OPENING SHOT 2

An ‘opening shot’ for YOUNG filmmakers

An initiative of ABC TV Documentaries and Screen Australia

Screen Australia and ABC TV Documentaries are calling for proposals from young filmmakers nationwide.

Opening Shot 2 will create up to six 29-minute one-off documentary films directed by filmmakers aged 35 years and under. The films will premiere as a series in prime time on ABC2, a channel that aims to surprise, enthuse and provoke. They will engage and entertain a broad audience, especially viewers aged 25–49.

Opening Shot 2 aims to give voice to a younger point of view on contemporary Australian life and to advance the careers of a new generation of program makers.

The stories and treatments will be compelling and promotable and will use a range of storytelling devices.

What compelling story would you tell the national prime time audience if you had the chance?  Why does the story matter and why does the nation need to hear it now?

The Commissioning Editor for the ABC will be Head of Documentaries, Alan Erson. Screen Australia will also appoint an Investment Development Manager to the projects.

Funding

ABC TV and Screen Australia have committed a total of $400,000 to this initiative.

Opening Shot 2 will fund one-off documentaries for production and post-production. Documentary series proposals cannot be considered.

Applicants can apply for up to $80,000 for each half-hour documentary (up to $40,000 for post-production only).

The ABC and Screen Australia contribution to each documentary may be augmented by funding from third parties like state film agencies, distributors, film festivals etc, and by a Producer Equity grant if eligible (see www.screenaustralia.gov.au/ProducerEquity).

If appropriate, the ABC and Screen Australia may invest in the development of some projects before deciding whether or not to commission them.

Important dates

Application deadline:	1 June 2012
Shortlisted teams notified:	2 July 2012
Development (if required) deadline:	23 July 2012
Successful teams notified:	6 August 2012
Final budgets/ finance plans/ schedules due in preparation for ABC and Screen Australia funding meetings:	15 August 2012
Anticipated delivery:	May 2013

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 a significant creative role (eg director, producer, DOP, editor, associate producer, writer, field director or researcher) on a film that has either been broadcast and/or screened at a recognised film festival. 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 1 June 2012.
  
  
• Producers who are 35 years or under are preferred, but DOB is not a critical factor.
  
  
• Projects will only be eligible if the application includes written confirmation that key subjects are willing to participate in filming. This can be a signed letter or an email originating from the subject.

Assessment criteria

When assessing applications for this initiative, the following criteria will be used:

• Strength of the proposal including the distinctiveness of the idea and story and the team’s creative vision for its realisation.
  
  
• Capacity of the team to manage the project creatively and commercially, given the nature of the proposal and their track record.
  
  
• The project’s potential to connect to the target (ABC2) audience (see www.abc.net.au/tv/independent/our_platform.htm).
  
  
• The professional development benefit to the team (especially the director) if funded for this project at this stage of their careers.
  
  
• Project viability in terms of the proposed budget, financing strategy and schedule.
  
  
• Ability to deliver by May 2013.

Please note that we will NOT be revisiting territory already covered in the first series of Opening Shot. Details of projects funded for that series are available here.

It is also worth noting that many proposals for Series One were structured more like extended newscaff reports with very little action unfolding on screen.  We are keen to impress that we are looking for strong stories in the present tense. This does not rule out presenters or other story telling devices but at heart there must be a strong story to tell.

Assessment process

All applications will be read by the ABC TV Commissioning Editor who will long-list the projects. A Screen Australia Investment Manager will review long-listed projects. ABC TV and Screen Australia will create the short-list after further assessment.

Selected projects may be required to provide a revised budget, finance plan and schedule that complement the funding offered, for approval.

Terms of funding

Screen Australia funding for Opening Shot is generally provided as a grant. See Terms of Trade for more details.

Projects may also be eligible for a grant under the Producer Equity Program.

All projects selected for production will be subject to the ABC Commissioning and Screen Australia funding processes.

Subject to commissioning, in accordance with the ABC’s Terms of Trade which are available on the ABC’s website at www.abc.net.au/tv/independent, the ABC will be entitled to a rights package which includes five runs over five years and streaming and download rights for 14 days. The ABC will issue a license agreement prior to production.

Application

1. Fill out an Opening Shot 2 application form, available to download from this webpage.

2.Compile the required supporting documentation, including:

• A 2–5 page outline or treatment of the half-hour documentary proposal making clear reference to story structure and key character story arcs and stylistic and visual approach.
  (A good reference guide for what is a synopsis/outline can be found here.)
  

• CVs of the producer, writer and director, and any other confirmed key personnel (DOP, editor, etc).

• If available, one example of the director’s previous work (a complete film not a showreel) via a file transfer service like yousendit to the email address below or DVD.

• If available, please include footage of characters or key elements, preferably via a file transfer site like yousendit or on DVD.

• Written confirmation of key subjects’ willingness to participate.

• Where there is Indigenous community participation or content involved in the project, written confirmation of the willingness of both the subject(s) and the community to be involved in the project is essential.

• A budget in the Screen Australia A-Z Documentary format, available to download here. 

Please note materials will not be returned, so applicants must ensure they keep copies of everything, including all AV materials.

3. POST your complete application (ONE copy) to the ABC (NOT Screen Australia):

Opening Shot
ABC TV Documentaries
Attention:
Lana Lee
GPO BOX 9994, Sydney NSW 2001
(Courier Delivery: 700 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007)

4. EMAIL Lana Lee (lee.lana@abc.net.au) an electronic copy of

1. The producer’s contact details
2. A one-line and one-paragraph synopsis

 

[Page updated 5 April 2012]