PANEL: Developing Your Doc

Saturday, January 20 • 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Norwalk Public Library - Upstairs Program Room
1 Belden Ave, Norwalk, CT

Moderated by: Larry Locke

Featuring: Marge Costa, Kevin Huffman, Jason Coombs

Ever wonder what really goes into making a documentary? Long before the first shot is captured, and right after that moment of inspiration, is often years of research and investigation. This arduous process is the footing upon which everything stands. Learn about the triumphs and pitfalls, the glorious ahas and the frustrating deadends, that go into creating a documentary that proves itself engaging, entertaining, and accurate.

Panelists

  • Jason Coombss

    Coombis a New York City-based writer, actor, and filmmaker. As a performer he has appeared in dozens of films, tv shows and web series including SNL (NBC), Mr. Robot (USA Network), and Pretenders (SSS Entertainment), among others. As a writer, his television pilot, Chasers, was a semifinalist at the 2017 ITV Festival and made it to the second round of the 2018 Macro Lab Screenwriting contest sponsored by The Blacklist and Lena Waithe. In 2021 he won the Coverfly Roadmap’s Diversity Initiative. He has produced award-winning short films that have premiered in festivals worldwide including Chelsea Film Festival. Jason was an Archival Associate Producer on the six-episode docuseries Harry and Meghan, on Netflix. He is also the Founder and the Artistic Director of the Bridgeport Film Fest and co-hosts the podcast, Survival Jobs in collaboration with Broadway World.

  • Marge Costa

    Costa is a member of the Norwalk Film Festival’s Leadership Team. She is the owner of Aries Productions LLC; a video and film production company that has helped hundreds of clients tell their story for over 30 years. Marge is a writer, director, producer, and editor. She specializes in documentary filmmaking and has won numerous awards. Her films bring viewers into new worlds and experiences through the captivating use of factual information about real people, places and events. Aries Productions’ most recent film credits include, Remembering The Family Store, which chronicles the proud history of Downtown Stamford, circa 1940-1965, and My Name is Joan, which highlights the abuse and illegal exportation of children born to unwed mothers in Ireland's mother and baby homes from the 1920s until the 1990s. Marge is working on a new documentary, What happened to Tony Kelly, which is due to be released this year.

  • Kevin Huffman

    Hoffman is Lead Creative Producer, Writer and Director of high-profile documentaries on Netflix, Showtime, HBO and TNT. Kevin has expertise in developing high-stakes series with social and political impact. He is a creative producer for directors Alex Gibney, Joe Berlinger & Fisher Stevens, and collaborates with top editors on story structure. Kevin is also a podcast producer & director, and consults on documentaries with his company DocStory 911.

  • Larry Locke

    Locke is a member of the Norwalk Film Festival’s Leadership Team. Larry is multi-award-winning producer/director whose films have screened at major film festivals worldwide, including the Toronto International Film Festival,, (IDFA) International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, Slamdance, (SXSW) South By Southwest, DOC NYC, Cinequest, Doc N Roll UK and many others. The Herald, a short made with his son Trevor, won the 2022 International Mobile Journalism Award for Best Documentary. Larry’s new feature documentary, Heaven Stood Still,: The Incarnations of Willy DeVille, started a 10 city, 7 country tour in Europe on January 17, 2023, and continues to screen to sellout crowds worldwide.