DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION

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Special Documentary Initiatives

 

triple j tv docs5

an initiative of ABC TV Arts, Entertainment & Comedy and Screen Australia

triple j tv docs5 is for emerging filmmakers who are 35 years or under as at the closing date: Monday 5 April 2010. triple j tv docs5 invites you to tell us your tales, from the country or the city, with respect or irreverence, authority and attitude.

triple j tv docs is a joint initiative of ABC TV and Screen Australia. It seeks new approaches to half-hour and one-hour documentaries that explore contemporary issues, ideas and culture through the eyes of generations X, Y and Z. The films are a collection of documentaries that push the boundaries of visual program-making; fresh works with new perspectives on the world around us. They can be historical, political, social or just plain personal works. Do think about the timeslot and please consider Artscape, 10pm Tuesday, where the ABC commissions half hour arts documentaries.

The documentaries will screen on ABC1 and ABC2, and will have cross-platform potential via the triple j tv website. The initiative is designed to support one-off, stand-alone documentaries for production and post-production. The triple j tv docs5 initiative will be promoted on triple j, ABC online and in all media, including trade publications.

History of triple j tv docs

Fifteen documentaries have been commissioned so far through the triple j tv docs initiative, enabling emerging filmmakers from every state across Australia to explore themes such as celebrity, war, love, sexuality, loss and survival, and to make some of the strongest narrative based documentaries in recent years. Many of these films have gone on to win awards and appear in festivals in Australia and overseas.

For more information on previous triple j tv docs, download the History of triple j tv docs (PDF).
See samples of previous triple j tv docs films at www.abc.net.au/triplej/tv/docs.

Funding

ABC TV and Screen Australia have committed a total of $400,000 to this initiative.  Funding from Screen Australia is made to successful applicants in the form of a non-repayable grant.  The ABC contribution is in exchange for a television presale licence.

Funding is provided for the production or post-production of one-off documentaries. Documentary series cannot be considered.

Applicants can apply for:

Production funds:

• up to $75,000 for a half-hour documentary
  
  
• up to $150,000 for a one-hour documentary

Post-production funds:

• up to $45,000 for a half-hour documentary
  
  
• up to $90,000 for a one-hour documentary

This funding can be augmented by funding from third parties like state film agencies, distributors, film festivals etc.  Where budgets exceed $250,000 per hour Producers may be eligible for the Producer Offset.  For further information please refer to the Producer Offset section of the website.

Deadline

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 5pm, Monday 5 April 2010. Projects cannot be accepted after that time.

Final decisions will be made by mid-June 2010.

Please note: Posted applications will only be accepted if they are postmarked on or before the closing date. Applications lodged electronically will not be accepted.  Incomplete or partial applications will not be accepted so please read the checklist and ensure you have supplied all materials.

Eligibility

• Teams of a director and producer are required. The team may also include a writer.

• The producer and director must each have at least one screen credit in his or her respective role. Films made at a film school qualify. Credits can be in documentary or drama production, and may include short films and television series.

• The director must be 35 years or under as at the closing date: Monday 5 April 2010.

• Producers who are 35 years or under are preferred, but DOB is not a critical factor.

• Projects will only be eligible if proof of access to key subjects is provided with the application. This can be a signed letter or an email originating from the subject.

• Applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.

• Applicants cannot be students at a film school or similar tertiary film, television or interactive digital media course (either full-time or part-time).

• Applicants must not be in breach of any obligation under any arrangement they have with Screen Australia or any of its predecessors (the Australian Film Commission, Film Finance Corporation Limited or Film Australia Limited) or the ABC.

• For all other general eligibility criteria for all Screen Australia programs, applicants should consult Screen Australia’s Terms of Trade 2010, available here.

Your proposal

Your triple j tv docs5 proposal should include a persuasive outline or treatment of the story you want to tell, including a clear and compelling account of the characters and issues you want to explore. Please include some footage of your characters or other key elements with your application.

Your outline or treatment should also tell us how you want to present your documentary:

• What kind of style and approach are you going for?
• Do you have access to the characters?
• What’s the tone and feel of your film?
• How do you want your audience to respond?
• If you are using music or archival footage have you factored in clearance costs for the rights?
• Does your team have the right balance of skills – if your project is selected for funding the triple j tv docs5 managers can, for instance, help you attach a very experienced editor to your project if that is what it needs.

Please include any other information that you think is relevant and helpful.

We also value bold and imaginative cross-platform ideas and strategies for your project, so we would encourage you to provide these with your application.

 

Stages

triple j tv docs5 is a two-stage process made by Screen Australia and ABC.

STAGE 1: ABC TV DEADLINE – Monday 5 April 2010
All proposals must be sent in hard copy (including hard copy of the completed triple j tv docs5 Application Form and all required supporting materials) to the ABC at the address listed at the end of the guidelines. The ABC will select a shortlist of projects and will notify the teams who are not successful by email or letter.
For all enquiries please call:  ABC TV 02 8333 4355

STAGE 2: SCREEN AUSTRALIA – May 2010
Screen Australia will contact the teams who are on the shortlist, inviting them to send a SECOND copy of the complete proposal, including AV materials, to Screen Australia. Screen Australia together with ABC TV will finalise the shortlist. Selected projects will be required to provide a confirmed finance plan, a revised budget and an up to date production schedule.

The teams on the final shortlist will be interviewed by the ABC and Screen Australia in early June 2010.

 

Guidelines and application forms

Applicants must read the triple j tv docs5 Guidelines before submitting a complete application form with all required supporting materials. Please note that applications need to be sent to the ABC.