Applications for Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) Podcast Lab are now open. The programme will enable participants to increase their knowledge in the podcast industry including platforms such as Apple, Spotify, Google Podcast, and Deezer, among others. “Sign up for the new cycle of our Podcast Lab which will provide you with the knowledge, resources, and mentor support for developing your audio project both creatively and strategically,” said the institute in a tweet.
The six-day online workshop will run from August 29 to September 3. August 8 is the last day to apply. The session will last four hours, from 4pm to 8pm, and the lab fee is QR1,100. Mode of language is English.
DFI said the programme will also teach participants through story development and sound editing workshops and will include discussions on industry landscape, pitching, marketing, and releasing a project in today’s audio landscape. “In this course, participants will learn the basics of audio storytelling, the art of creating and producing distinctive audio podcasts. They will gain hands-on experience recording and editing with direction from industry experts.
"Participants will leave with an enriched understanding of the global podcasting landscape and its key players. They will receive invaluable tips on tools, funding models, audience development, distribution, and gain insights on how they will measure their success,” it added.
To be eligible to participate, individuals must be from Qatar or the MENA region. A total of six to eight participants will be selected for the workshop. No previous podcasting or audio editing experience is required, but participants should arrive with strong ideas about the type of podcast they would like to make.
The Lab is open to serialised and story-driven audio projects. Fiction, non-fiction, and hybrid style projects are eligible, and projects can be either short-form or long-form series.
DFE said participants in later stages of development must have a pilot script, show trailer, or sample audio. Participants in early stages of development should have a comparable proof of concept detailing their ideas.
Participants must have a project presentation with essential information about their intended show, including potential hosts, guests, and topics. Serial narrative projects should detail their full narrative arc and all relevant backstory. Long-format, short-format, limited series, in fiction and non-fiction are eligible.
Day one of the course will discuss Foundations; Day two, North Star; Day three, Storytelling; Day four, Production; Day five, Making it work; Day six, Talking about your project.
Lab mentors are Alexandra Blair, a Lab Programme Producer and a Project Manager at PRX; Rhea Chedid, Spotify Senior Podcast Manager; Ramsey Tesdell, Sowt Podcast, Business of Podcasting; Al Shaibani, Podcast producer working across branded and original stories in English and Arabic at Kerning Cultures Network; and Simon Alder, Senior Producer for Radio Lab.
Guest speakers are Claudius Boller, Managing Director Middle East, Africa and South Asia (excl. India) at Spotify; Kevin O’Connell, professional musician, audio engineer/producer, educator, and arts advocate; Michael Russo, who works at a public radio marketing and podcast production; Ryan Dilley, Producer at Pushkin Industries; and Hebah Fisher, serial entrepreneur and journalist.
Source: The Peninsula, Qatar
