FactualWEST 2020

Using the networking feature in our conference platform, connect with our Broadcasters for one-on-one video chats - pitch an idea, ask a question or just say "hello."

Senior unscripted producer, story editor and former unscripted production executive at Corus, Margot Daley, will discuss the importance of representation in the edit suite. The edit suite has the most direct influence and sway on what makes the final 44 mins. Story Editors need to be aware that they aren’t pushing old narratives and have to be sensitive about how people who almost never get a voice are portrayed. In this session, Margot Daley will discuss some of her experiences, story editing and best practices for articulating concerns to your producer in a conversational way.

Sponsored Great Pacific Media

Any episode of TV is only as strong as its weakest scene. That’s why, when delivering a cut, you need to make every scene a showstopper. But what do you do when the footage just isn’t there? You need this scene to get your story from A to B, but the coverage is weak, the main players are out of focus, and there is no conflict happening between action and cut… How do you take this dud of a scene and turn it into something not only passable, but entertaining? And how do you balance making the scene feel 'real', without crossing your ethical lines?
Join veterans Andy Bely and Dylan Wertz for this conversational workshop taking you behind the edit suite door and showing you how to polish that turd into television Gold… well, television Bronze at least.

Sponsored by Big Time Decent Productions

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP: Seed&Spark’s Emily Best connects you with what you really want to do with your career - that big, hairy, audacious goal - and how to frame the pitch for your current project in service of your larger goals. You'll walk through each step of crafting an exceptional pitch, and how to craft the right story for investors, executives, audiences and more.

The Social Dilemma has quickly become one of the most talked about documentaries of 2020. Currently airing on Netflix, this documentary-drama explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations. Join writer/director Jeff Orlowski as he recounts how he became aware of the dilemma social media creates and why he chose to unravel it through combining a narrative and documentary story. Moderated by Executive Producer David Gullason this is one conversation not to be missed.

Join FactualWEST for their first interactive virtual cocktail class. In this hands-on class, taught by one of the expert Bar Cart Educators, participants will learn how to make two classic gin cocktails:
1. Southside
2. Gin Mule
Cocktail kits and equipment will be delivered on Thursday, November 5th between 11am — 5pm.
The Gin Cocktail Class will be hosted on Friday, November 6th at 6 pm.
Order your kit here: https://barcart.ca/products/factualwest-gin-cocktail-class

The Oland Murder is fascinating 4 part series with all of the essential elements needed for any true crime saga: alleged police misconduct, financial scandal, gossip, infidelity, and murder.  In 2011, multi-millionaire Richard Oland of the Moosehead Brewing family in New Brunswick was found bludgeoned to death. His son, Dennis, quickly became the police’s prime suspect.  In 2015 he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Dennis always insisted he was innocent, and in October of 2016 a retrial was ordered.

In this case study we hear from the team that put the series together. From the moment Dennis Oland was released awaiting his retrial, the producers had intimate and exclusive access to the defense, the accused, his family, and investigators, documenting the road to retrial. In real time they follow unexplored leads and dig into new evidence in search for the truth. They capture every moment until the unpredictable conclusion at the trial’s end. Hear how over the course of several years they gained exclusive access, navigated the Canadian court systems, overcame a mountain of legal and privacy considerations, and ultimately were able to weave together this gripping true crime mystery.

Rob is an Emmy Award winning television producer, film producer and author who has developed and created media for both large and small screens. As the Creative Director for Scout Productions in Los Angeles, he is often the person who guides the project from conception to completion. Join us for this casual conversation with Rob as he discusses creating content that balances Scout’s mandate of omni cultural storytelling, and the edge that streamers and audiences expect. When you are no longer thinking about how to satisfy advertisers but rather an algorithm how does that affect your creative?

The newest and most successful 'men tv' to History Channel's roster is the Locally shot and produced series Big Timber. Big Timber follows the dangerous work of logger and sawmill owner Kevin Wenstob as he and his crew go to extremes to keep the family sawmill, and their way of life, alive. In this session hear Executive Producer Series Producer Robert Hardy, Executive in Charge of Production, Original Content - Factual, Corus Entertainment, Andrew Johnson and others as they discuss how this show came to be and how they navigated telling the story through the eyes of one lead character.

Finding Love can be hard for anyone. For young adults on the autism spectrum exploring the unpredictable world of dating is even more complicated. End your day of workshops by joining Cian O’Cleary, Series Producer and Director of Love on the Spectrum for an intimate and uplifting discussion on the making of the show that has stolen our hearts.