California Documentary Project
Production Grant
Deadline: October 1, 2008
Production Guidelines
Please include the following information in your proposal in this order using our headings:
Proposal narrative
1. Program description. Please answer each of the following questions (suggested length, 3 pages total):
- What is the story your project will tell? What topics, issues and themes will your project address? Please remember that only proposals with an explicit California focus will be considered for funding.
- 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.
- How will the humanities inform your project? Explain what roles the two (or more) humanities experts will play and how they will be involved in the design and implementation of the project.
- What is the current status of the project?
- Tell us who will be managing the project. (Please note: A resume for the project director should be uploaded directly to our website as part of your application.)
- Please provide short bios for key project personnel (project director, humanities experts, technical staff -- producer, writer, editor, cinematographer, etc.). Bios should include full contact information (phone number, e-mail, and mail address) and background information about each person’s technical or substantive expertise. Be sure to briefly explain each person’s role in the project.
3. Outreach and distribution. Describe your outreach and distribution plans (suggested length, 2 pages).
- What audiences will be interested in your documentary? Please describe the target audience(s) for your project, including any underserved audiences.
- How do you plan to reach these audience(s)? Describe your plans for broadcast, theatrical screenings, educational and/or community group use. If you have plans to develop materials that will facilitate and stimulate discussion among audiences, please describe those. (CCH looks favorably on projects that develop outreach tools, such as educational materials or a website.)
- Be sure to identify the distributor and/or broadcaster. Note: A letter of interest or commitment from a national distributor or broadcaster (e.g., PBS or NPR) is required. This letter should be mailed directly to the San Francisco office of CCH and be received no later than 5 pm on October 1, 2008. Please make sure that the letter refers to the project title, the name of the sponsoring organization and the name of the project director.
4. Goals (suggested length, half a page).
- Tell us what you hope to accomplish through this project.
- Describe how you will evaluate your progress toward reaching these objectives.
5. Sponsoring organization (suggested length, a paragraph).
- Please provide a brief description of the sponsoring organization.
- Describe the sponsoring organization’s role in the project.
6. Plan of work (suggested length, 1-2 pages).
Provide a month-by-month outline of your project’s activities from the beginning of the grant period, January 1, 2009. Please provide details of major project activities, including meetings with humanities experts. Be sure to list the names of those involved or responsible for particular activities. Keep in mind 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 (project must conclude by December 31, 2011).
7. Required sample work and explanation of selection (suggested length, half a page).
The following sample materials are required:
- One copy of previously completed work on DVD or CD.
- One copy of the work-in-progress for which you seek funding, also on DVD or CD
Work samples should reflect the work of the project director and/or key project staff. BOTH samples should be produced, edited, directed or written by the project director. Please explain the choice of prior work and briefly outline what role(s) current project staff played in its creation. Also be sure to provide any necessary background information about the work in progress. Note: Work samples are weighed heavily in the review, so be sure to submit your best work and to test your DVD or CD before mailing it. Sorry, materials cannot be returned.
Sample work should be mailed directly to CCH’s San Francisco office to be considered for review and must arrive before 5 pm on October 1, 2008. All work samples should be labeled clearly with the project title, the name of the sponsoring organization, and the name and contact information of the project director. Please do not use label stickers on DVDs and CDs.
8. Fundraising strategy (suggested length, half a page).
- Describe the strategy for raising any additional funds necessary to complete the project.
- Provide information on additional sources of project expenses. List other sources of funding currently under consideration.
9. Full Project Budget.
Each project may request up to $80,000 in outright funds. The grant request must be matched by at least an equivalent amount of cash or in-kind contributions from local sources, and those contributions must be included in your full budget. (Funds from NEH, state humanities councils or other federally assisted programs may not be used for the matching funds. See our FAQ for in-kind details.)
- The itemized project budget in Excel. Please use the project budget template provided on our website (click on the budget button to your left to download). The budget should reflect ALL costs associated with the project, including CCH grant funds, matching funds and funds yet to be secured. Be sure to provide the names of other foundation and corporate supporters for the proposed project and include the amount of each award received. 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.