Application deadline

All materials must submitted to ITVS by 5:00 PM PST on Friday, December 9, 2011 (the deadline has now passed).

This is a hard deadline and no late applications will be accepted.

All proposals must be accompanied by a work-in-progress video of the proposed program. Please follow the instructions carefully, as some requirements have changed. Review our glossary at right for helpful definitions of terms you should know before applying.

Required materials for International Call application

1. Application Form

2. Program treatment

3. Producer/Filmmaker Statement of Intent

4. List of production personnel

5A. Work-in-progress DVD

5B. Written description of work-in-progress and previously completed work

Part 1: Application cover form

You must create a user account, and complete the online application form. First, go to Sign Up, and create your account. Once you have an account, select Available Programs, choose International Call and follow the prompts. (Help text is featured throughout to help you through the process.) You will also be asked to upload your application materials, and clear instructions are provided in the form. If you encounter any technical difficulties in your online application, please contact Rachel_Aloy@itvs.org for assistance.

A note on applying to ITVS online

Please note that all required materials, except the actual application form, are to be uploaded, including video (with the exceptions noted below in the section on uploading work-in-progress materials). You will not be typing your Program Description into a form, or creating your resume online. There is a page on the application form with instructions on how to upload your files, and we accept all standard file types (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .mov, .mp4, etc.). It is an intuitive system and help text is featured throughout the process.

If you have any technical questions or concerns, please contact Rachel_Aloy@itvs.org for help.

Top

Budget information instructions

Please provide estimated budget information only in the budget section of your application cover page. Do not include in-kind costs or support.

Please note that all budgets must be converted to and completed in US$. You may use this online currency convertor to assist you.

  1. TOTAL BUDGET = the total cost of the completed production (e.g. $200,000)

  2. TOTAL FUNDING RECEIVED TO DATE, IF ANY = money spent by the producer or other contributors prior to ITVS application

    • Please list the amounts from any committed grants and funds, the sources and year received. (e.g., $5,000 received from the Jan Vrijman Fund in 2006; $8,000 received from the Sundance Documentary Fund in 2007)

  3. PENDING FUNDS = the total amount of funds that have been requested from other sources but not yet committed, do not include your ITVS request

    • Please list all pending grants, foundation requests, etc.; do not include your ITVS request (e.g., applied for $10,000 from ARTE; applied for $25,000 from YLE)
    • If you still have a gap after requesting ITVS funds, enter that amount under Pending Funds.

  4. REQUEST TO ITVS:

    • Please note we have a maximum request of up to $100,000.

Part 2: Program treatment (5 pages maximum)

In English, communicate your program idea with as much detail as possible within five pages. Be sure to address the following:

  • A brief synopsis of the program
  • A treatment illustrating how you will translate your story from page to screen; include theme, format, structure, style and point of view
  • An short explanation of why you think it is important for an American audience to see your film
  • The current status of the project and the timeline for completion

Top

Part 3: Producer/Filmmaker statement of intent (1 page maximum)

This is an opportunity for the filmmaker or producer to express their interest in the project and how their strengths are suited to best tell the proposed story. Also, this is an opportunity for the filmmaker or producer to express her/his own unique background and why they want to realize this project. It is a mission of ITVS to present diverse, underrepresented voices on television.

Top

Part 4: Production personnel (3 pages maximum)

Applicants (including co-applicants) must submit CVs or résumés with filmographies and a short bio. This warrants repeating: Applicants (including co-applicants) must submit CVs or résumés with filmographies and a short bio. For key production personnel (advisors, editor, cinematographer/videographer and so on), include name, position, and a short bio only.

Top

Part 5: Work in Progress and Previously Completed Work materials

A. Work-in-Progress (Mandatory):

NOTE: ITVS International Call now only accepts works-in-progress between 10 and 30 minutes in length, unless you are submitting a full rough cut. If your work-in-progress is 30 minutes or less, you should plan on submitting digitally. If you have a full rough cut, please contact Rachel_Aloy@itvs.org to arrange submission.

  • All nonfiction proposals must be accompanied by a work-in-progress video of the proposed program of at least 10 minutes in length and no more than 30 minutes in length. All standard digital video formats are accepted, although we recommend Quicktime .mov or .mp4 files. The video you submit can be a full rough cut, a trailer, scene selects, etc.
  • If you have a full rough cut, you should submit this on DVD. Contact Rachel Aloy for details.
  • If the program is not in English, the work-in-progress must have English subtitles.
  • Research footage is not sufficient and will not be accepted.

Note: Applicants are no longer required to submit a sample of a Previously Completed Work at Internal Review, but must be able to produce a copy upon request from ITVS. Applicants may submit a previously completed work in any genre and of any length, but must have held a primary production role: director, producer, co-director or co-producer.

B. Description of Previously Completed Work and Work-in-Progress (one page):

  • Description of your Previously Completed Work, and a description of the applicant's role as credited. Even though you are not submitting a DVD of your previously completed work. We still want to know why the film you list on the application form is relevant to the proposed program, whether on the basis of style, content, approach, etc.
  • Description of your Work-In-Progress. Also, indicate if the work-in-progress is a rough cut, trailer, scene selects, etc. and specify the length of the work-in-progress.

To apply, please submit your materials online by Friday, December 9, 2011 at 5:00PM PST by using our online application system.

Top

GLOSSARY

Net revenue
Also known as “back end revenue,” refers to income generated from sales of the program after production costs and expenses. This is generally the “profit” of the film that is shared with the investors and the producers.

Production Agreement Note
This document outlines the responsibilities of both ITVS and producers once they have entered into and signed a contract with each other.

Deferrals
Expenses in the approved production budget, typically salaries of the producer(s) and director(s), that will not be paid until all other production expenses are covered by secured funds.

Delivery
Means both delivery and approval of specific items (deliverables) to ITVS, (such as rough cuts, fine cuts, promotional materials, masters, etc.) as outlined in the Payment and Delivery Schedule of the contract.

Demo reel (or tape)
A reel containing clips of your past work.

Distribution
Means both distribution of the program to broadcast entities in the U.S. territory and any release of the program on home video, theatrical, non-theatrical and educational outlets.

Domestic
Refers to the United States territory.

Editing rights
Because ITVS is not a broadcaster, we reserve the right to modify the program to fit the format and technical standards required by potential U.S. broadcasters.

Errors and Omission Insurance
Also known as E&O Insurance, is required for broadcast in the U.S. Sometimes it is referred to as a “Media Special Perils Policy,” which protects producers from such things as accidental trademark and copyright infringement, libel, slander, invasion of privacy, defamation, plagiarism and misappropriation of ideas.

Principal role
A lead position in the production demonstrated by the credit of director, co-director, producer or co-producer on previous completed works.

Production Agreement
A legal contract that clearly underlines the requirements to which both ITVS and funded producers agree.

Sample of completed work
A copy of one entire program, including credits, that demonstrates the applicant’s experience as producer, co-producer, director or co-director.

Title search
The E&O insurer needs to know where, when, and the extent to which the title has been used, so as part of your E&O application you will be required to provide a US title search report. This report reveals other uses of your program’s title (i.e. other TV programs, films, books, articles, etc.). While titles cannot be protected by copyright, the concern is the potential for confusion and higher risk of lawsuits caused by the existence of similar and similarly titled work.

Work-in-Progress (WIP)
Assembled footage of the proposed program in production, such as clips, selects, a trailer, or a rough cut. The WIP should demonstrate the filmmaker(s)’ access and rapport with the subject as well as style and production standards of the proposed program. Research footage is not sufficient and will not be accepted. Minimum length of the WIP is ten minutes.

Questions?

If you have questions about International Call, email cynthia_kane@itvs.org or call 415-356-8383 x445.