Kick start your documentary career by going on assignment into the Amazon with documentary producer Trent O’Donnell (who filmed the Positive Footprints series screened on Nat Geo Adventure Channel).
You will take part in a special project with Gap Adventures, exploring the Amazonian jungle and homestaying with the indigenous Quichua community.
Working alongside Trent O’Donnell as he makes a documentary on Sustainable Tourism, you will be mentored to help find your story and create your own short video documentary.
You’ll also be accommodated by our friends at Hostelworld.com both pre and post trip.
The lucky scholarship recipient will have their documentary considered for broadcast onNat Geo Adventure! That’s right – the holy grail documentary makers work their whole lives to achieve !
Your assignment brief
You will be joining Bruce Poon Tip (Gap’s founder) as he revisits Ecuador’s spectacular Andean Interior and Amazon lowlands. It’s been 20 years since the first Gap Adventures trip was run in the Amazon and alongside Bruce you will gain unique access and insight into the lives of the Quichua community understanding how sustainable tourism has positively impacted their community.
You will also see first hand how the Footprints Network can make a difference to communities in need as Simon Monk (founder of WorldNomads.com and the Footprints Network) visits a project providing schooling equipment to the local Quichua primary school.
Homestaying in the Amazonian jungle with the Quichua community, you will work alongside Trent as he mentors you on how to find and film your own story.
Who can apply
* Anyone can apply – this is open to film students, lovers of film or anyone who’s trying to build a career in documentary making!
* Minimum age 18 with a current passport.
* You should be a mad-keen auteur with a lust for adventure and burning desire to be a documentary maker.
* You must be fit and healthy as moderate levels of trekking are involved.
Apply now
If you want it, you’ve got to show it. To apply you need to:
1. Compile a 3 minute video documentary in English based around the theme; ‘Local Encounters’. Your ‘local encounter’ may be from your travels or somewhere closer to home. You should explore how this encounter changed your perspective on the world. The theme is open to interpretation, so be creative! The documentary may be compiled from previous travel videos you’ve shot.
It’s up to you to convince our judging panel through your video that you have the spirit for adventure and passion for filmmaking to be chosen for this scholarship. Our judging panel will be looking for;
* The ability to convey a strong narrative within a short time-frame
* Originality
* A visually engaging story
* A candidate whose passion for documentary filmmaking makes them an obvious choice to benefit from this professional mentorship opportunity.
We strongly recommend you look at the previous winners (below) to give you an idea of the quality we are looking for. Entries compiled solely of still shots will not be considered, you need to demonstrate your skill with the moving image.
2. Upload your video : Go to Youtube.com to upload your video
3. Add your video to Worldnomads.com: Create a journal and fill in the entry form, then follow the simple instructions to upload your video into the post. In under 200 words tell us about your video;
- What inspired your subject matter?
- How did you plan your piece?
- What challenges did you face?
- What is your ambition as a documentary maker?
You will be judged on what you write as much as your video submission, convince us you are a worthy candidate !
One entry per person.
Watch 2009 winner’s documentary
Watch 2008 winner’s documentary which has been broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure.
Entries close August 1, 2010
(midnight, Australian Eastern Standard Time)
