$500,000 Simulate a Better World Video Challenge

WILL Interactive, Inc. (WILL) follows a corporate philosophy of “doing well by doing good.” A major component of WILL’s business philosophy is the company’s desire to create positive social change through the use of Virtual Experience Immersive Learning Simulations (VEILS®). In that vein, this Challenge is a call for entries for the creation of a VEILS® serious game simulation to address a pressing social issue. To learn more about WILL, Interactive, click [here].

VEILS® is an immersive technology that harnesses the engaging characteristics of game-based video simulations to capture the attention of individuals at a level that leads them to positive action. To learn more about VEILS® serious game simulations, and to view demo segments of VEILS® simulations, click [here].

Each winner of this Challenge will have the social issue identified in his/her/its Entry addressed through the development of a VEILS® game-based video simulation, and will receive, at no cost, the perpetual right to use the simulation. WILL will absorb all product development costs (approximate value = $500,000) to develop the VEILS® simulation. Winning Entrants will receive a royalty if the resulting simulation is commercialized, and organization Entrants will receive co-branding recognition on the simulation.

The winning Entrant(s) must actively participate in product development reviews and provide subject matter expertise for successful development of the winning simulation(s). Additionally, in order to help maximize the positive impact on the widest possible audience, proposals must contain a marketing and distribution plan that describes how the simulation will be disseminated and the Entrant’s prior experience relevant to the marketing and distribution of learning products.

Find out more about grants and funding in the grants and funding category.

To purchase a download of the Funding Your Dream Documentary seminar, click here.

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Frameline Completion Fund for LGBT Films

“The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants to emerging and established  filmmakers. The program seeks to provide a much-needed source of financial contributions to artists who often struggle to secure funding to complete their works. Grants ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 are available for films that represent and reflect LGBT life in all its complexity and richness.

For two decades Frameline has provided over 100 grants totaling $343,000 to help ensure that LGBT films are completed and viewed by wider audiences. Films finished with assistance from the Frameline Completion Fund include LAST CALL AT MAUD’S, GO FISH, BROTHER TO BROTHER, MAGGOTS AND MEN, THE COCKETTES, IT CAME FROM KUCHAR, FREEHELD, WE WERE HERE, GUN HILL ROAD and PARIAH.

Submissions are being accepted for documentary, educational, narrative, animated or experimental projects about LGBT people and their communities. The Fund also seeks to bring new work to under-served audiences; with this in mind, we especially encourage applications by women, people of color and transgender persons.”

Find out more about grants and funding in the grants and funding category.

To purchase a download of the Funding Your Dream Documentary seminar, click here.

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Review: Good Hair

One questions: how can I keep my daughter off of the “creamy crack?”  Yes, I am referring to a perm or relaxer that turns afro hair into straight hair, (a la Whitney Houston and Oprah Winfrey).  Chris Rock posed a similar question as he set out to produce the documentary Good Hair.  In my post entitled Comedians and Docs, I touched on the issue of well known-funny guys producing funny documentaries.  In the case of Rock’s Good Hair, he did a good job using humor to tackle what has been a taboo topic in the black community.  He’s got us talking about our hair in a very open way.  I’m sure his appearance on Oprah was a big help.

Using the flamboyant, hyped up, super charged Bronner Brothers hair show in Atlanta as the through-line added a since of drama, educational moments and a fair share of surprises. But the movie raises some good points too: why do black women straighten their hair?  Why do the men who love them bankroll thousand-dollar weaves?  What is the chemical process for making relaxers?  And, where does all that hair come from to make a good weave?  The most pertinent point for me was that the industry of whitening black hair is a billion dollar industry with only four black manufacturers.  The industry is largely controlled by whites and Asians.  As Reverend Al Sharpton points out, giving that kind of money away is like volunteer slavery.

Good Hair had a couple of uncomfortable moments when Chris Rock played a buffoon for the benefit Asian shop keepers to draw out a point. But perhaps the ends justified the means.  I was disappointed at the lack of discussion about WHY so many people seek perms and weaves.  Is there a disconnect for black women to proudly love our lips and hips but not our hair?  Also, lot of my sisters with natural hair were disappointed that the movie did not discuss natural hair at length. But that’s not what the movie was about.  The movie was about getting “good hair.”

Kudos to Chris Rock for getting celebrities like Ice-T, Raven Symone and Nia Long to talk about this touchy subject.   Good Hair gets a thumbs up from me because as a black woman, I learned a lot about the black women’s hair care industry and had a couple of laughs to boot.  In the meantime, I’ll prepare myself for my daughter’s style and fashion decisions to be what they will. When do I start worrying about body piercing?