July 29-August 4, 2012 | Course Fee: $480
Big Shed and the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke are partnering to bring you this working getaway. Whether you're an audio producer, photographer, writer, filmmaker, or media maker of any stripe, we've designed this retreat to help you make meaningful progress on your own projects. If you have a story you’re trying to finish, a project you're researching, a proposal you need to write, or maybe you just want space to think about your creative trajectory; spend a week as part of a great group of creatives, all of whom are doing the same thing. And oh yes, there will be homemade ice cream on the porch.
SCHEDULE
Time To Focus – Most of your time will be available to work independently on your project -- editing, reading, researching, writing, strolling about, etc. Throughout the week, we will help you think about how you're spending your time, but ultimately what you do will be up to you.
Keeping on Track – To help meet your goals we have a few ways we'll help you make the most of your time.
Rubbing Your Creative Shoulders – We want to make sure that you're inspired, restored, focused and having a good time. Towards that end, here are a few things you can expect:
The Basics – We take the little things seriously.
Arrival / Departure Times – For planning your travel.
Keeping on Track – To help meet your goals we have a few ways we'll help you make the most of your time.
- Daily check-ins: Small groups where you'll share what you're working on and how it's going; taking time to identify next steps and set goals.
- One-on-one coaching: Schedule time during the week with Shea, Jesse or Kara to help you work through specific issues, if necessary.
- On-the-fly: One of the greatest assets you'll have as a participant is the expertise, creativity and input of other participants.
- You, too: Of course, that means you'll have the opportunity to help others think about their work, too.
Rubbing Your Creative Shoulders – We want to make sure that you're inspired, restored, focused and having a good time. Towards that end, here are a few things you can expect:
- Creative Cuisine: We're planning a bevy of short, idea-generating workshops to keep your creative juices flowing.
- Cutting Loose: From field trips to barbecues, expect several opportunities to take a break and have fun with all of the great folks who have come.
- Space: A variety of work environments to choose from
- Nourishment: Sharing a healthful, home-cooked lunch each day
- Cherry-on-top: Hand-cranked ice-cream on the porch
The Basics – We take the little things seriously.
- Food: We'll share a tasty and healthy home-cooked lunch each day. And you'll have access to a full kitchen if you'd like to prepare evening meals for yourself or with others. We've been known to throw a cookout, and of course … there will be hand-cranked ice cream.
- Space: CDS has a variety of workspaces you can use throughout the week. There are plenty of places where you can work with others or by yourself.
- Time: Most of the retreat work time happens between 9am and 6pm each day, followed by (optional) evening activities. But if you're an a perpetual early riser or a confirmed night owl, the workspaces will be open to you from 8am to 9pm.
Arrival / Departure Times – For planning your travel.
- Begins: 5pm on Sunday (July 29) with dinner and a relaxed evening session.
- Ends: 1:30pm on Saturday (August 4) after a closing lunch.
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR RETREAT
Focus On A Specific Project – Before you arrive, you should decide on a particular project you'd like to focus on. It can be as broad or narrow as you like. You'll get the most out of this retreat if you know what you want to focus on long before you arrive. (If you aren't sure what we mean, drop us a line).
Closing Session – At the end of the week, you'll have an opportunity to present your work. Whether this is a deadline to help you finish producing a piece or an opportunity to review what you've accomplished and what you're going to explore after you leave, this will be a brief but important time to share your work after a week of working together. Then we'll have lunch and say our fond farewells.
Bring What You Need (Or Ask For It) – You should bring any software or hardware you might need for your work. However, we can make a mac workstation available to you. Let us know ahead of time if that's something you're interested in. CDS has a pretty robust library of media production software. If there's specific software you need, give us a heads up so we can find out if they have it. It's better to figure that out ahead of time.
Professional vs. Production Training – This retreat is designed for media makers who already have their basic technical chops down -- enough to employ them in service of you own projects. Of course, it's fine to hone your software skills at the retreat. We just want to be clear that this isn't a replacement for production or technical training.
Closing Session – At the end of the week, you'll have an opportunity to present your work. Whether this is a deadline to help you finish producing a piece or an opportunity to review what you've accomplished and what you're going to explore after you leave, this will be a brief but important time to share your work after a week of working together. Then we'll have lunch and say our fond farewells.
Bring What You Need (Or Ask For It) – You should bring any software or hardware you might need for your work. However, we can make a mac workstation available to you. Let us know ahead of time if that's something you're interested in. CDS has a pretty robust library of media production software. If there's specific software you need, give us a heads up so we can find out if they have it. It's better to figure that out ahead of time.
Professional vs. Production Training – This retreat is designed for media makers who already have their basic technical chops down -- enough to employ them in service of you own projects. Of course, it's fine to hone your software skills at the retreat. We just want to be clear that this isn't a replacement for production or technical training.
OTHER EXPENSES
Housing: There are a wide variety of housing options at your disposal while attending summer sessions at the Center for Documentary Studies. CDS has created a list of local supporters who welcome participants from CDS summer institutes as guests at very reasonable rates (I think around $30 a night). After you register for the course, CDS will make that list available to you. Also, there are a number of reasonably-priced hotels and airbnb options accessible to CDS.
Dining: A home-cooked lunch will be provided each day, but you'll want to have money for dinner, breakfast and any snacks you want. Refrigerator space and coolers are available during the day for snacks. And you'll have access to a full kitchen if you'd like to prepare evening meals for yourself or with others. Maybe budget $15-40 a day for food.
Other Expenses: There will be several opportunities to socialize with other participants during the evenings. We might try to take in a baseball game one night, or you may choose to spend time with other participants at a local pub or coffeeshop. Those activities are at your discretion, but you might want to bring an extra $100-200.
Transportation from Airport: RDU airport is a 20-30 minute drive from CDS. You are responsible for your transportation to CDS. It's a $30-40 cab ride between CDS and the airport. You can find other participants to share a cab. There are SuperShuttle vans available at the airport and pickups for return filghts. And there's a bus route from the airport to a bus station near CDS - triangletransit.org (The bus route doesn't run on Sunday, unfortunately). There is also a taxi stand at the airport.
Transportation around Durham: There are several ways to get around Durham while you're at CDS -- carpooling, cabs, walking and buses. We've never seen transportation be a problem at CDS events. Folks with cars seem to help each other get where they need to be. Walking is an option for several dining and even housing options. There are several bus routes to/from CDS and the rest of the city. And worst case scenario, Durham has a good, reasonably priced, cab company called Durham's Best.
Dining: A home-cooked lunch will be provided each day, but you'll want to have money for dinner, breakfast and any snacks you want. Refrigerator space and coolers are available during the day for snacks. And you'll have access to a full kitchen if you'd like to prepare evening meals for yourself or with others. Maybe budget $15-40 a day for food.
Other Expenses: There will be several opportunities to socialize with other participants during the evenings. We might try to take in a baseball game one night, or you may choose to spend time with other participants at a local pub or coffeeshop. Those activities are at your discretion, but you might want to bring an extra $100-200.
Transportation from Airport: RDU airport is a 20-30 minute drive from CDS. You are responsible for your transportation to CDS. It's a $30-40 cab ride between CDS and the airport. You can find other participants to share a cab. There are SuperShuttle vans available at the airport and pickups for return filghts. And there's a bus route from the airport to a bus station near CDS - triangletransit.org (The bus route doesn't run on Sunday, unfortunately). There is also a taxi stand at the airport.
Transportation around Durham: There are several ways to get around Durham while you're at CDS -- carpooling, cabs, walking and buses. We've never seen transportation be a problem at CDS events. Folks with cars seem to help each other get where they need to be. Walking is an option for several dining and even housing options. There are several bus routes to/from CDS and the rest of the city. And worst case scenario, Durham has a good, reasonably priced, cab company called Durham's Best.
THE RINGLEADERS: Supporting your work
CREATIVE CABAL: Making engaging events even more so
(IN)FAMOUS GUESTS: Folks who might drop in for dinner
THE MUSCLE: Behind the scenes and by your side, making sure you have what you need
