Center for Asian American Media

• Media Fund
• Funding
• How to Apply

How to Apply

Open Call for Production Funds Deadline: 4/3/08 by 5pm Pacific Open Door Completion Fund Deadlines: 2/7/08 and 8/7/08 by 5pm Pacific
Be sure to read the Eligibility Guidelines and Review Criteria before applying! Refer to out FAQ if you have questions about the funding and application process.

READ ALL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY. Applications that do not follow the instructions below will be disqualified.

NOTE: As of 2008 we are no longer accepting sample works on VHS format. All sample works must be submitted on DVD.

Part I: Application Form

After reading the application instructions, submit the first part of your application using our electronic form (available below). The form will generate a PDF document with your submitted info. Print and sign this form to use as a cover sheet for your paper application packet (9 copies total).

Please refer to our FAQ if you have additional questions or have trouble with the electronic submission form. As we do not offer extensions on the deadline, allow yourself ample time to complete the form in case you encounter any problems.

Part II: Project Description

DO NOT exceed 6 pages. Project description should include the following:

• Synopsis of the program
• Treatment that describes how the story will be translated to screen (stylistic approach, visual elements, narrative and thematic structure).
• Explanation of its appropriateness for public television and its impact on a national audience.
• Detailed production timeline
• Fundraising strategy
• Script (if applicable). Applicants submitting dramatic projects must also submit 9 copies of the final script. DO NOT send bound copies of scripts.

Part III: Key Personnel Summary

Names and short biographies (1 paragraph each, no resumes) of proposed key personnel including:

• Executive producer
• Director
• Producer
• Editor
• Director of photography
• Advisors/consultants

Additionally, attach signed letters of commitment for ALL key personnel and consultants. See our FAQ if you have questions.

Part IV: Project Budget

Detailed project budgets are required for all proposals. The budget breakdown columns should include quantity, duration, unit, rate, cost and totals. Additional columns identify specific line item use of CAAM funding and expenses incurred to date. Grand total should be for total cash expenses. The budget should have both EXPENSES and INCOME sections.

UNDER EXPENSES:

• Producing staff salaries
• Talent
• Production and post-production personnel
• Rights (visual, music and literary)
• Production expenses (including production insurance, publicity stills)
• Post-production expenses
• Broadcast expenses (including errors & omissions insurance, closed captioning, etc.)
• Equipment and services
• Administrative expenses

UNDER INCOME:

Sources and amounts of all cash funding indicating the year secured, all revenues pending and any in-kind support with indication of year secured.

If you are applying for post-production funding, you may summarize your full production budget and detail your post-production budget.

You may view the following PDF forms as a general guideline. Please note that they are meant to be used as a suggestive guideline for formatting purposes only. Your line items and numbers will vary according to your project. Do not use these forms to fill in handwritten info.

• For those seeking post-production funding only and should be accompanied with a detailed post-production budget: budget summary (PDF)
• For those seeking production funding: production budget (PDF)

Part V: Sample Work

Your sample work must be on DVD and in NTSC format (PAL not accepted). Label your sample work DIRECTLY ON THE DISC with the following information:

1. application ID number (from cover sheet)
2. project title (and sample title if different)
3. applicant name
4. total running time of sample

For work-in-progress samples, there are often play issues on our DVD players. Please send one back-up copy of your WIP sample work labeled “BACK-UP COPY.”

So as to reduce unnecessary waste, please enclose your sample work in a paper DVD envelope/sleeve such as this one rather than plastic cases or packaging. Once your sample work is received, we move the disc to our own storage system and accompanying packaging will be disposed of. Thus it’s extremely important that label identification is place directly on the disc and not on the DVD case.

NOTE: Your sample work will not be returned.

For Open Call Production samples

It is strongly recommended that you submit a work-in-progress segment, although a previous work is also accepted.

Applicant should submit a 10-minute segment which you feel strongly displays your strength as a filmmaker. If the sample is longer than 10 minutes, the desired segment must be indicated by chapter marker on the DVD. The panel will watch up to 10 minutes of work for each applicant, i.e. if you submit two works, the panel will watch up to 5 minutes of each work.

For Open Door Completion samples

Applicants MUST submit a full-length rough cut for consideration.

Additional Notes:

• You will receive a confirmation email approximately two weeks after the deadline when all applications have been processed. Please do not call or email to inquire if your application has been received before this date. Send materials with a tracking number so that you can confirm receipt of delivery date for your records.
• Applications received after the deadline will NOT be considered.
• Proposals submitted without copies will NOT be considered.
• Faxed applications will NOT be considered.
• Please do NOT attach cover letters to any application materials. The application form should serve as your cover sheet.
• Submit only the materials requested and do NOT include folders, promotional materials, etc. These will only be disposed of and will not be considered with your application.
• Do NOT send application materials separately. We are not responsible for application materials that are lost or misplaced if sent in separate packages.

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

• Application packets must be COLLATED and SEPARATED using paper clips, binder clips or staples for 9 total packets each preceded with a cover sheet. Do not place copies in separate envelopes.
• Send 9 copies of all written materials including sample tape in ONE PACKAGE. We highly recommend sending by UPS or FedEx with a tracking number so that you can confirm delivery receipt. Due to the high number of applications, please do not call asking if your application has been received. You will receive a confirmation email approximately 2 weeks after the deadline date.
• Do not send application materials separately or they may be misplaced or misfiled!

Mail all application materials including sample tape in one package to:

Center for Asian American Media
Attn: Media Fund RFP
145 Ninth Street, Suite 350
San Francisco, CA 94103

Application questions can be addressed to:

Phone: (415) 863-0814 x106
Email: mediafund@asianamericanmedia.org

Access the online form by clicking the button below.