including The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, Politico, The Los Angeles Times, and The
Times of India. Kicklighter has served as a panelist at the Oscar®-qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival,
taught filmmaking courses on Stage32.com, and his interview series with the popular YouTube channel
Film Courage has over 250,000 views. He resides in Los Angeles, California and still can't
believe he gets to work across the country and around the globe.
Director James Kicklighter’s latest film is his multi-year documentary, The American Question
Released in 2024, The American Question was the #1 new release on Apple TV and earned a perfect 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Delving into the heart of a divided America, exploring the historical and contemporary factors that have eroded our trust in our neighbors, communities, institutions, and government. With input from numerous experts, including Colin Woodard, Amy Chua, Yuval Levin, Tania Israel, and narrated by political analyst, Guy Tal Seemann, The American Question seeks to answer the pressing question: can America rediscover its unifying values and restore trust among its people?
James Kicklighter, p.g.a. also produces The American Question, with a creative team including Guy Seemann, p.g.a., with executive producer S. Asher Gelman (Sabbath Queen, Afterglow). The director of photography is Jonathan Pope (Emmy® Award Nominee, The Social Dilemma), edited by Mohamed El Manasterly (Emmy® Award Winner, "Welcome to Wrexham," The Square), James Kicklighter, J.D. Sievertson, ACE ("The Chi," "Cosmos") and Carlos Puga (Emmy® Award Winner, “True Life"), featuring an original score by Nicolas Repetto (The Sound of Identity, A Run for More) and original animation by Filmograph (Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Joker: Folie à Deux, John Wick).
In 2021, Kicklighter released The Sound of Identity, premiering on STARZ, streaming on Prime Video, and available on demand — rated 91% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. In the spotlight of global media coverage, Lucia Lucas, the first transgender woman to perform as Don Giovanni in a professional opera, makes her historic debut in one of the reddest states in America.
From director James Kicklighter, The Sound of Identity is produced by Emmy Award-winning producers Russ Kirkpatrick & Andy Kinslow and is executive produced by Golden Globe®- winner and Academy Award®-nominated Josh Bachove (Minari, The Little Hours), with Jonathan Pope (Emmy® Award Nominee, The Social Dilemma) as Director of Photography.
Kicklighter produced, edited and co-wrote the directorial debut of youth advocate and novelist Jim St. Germain (“A Stone of Hope”), Every 9 Hours (2019), a modern-day exploration of skin color and identity in society. Starring Philip Smithey ("Switched at Birth"), Elizabeth Ferrera ("Lethal Weapon"), Kahyun Kim ("American Gods") and Danny Trejo (Predator, Machete) the film debuted at numerous film festivals across the country, now streaming on Prime Video.
Returning to the director’s chair, Angel of Anywhere (2018) is the story of an empathetic stripper who plays therapist to his many damaged clientele and co-workers. Angel of Anywhere stars Briana Evigan (Step Up Movie 2: The Streets), Ser’Darius Blain (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, “Charmed”), and introduces Axel Roldos as Angel. Streaming on multiple platforms, Angel screened at over a dozen global festivals, including the Oscar® qualifying Hollyshorts and Sidewalk Film Festivals, winning Best Narrative Short at the 2018 Macon Film Festival. The film was distributed domestically by Hewes Pictures on ShortsTV.
His first feature film, Desires of the Heart, was released theatrically across India in November 2015. Kris Sharma (Val Lauren, Medal of Honor, Sal) leaves a budding romance with an artist (Alicia Minshew, “All My Children”) in Savannah for a marriage arranged by his parents in India. There, he discovers centuries old secrets that may determine the fate of his destiny. Shot in Savannah and Rajasthan, India, Desires was an official selection of numerous festivals across the United States and around the world, including the Cannes Marché du Film and was the winner of Best Foreign Film at the Los Angeles Femme Film Festival.
He was the for Film Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential Campaign in Virginia, directing content featuring Sen. Tim Kaine, Sean Astin, Lena Dunham (“Girls”), Kate Walsh, ("Grey’s Anatomy") Bellamy Young ("Scandal”), Constance Wu (“Fresh off the Boat”), Miley Cyrus, Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, amongst other public, private and political figures.
Director James Kicklighter is on the Advisory Board for AMBITION, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneurial program for disadvantaged youth. He volunteers with Kids in the Spotlight, a Los Angeles-based organization that helps foster youth heal and grow from trauma through the power of storytelling and filmmaking — directing the 2024 film Whatever it Takes, and producing the 2023 National Script Competition Winner, Speak.
He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Communication Arts at Georgia Southern University, his alma mater. He was chosen out of over 30,000 living graduates to be listed on the inaugural Georgia Southern 40 Under 40 Alumni, selected for “impact in business, leadership, community, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors.”
Schedule
Wednesday August 13th, 3pm-5pm PT
Wednesday August 20th, 3pm-5pm PT
Wednesday August 27th, 3pm-5pm PT
Wednesday September 3rd, 3pm-5pm PT
Testimonials
PRAISE FROM JAMES'S TEACHINGS:
“His experience and expertise as a writer and producer of film were greatly enhanced by his enthusiasm and energy as a speaker. He presented a series of workshops in the production of film, and also was the keynote speaker at our Young Writer's Conference. In both cases, he was able to inspire and connect to many different age groups including several professors in attendance.” - Gareth Jones, Brewton-Parker College
“I think James is a rare breed of artist that combines his business and marketing skills with a cohesive artistic vision. ” - Jason Winn, Film Director
“James is sharp as a razor, quick to grasp an idea, and like mercury when it comes to social media.” - Lilly Lee, Co-Founder, UNICEF Chinese Children’s Initiative
“James exceeds your expectations and helps turn your ideas into reality.” - Susan Woolf, Director of Operations, National Student Leadership Conference
“James is an extraordinary individual. He represents to me, the best of what this business holds in the next few decades.” – Gemma Puglisi, Assistant Professor, American University