independent producers
NCME’s Charles Meyer on Diverse Voices
Charles Meyer, Executive Director of the National Center for Media Engagement (NCME), believes independent producers have a “special opportunity to broaden the conversation and widen the array of diverse perspectives that we bring to public media.”
Meyer’s interview is one in a series of profiles BTB is conducing with public media figures to evaluate the evolving landscape.
What Does Public Media’s Future Look Like?
Co-managing Director of Public Media Company (PMC) Ken Ikeda talks about the “race to reengage future audiences,” and its effect on public media.
As part of BTB’s ongoing mission to curate news and opinions on public media, we have called upon key players to share their take on the evolving environment. Over the next several weeks, BTB will be rolling out their thoughts and ideas, adding to the conversation on public media’s role now and in the years to come.
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ITVS at 20: Grateful and Hopeful for Independent Filmmakers
In celebration of ITVS’s 20th anniversary, President & CEO Sally Jo Fifer introduces the ITVS Indies Showcase. The online festival, which runs from July 25 through September 23, will stream 20 groundbreaking documentaries by award-winning independent filmmakers.
Independent filmmakers, compelled to reckon with meaning and truth, often surface opposition to the general order of things, hoping to make our democracy better.
At ITVS, we are proud and grateful to work with some of society’s most vital storytellers, and very proud to celebrate their legacy with an online showcase of films spanning our 20-year history.
Each of these works — culled from the more than 1,000 that ITVS has supported over the last two decades — represents a personal vision in service of the public good.
The artistry and innovation of independent filmmakers drive ITVS — thanks to them, our audiences, and our partners in public broadcasting, we have become the most productive funder and presenter of independently produced public interest documentaries in the country.
Mandated by Congress and incorporated in 1991, ITVS took up its mission after a decade-long effort by independents and their supporters to ensure that Americans would experience diverse stories otherwise unseen and unheard on commercial and public television broadcasting.
Independent documentary producers emerged en force in the 1960s from a resolute determination to set the record straight on the new, all-powerful medium of television — a medium suddenly made approachable by a new technology: the Sony Portapak camera.
Without the ballast of studio cameras or sponsoring advertisers, independents swarmed the streets to find their stories — not unlike the 19th century Realism painters who dispensed with royal portraits to capture farmers in the fields. Public television provided the distribution strategy that encouraged foundations to invest in these storytellers as agents to invigorate and inform our democracy.
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ITVS Indies Showcase Celebrates 20 Years of Independents
In celebration of ITVS’s 20th Anniversary, the organization will stream 20 groundbreaking documentaries from July 25 to September 23, as a part of the ITVS Indies Showcase.
The Independent Television Service is turning 20. To celebrate, we’re launching the ITVS Indies Showcase, a free online film festival featuring a succession of 20 unforgettable documentaries July 25 to September 23.
We’re fortunate to be able to honor the extraordinary contributions of independent filmmakers to public television. Each full-length program will stream free for three days as part of ITVS Indies Showcase, where viewers will also find a timeline of ITVS’s history, film trailers, clips, interviews, an audience award contest, and more.
The ITVS Indies Showcase line-up represents a sample of the 1,000-plus productions ITVS has supported as the country’s leading provider of independent films for public broadcasting.
Tune in next week as films will start streaming on Monday, July 25!
20 Years of ITVS and Independent Filmmakers Celebrated in SF
ITVS celebrated 20 years of support for independent filmmakers and documentaries last Friday in downtown San Francisco. Nearly 300 staff and filmmakers were on hand to celebrate public media’s independent voice. Enjoy photos from the event below and thanks to all for a wonderful evening!
Nearly 300 filmmakers, staff, board members, and friends rallied at 111 Minna on Friday, July 15 to celebrate ITVS's 20th Anniversary. — Photo by Tommy Lau
Open Call Funding Application Goes Digital
As ITVS moves into its 20th year, the organization’s largest funding initiative, Open Call, is making the switch to digital. Starting this summer, all materials must be submitted online, including video.
What are the benefits of doing this?
• Faster and more streamlined communication with ITVS staff.
• Ability to track the progress of your project online,
• Promotes sustainable practices by saving reams of paper, and greatly reducing the carbon-footprint of ITVS and the indie documentary community.
• Significant cost savings with the elimination of postage and overnight mailing fees, as well as printing, dubbing, and other expenses.
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Deadline News Indies Can Use
One of BTB’s chief responsibilities is to keep an eye out for news the independent producer can use. Below is a highlight of upcoming funding opportunities, festival deadlines, and other things you may find helpful. These will be for both U.S. and international producers. Enjoy and good luck!
NALIP Latino Producers Academy
Deadline: June 8, 2011
The LPA is an intensive 10 day (Aug. 10-19) professional development workshop for Latino/a film and public television documentary producers. It is designed to support both emerging and mid-career professionals with projects in development and pre-production.
HBO NALIP Documentary Contest
Deadline June 10, 2011
HBO has teamed with NALIP to find the next great Latino documentary film.They will award $10,000 to the winner of their 2011 Documentary grant.
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Note to Independent Producers: Be More Social!
By Jonathan Archer
As part of ITVS Programming’s ongoing mission to serve the filmmaking community, Jonathan Archer has been seeking out filmmakers to provide their perspectives and experiences from the trenches. First up, The Weather Underground producer, Marc Smolowitz. He recently presented on a panel entitled The Power of Storytelling and was kind enough to share some of his thoughts and strategies with BTB.
Scene from The Power of Two by Marc Smolowitz
Last month, I presented at the Netsquared Meetup in San Francisco on “The Power Of Storytelling.” I decided to connect my remarks to two current labors of love — The Power Of Two — my feature documentary inspired by the life stories of twin double lung recipients; and The HIV Story Project — a new nonprofit that I co-founded in 2009.
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From “Television’s Independent Voice” to “Public Media’s”
By Sally Jo Fifer
ITVS President & CEO Sally Jo Fifer explains why the times call for a new tagline.
Since 1991, the work and mission of ITVS has been reflected in our simple tagline: “Television’s Independent Voice.” Twenty years later, after careful consideration, we have made a small but important change, becoming “Public Media’s Independent Voice.”
The most obvious reason for this change is that what we once called television now intermingles and crossbreeds with video media on countless devices: desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones, gaming consoles. The most important reason, however, has less to do with the devices than with a moment of truth for public media in the brave new 21st century world.
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Deadline News Indies Can Use
One of BTB’s chief responsibilities is to keep an eye out for news the independent producer can use. With that in mind, we asked our Programming Department to highlight upcoming deadlines for us — featuring funding opportunities, festival deadlines, and other things you may find helpful. These will be for both U.S. and international producers … Enjoy and good luck!
FUNDING
Jan Vrijman Fund
DEADLINE: May 15, 2011
The Jan Vrijman Fund is looking for creative documentaries and documentary events in developing countries (PDF). Funding categories include Script and Project Development, Production and Post-Production, and Other activities (including Distribution Initiatives; Documentary Film Festivals; Documentary Workshops). The Jan Vrijman Fund gives financial support twice a year. Application deadlines are January 15 and May 15. Click here for more details.
CAAM Media Fund
DEADLINE: May 19, 2011
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) seeks provocative and engaging proposals from independent media producers with projects intended for public television broadcast. Offered once a year, this round of funding is for applicants with documentary projects at the production and/or post-production stage. Click here for more details.
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