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VC Advisory Circles

Creating community while advancing creative practice and career goals.

About the Program

Advisory Circles aims to help nonfiction visual storytellers break out of working in silos, and instead co-create intimate and collaborative relationships as they navigate similar career experiences.

Storytellers are invited to be part of Advisory Circles via three distinct focus tracks:

  • Development: For those in the early stages of shaping a new story, looking for guidance on strategic next steps.
  • Impact Distribution: For those looking to move beyond traditional distribution and reach specific audiences, communities, or stakeholders necessary to create change.
  • Digital News: For those interested in a new wave of journalistic reporting, looking to maximize video impact and community engagement.

Advisory Circles is open to VC Gold members anywhere in the world, no matter their experience level. Participants should have a project or goal they're actively working on, and a clear alignment to the track they're applying to. Selected participants will be invited to engage in a five-month-long program from April to August with monthly sessions alternating between peer-to-peer discussions and expert-led workshops.

Applications to join Advisory Circles will open March 5th – 19th. 

Questions?

FAQ

How are participants selected?

Our team will consider if someone's application and project is aligned with the track the person has applied for. The project can be of any length and format, so long as it's a nonfiction story. If selected, participants must be a VC Gold member by the start of the program.

Note: for those applying for the Digital News track, a "project" can be considered a series of short videos or a goal such as "developing a video team for my newsroom".

How do I know which track to apply for?

Consider the progress you've made with your project or goal, and what you're hoping to accomplish by the end of Advisory Circles.

Development: best for those who are curious about funding models, building their creative team, or shaping their overall story. Projects for this track should ideally be in the beginning stages and have minimal or no filming done at all.

Impact Distribution: ideal for those who want their project to generate real change in the world through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and more. Projects for this track should ideally not yet be released or have been released within the last year.

Digital News: best for those interested in unlocking the potential of video, social media and content creation to enhance journalistic reporting. Projects for this track can be a series of short-form videos or a specific goal related to digital news.

What happens after I apply?

After submitting your application, our team will review your answers to ensure the project you're working on and the goals you're working towards align with the track you've applied for. 

If your application is not aligned with the track you applied for, you'll be asked additional information or suggested to be part of a different track. If all is aligned, you'll receive an email welcoming you to Advisory Circles!

How big are Advisory Circles?

There isn't a cap on participants per track. However, each group will bring together 10 to 12 storytellers and depending on the volume of applications, a track may have more than one group. 

What's the time commitment?

Participants must commit to 5 monthly sessions lasting 60-90 minutes. Please consider the amount of time you have to dedicate to participating before applying. The value and effectiveness of Advisory Circles rely on members’ active and engaged participation.

What are the perks of participating in Advisory Circles?

At its core, Advisory Circles is about generating community, collaboration, and resource sharing. Each participant will leave Advisory Circles with confidence, knowledge + tools, and a network that will help them progress in their creative journey. 

Participants' projects will also be featured in a special spotlight within VC's Project Pages– the go-to hub for discovering the best nonfiction projects in progress.

🧚‍♂️ Questions? Email programs@videoconsortium.org.