California Documentary Project
Production Grants for Film, Radio and New Media
| Deadline: November 1, 2010 | |
| Noon: | Deadline for electronic submission of online application and uploaded proposal narrative and budget |
| 5 pm: | Deadline for work samples to be received at CCH’s San Francisco office No late applications will be accepted |
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The California Documentary Project (CDP) is a competitive grant program of the California Council for the Humanities (CCH). CDP Production grants support film, radio and new media projects that document the California experience and explore issues of significance to Californians. Projects must approach subject matter from a humanities perspective; enhance our understanding of California and its cultures, peoples and histories; and be suitable for California and national audiences.
The Role of the Humanities
CDP supports film, radio and new media projects in which the humanities are used to provide context, depth and perspective. The humanities spring from a fundamental interest in understanding the values and practices that inform our lives; the need to reflect on the past and the present to make critical choices; and the desire to be moved, delighted and make sense of the world in which we live. Humanities disciplines include, but are not limited to, history, literature, philosophy, folklore, ethnic studies, religious studies, ethics, jurisprudence, and qualitative approaches in the social sciences. They emphasize analysis, interpretation, and the exchange of ideas. The CDP Production grant program is designed to increase access, understanding and awareness of the public humanities through the support of humanities-based documentary media productions.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants/project directors must:
- Have tax-exempt organizational status or a tax-exempt organization as fiscal sponsor
- Be in good standing with CCH (e.g., without unfulfilled reporting requirements), if a previous grantee
- Not have an open grant with CCH, unless a CCH-approved sponsoring organization (see FAQ for more information)
Funding Level
Film and radio projects may request up to $50,000. New media projects may request up to $20,000. The grant request must be matched by at least a 1:1 amount of cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources.
Project Requirements
Film, radio and new media projects must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be currently in production and have a work-in-progress sample (CD, DVD or web-based) available for submission
- Document the California experience and explore issues of significance to Californians
- Approach the subject matter from a humanities perspective—for example, making use of existing or new scholarship and research on the topic, incorporating a variety of perspectives, seeking to foster critical reflection and thoughtful analysis on the part of the audience
- Actively involve at least two humanities advisors in significant phases of the project
- Be conducted by experienced film, radio or new media producers and directors. A previously completed work sample must be submitted.
- Film and radio only: Be suitable for national broadcast and/or distribution, meeting national broadcast requirements in terms of length, format and technical quality
- New media only: Produce a publicly accessible interactive project. See FAQ for more information.
Review Criteria
Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Quality
- Clarity and strength of concept, style and approach
- California and national relevance
- Depth of humanities content and approach
- Experience of project staff and advisors
- Significance of project goals and impact
Capacity
- Feasibility of budget, timeline, fundraising strategy, outreach and evaluation
Eligible Costs
Include, but are not limited to:
- Salaries and professional fees for production staff and technical consultants
- Honoraria and stipends for humanities advisors
- Production and post-production expenses
- Travel, lodging and per-diem expenses for staff, consultants, humanities advisors, and researchers
- Supplies and materials for production activities
- Equipment (rental, unless purchase cost is less)
- Administrative expenses directly related to the project, including phone, postage, photocopying and printing
- Publicity expenses, such as printing or mailing of announcements or flyers
- Public program expenses (e.g., rental of a venue for screenings)
- Fiscal sponsor or indirect administrative fees (up to 10% of your total CCH grant request)
- Project administrative salaries and fringe benefits (up to 25% of your total CCH grant request)
We Do Not Fund
- Institutional histories produced and/or partially funded by the institution itself
- Advocacy
- Projects that are primarily promotional in nature
- Projects at the research and development stage. (If you wish to apply for research and development support, please see the CDP Research & Development Grant.)
- Projects already in post-production (i.e., have already completed production)
| Timeline | |
| July 2010: | Guidelines posted at www.calhum.org |
| September 2010: | Informational grant workshops and webinars. Details will be posted on the CCH website once they become available. |
| October 1, 2010: | Online application available at www.calhum.org |
| November 1, 2010: | Noon: Online application deadline 5 pm: Deadline for supporting materials to be received at CCH SF office |
| February 2011: | Grant awards announced |
| March 1, 2011: | Grant period begins |
For additional information, please see the Production FAQ.
GUIDELINES
Please include the following information in your proposal in this order using the numbered headings at the start of each section. All responses should be single spaced and in 12 pt. font.
Proposal Narrative
- Project Description (maximum length: three pages)
- What is the story your project will tell? What topics, issues and themes will your project address? How will these topics enhance our understanding of California and its cultures, peoples and histories? How will this story be relevant and of interest to both California and national audiences?
- What is the style of the documentary and how will you develop it? Please include a short treatment detailing the style, structure and content of your project.
- New media only: What interactive elements will be used to engage online audiences?
- What is the current status of the project? When is the anticipated completion date?
- Humanities Content and/or Approach (maximum length: one page)
- How will the humanities inform your project? For example, how will you use the humanities to frame the questions you want to raise or develop the broader social, cultural or historical context for your subject? What sources will you consult to provide insight and context? What strategies will be used to research and frame the topic?
- Explain the role the two (or more) humanities advisors will play and how they will be involved in the design and implementation of the project, (e.g., content advisor, research consultant, interview subject, rough cut reviewer, etc.)
- Humanities Advisors
- Provide brief, one-paragraph bios for each advisor describing area of expertise; relevant scholarship, research or writing; and position and institutional affiliation, if applicable.
- Provide brief, one-paragraph bios for each advisor describing area of expertise; relevant scholarship, research or writing; and position and institutional affiliation, if applicable.
- Project Personnel
- Project Director: Please provide a half-page bio and a list of production credits and major broadcast, screening, exhibition and award information.
- Key Project Personnel: Provide brief, one-paragraph bios and email addresses for confirmed personnel (technical staff, producer, writer, cinematographer, editor, web designer, etc.). Bios should include information about each person’s technical or substantive expertise. Briefly explain each person’s role in the project.
- Goals and Impact (maximum length: half a page)
- What specific goals do you have for this project?
- What impact do you hope this project will have?
- How will these be evaluated?
- Outreach and Audience Engagement (maximum length: half a page)
- Please describe the target audience(s) for your project, including any underserved audiences.
- How do you plan to reach and engage these audience(s)? Describe plans for outreach and audience engagement, including potential partnerships, educational materials and social media strategies. Film and radio: Please also specify plans for securing national broadcast and/or distribution. Describe plans for theatrical, festival and/or community screenings.
- Fundraising Strategy (maximum length: half a page)
- Describe the strategy for raising additional funds necessary to complete the project.
- Provide information on all sources and amounts of project income received to date. List the status of other sources of funding currently under consideration, whether to be applied for or pending.
- Sponsoring Organization (maximum length: one paragraph)
- Provide a brief description of the sponsoring organization. Please include the name of the organization’s executive officer.
- Explain the sponsoring organization’s role in the project.
- Timeline (suggested length: one page)
Provide a timeline detailing major project activities (e.g. meetings with humanities advisors, production schedules, anticipated post-production dates, etc.) from the beginning of the grant period, March 1, 2011, until completion. Please note that project activities for which you seek CCH funding cannot occur prior to funding notification and that the maximum term of this grant is three years (funded project activities must conclude by February 28, 2014).
Please provide the timeline in this format:
TIME PERIOD ACTIVITY March 2011 Project team meeting with humanities advisors, Los Angeles
Continue archival research, Huntington Library
Preliminary phone interviews with potential subjectsApril – May 2011 Consult humanities advisors about interview topics and approach
Shoot interviews with Los Angeles-based subjects
Transcribe and review interview material Shoot B-roll, Los AngelesJune 2011 Plan major location shoot, San Diego etc.
- Required Sample Work and Explanation of Selection (maximum length: half a page)
Explain the selection of prior work and briefly outline what role(s) the project director played in its creation. Provide any necessary background information or context for the work-in-progress.
Required sample materials:
Film and radio applicants
Sample work should be mailed directly to CCH’s San Francisco office to be considered for review and must arrive before 5 pm on November 1, 2010. All work samples should be produced and/or directed by the project director and be clearly labeled with name, contact information, project title, and sponsoring organization. Work samples are weighed heavily in the review, so be sure to submit your best work and to test your samples before mailing them. Sample materials will not be returned.- Two copies of previously completed work (DVD/CD)
- Two copies of the work-in-progress for which you seek funding, suggested length: 10 minutes (DVD/CD)
- Internet link(s) to a previously completed web-based project or two copies of media samples (DVD/CD)
- Internet link or two copies of the new media work-in-progress for which you seek funding (DVD/CD)
- Full Project Budget (Excel templates to be uploaded separately)
Film and radio projects may request up to $50,000. New media projects may request up to $20,000. The grant request must be matched by at least a 1:1 amount of cash or in-kind contributions from non-federal sources. All contributions must be reflected in your full project budget whether these funds are in place at the time of application or projected. Funds from NEH, state humanities councils or other federally-assisted programs may not be used as matching funds. See the FAQ for in-kind details.- The itemized project budget in Excel. Please download and use either the film/radio or the new media budget template provided on the CCH website. The budget should reflect ALL costs associated with the project including previously spent funds, CCH grant funds, matching funds and funds yet to be secured. Be sure to provide the names of other funders and include the amount of income received or anticipated. Give an estimate of individual support (names not necessary). Indirect administrative fees can account for up to 10% of your request. For other eligible costs covered by the grant, see the FAQ. Film and radio: Instructions for completing the budget are included in the Excel template: see tab on lower left of budget form.
- The itemized project budget in Excel. Please download and use either the film/radio or the new media budget template provided on the CCH website. The budget should reflect ALL costs associated with the project including previously spent funds, CCH grant funds, matching funds and funds yet to be secured. Be sure to provide the names of other funders and include the amount of income received or anticipated. Give an estimate of individual support (names not necessary). Indirect administrative fees can account for up to 10% of your request. For other eligible costs covered by the grant, see the FAQ. Film and radio: Instructions for completing the budget are included in the Excel template: see tab on lower left of budget form.
- Budget Narrative (to be included in proposal narrative)
New media: Clarify any budget items that need a narrative explanation. For example, if travel is budgeted at $300, provide a breakdown of costs and explain here why this is necessary for the project (travel: 2 RT flights x $150 for project staff travel to LA for meeting with humanities advisors). The narrative should also be used to identify other project funders and sources of income. Give an estimate of individual support (names not necessary).
Film and radio: A budget narrative is not required for film and radio submissions, however you may clarify any budget allocations in this section of the proposal if necessary.