Izzy’s doc story bootcamp

class starts FaLL 2025

BOOST IMPACT, STAND OUT, AND INJECT PASSION INTO YOUR WORK

Izzy’s Doc Story Bootcamp is a proven program that combines practical storytelling expertise with hands-on filmmaking training—custom-tailored for strategists, researchers, and business professionals eager to distinguish themselves in a world where video storytelling is king.

A STEP-BY-STEP BLUEPRINT FOR YOUR FIRST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

The program is designed with flexibility in mind so that students can fit it around busy schedules. The modular lessons are broken into bite-sized videos for students to view and learn at their own pace, on their own time.

Video Storytelling Matters More Than Ever

  • 🚀 Boost Impact

    95% of a message is retained when viewers watch it in a video, compared to 10% when reading it in text. (Insivia)

  • 🔥 Make People Care

    Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone (Forbes). Learn to craft stories that inspire action and leave a lasting impression.

  • 📈 Drive Growth

    83% of human learning is visual. Break through the noise with compelling video narratives (B2B Marketing).

MEET YOUR CO-TEACHER: JAMES LONGLEY

macarthur “genius” fellow. sundance multi-award winner. oscar nominee.

James Longley is an internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker known for his visually stunning and deeply immersive storytelling. His films—including Iraq in Fragments, Angels Are Made of Light, and Gaza Strip—have won top honors at Sundance, earned an Academy Award nomination, and are preserved in the collections of MoMA and the Library of Congress. A master of observational filmmaking, James brings decades of experience capturing human stories in conflict zones worldwide.

This year, he joins Izzy’s Doc Story Bootcamp as a co-teacher, offering invaluable insights into visual storytelling, documentary craft, and the power of cinema to create impact.

New This Year: AI as Your Creative Accelerator

Harness the power of AI to supercharge your documentary storytelling.

This year, we're integrating AI tools to help you work smarter and push creative boundaries. You'll get hands-on experience using AI for idea generation, story development, and enhancing your visuals and sound design—helping you craft compelling narratives with greater ease.

Plus, you'll have access to an AI teaching assistant—a custom-built guide trained on our curriculum—to provide insights, answer questions, and support you throughout the course.

Documentary filmmaking is evolving. Learn how to stay ahead and use AI to fuel your storytelling.

Meet Your Instructor: Izzy Chan

STORYTELLER. Researcher. Strategist.

I’m a USC Film School-trained documentary filmmaker and award-winning brand strategist with experience at Apple, Amazon, and Visa. My films have been screened at Vancouver International Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival, and my work in advertising has won a Gold Addy.

I’ve taught documentary storytelling to professionals, brands, and filmmakers worldwide—leading workshops for Nike, Oakley, Lexus, and as a U.S. State Department Cultural Envoy. Now, I’m bringing that experience to you.

This bootcamp isn’t just about learning—it’s about applying. You’ll leave with real-world storytelling skills and a film of your own.

You are in the right place if you want to

SET YOURSELF APART, FUEL YOUR CAREER, & gain a lifelong creative skilL.

Crafting documentary stories lets you explore your passions, answer burning questions, and better understand the world and yourself.

this is for you Whether you’re:

  • Strategists & Researchers – Use documentary techniques to capture cultural insights and create compelling narratives

  • Photographers & Visual Creatives – Expand your skills into video storytelling and make your work more immersive

  • Ethnographers & Visual Anthropologists – Deepen your observational practice and document human experiences in ways that words alone cannot capture

  • Business & Nonprofit Leaders – Craft impactful brand narratives that engage audiences and drive action

  • Personal Storytellers – Capture family history, personal reflections, and emotional journeys through film

  • Filmmakers & Technical Specialists – You’ve mastered your craft—camera, lighting, sound, motion graphics—but now you want to master storytelling. How do you structure a narrative that captivates? Build characters that resonate? Turn an idea into something unforgettable? This bootcamp helps you go beyond the technical and into the art of storytelling.

🎬 If you have a story to tell, this bootcamp will show you how to tell it powerfully.

BY THE END OF THIS BOOTCAMP, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

  • 1

    Identify compelling stories that meet your goals & connect with audiences.

  • 2

    Create characters people care about and root for.

  • 3

    Conduct interviews with confidence to capture authentic, impactful moments.

  • 4

    Edit a dynamic, well-paced short film that keeps viewers engaged.

  • 5

    Structure stories that keep audiences glued and inspire action.

Testimonials

Izzy is a masterful teacher with a wealth of knowledge to share. Plus, she does it with such kindness and encouragement!

It was very valuable to learn in detail how to go about creating a documentary and to actually make a short at the end.

The approach, support, and energy shared during the classes by Izzy were fantastic.

The course was very comprehensive. I learned how to tell a story and then how to prepare it and then turn it into a great video.

I'm looking forward to expanding on what I've learned -- you gave me the start I needed!

what’s included

📚 INSIDE THE Bootcamp

WHAT YOU’LL GET

  • 8-Week Guided Course – Step-by-step training to take you from idea to finished short documentary

  • Bite-Sized Video Lessons – Designed for busy schedules, so you can learn at your own pace

  • Live Group Coaching with Izzy & James – Get personalized feedback and real-time guidance

  • Private Community – Connect with classmates and get support in a distraction-free space

  • Accountability Groups – Stay motivated and on track with peer check-ins

  • Industry Guest Teachers – Learn from award-winning filmmakers every week

🚀 1:1 coaching add-on

Upgrade FOR PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK FROM Izzy & JAMES

Whether you need feedback on your documentary idea, help refining your structure, or expert advice on editing, this add-on gives you exclusive access to private coaching.

  • Private 1:1 Sessions – Schedule direct meetings with Izzy & James for personalized feedback on your project

  • Detailed Work Reviews – Receive in-depth feedback on your story, structure, and visuals in the private bootcamp community

  • Tailored Guidance – Get unstuck, refine your approach, and take your documentary to the next level

Invest in Your Storytelling Future

Your documentary journey starts here—at a fraction of the cost of film school

Meet Your Guest Teachers:

Mentors from the Frontlines of Storytelling

Each week, a special guest from the documentary and storytelling world joins us live on Zoom—sharing their hard-earned wisdom, answering your burning questions, and offering real-world advice to shape your project. These are the people who’ve been in the trenches, crafting stories that challenge, move, and inspire. Their insights will deepen your understanding of the craft and expand your vision for what’s possible.

WHAT’S INSIDE IZZY’S DOC STORY BOOTCAMP?

  • Module One

    Module One

    NAIL YOUR FILM TOPIC AND NARRATIVE GENRE

    • Ground yourself by defining your goals and your audience in a mini brief

    • Zero in on a topic that will meet your goals and grab your audience’s attention

    • Learn how to use documentary narrative genres as storytelling templates for your projects

  • Module Two

    Module Two

    SHAPE YOUR STORY AND FIND YOUR LEAD

    • Leverage the simplicity of the 3-Act Structure in crafting a powerful story

    • Use the Hero’s Journey to develop strong characters

    • Find a compelling lead character for your project

  • Module Three

    Module Three

    PREPARING FOR YOUR SHOOT

    • From the shooting schedule to gear prep, everything you need to get ready for a productive shoot

    • Create an observation & coverage checklist that will make sure you capture everything you need

    • Master the art of documentary interviewing

  • Module Four

    Module Four

    SHOOT LIKE A PRO

    • From composition, angles to lens-choice, learn camera basics to help you start shooting like a pro

    • Set up for your interview using only natural light and simple tools

    • Learn good audio habits to ensure you have good sound

  • Module Five

    Module Five

    START STRONG ON YOUR EDIT

    • Identify “hot” lines and moments from your footage

    • Create a paper “script” for your first assembly based on the 3-Act Structure

    • Identify juicy B-roll for a rough cut

  • Module Six

    Module Six

    THE HEART OF YOUR FILM

    • Uncover the core essence of your film as you edit it down to 3 minutes

    • Use music and sound design to enhance your story

    • Identify pick-up shots necessary to fill in any critical gaps in the story

  • Module Seven

    Module Seven

    FINISH THE EDIT IN STYLE

    • Learn simple tricks of the trade to smooth out your edit

    • Use title cards and transitions strategically

    • Promote your film and draw viewers to support you in the Virtual Film Showcase

  • Module Eight

    Module Eight

    VIRTUAL FILM SHOWCASE AND CELEBRATION

    • Weeklong student film showcase featuring all completed films!

    • A virtual celebration to view the top 10 films and celebrate the Audience’s Pick and Grand Jury winners

CERTIFICATION & STUDENT SHOWCASE

🏆 Earn a Share-Worthy Certification
Complete the bootcamp, submit your documentary short, and receive an official Certificate of Completion & Digital Badge.

🎬 Showcase Your Work – Your film will be featured in our Student Film Showcase, where audiences and industry professionals will vote on their favorites.

🔹 Winners will receive exclusive awards, recognition, and bragging rights!

Plus, You’ll Be Backed by a Risk-Free 7-Day Refund Guarantee

If you’re on the fence, I don’t want that to stop you from experiencing how exciting and empowering it is to learn with me in the Doc Story Bootcamp.

I WANT YOU TO SUCCEED!

That’s why I’m giving you 7 days to test, try, and play with the course.

If it’s not the right fit, let us know, and we’ll refund your tuition.

No hassle. No risk. Just real, hands-on learning.

For more details, click here.

That’s how confident I am about the lifelong opportunities and inspiration you’ll get from documentary storytelling–for your work, career, and personal growth and creativity!

🎯 Try It for 7 Days—100% Risk-Free

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few questions previous students asked before signing up!

  • Yes! This program will walk you through each step of the process and provide you with the videos, downloads, resources, and group support you need from start to finish.

  • No! I teach you to use what you have in addition to free resources to make your documentary short. You don’t need any special equipment or software.

  • Nope. You just need to commit to doing the work each week for the successful completion of your documentary short.

  • No! I teach you what you need to know from storytelling to scriptwriting – start to finish.

  • You’ll be given access to one module per week so that you have time to learn, implement, and complete the necessary tasks to work towards your final documentary film. The Bootcamp is a mix of pre-recorded videos, resources, downloads, group support, and live office hours.

  • Yes! Izzy will host group live sessions every two weeks to answer any questions and provide project support. The Director’s Level gets live coaching each week, 1:1 support, and individualized answers in an online learning platform as well.