HHMI Launches Documentary Film Unit to Create Science Features for Television

“The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is launching a $60-million documentary film initiative that aims to bring high-quality, compelling science features to television.” A recent summit “brought together film industry representatives, educators and scientists to think creatively about the ways in which film, television and video games can empower student learning in the sciences.”

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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Thatcher Hoffman Smith bianual prize of $40,000

“The Thatcher Hoffman Smith Prize, established in 2002, is a biennial prize
honoring the creative process, Creativity in Motion. This prize celebrates a
visionary creative work in process, recognizing the power of original thought
and expression in possibly enriching the world around us. The work or project
must be under way at the time of application. This prize is open to all fields
of creativity, including, but not limited to, the arts, cultural affairs,
education and science. The award of $40,000 is available to U.S. citizens and
can be used in any way the recipient chooses. ”

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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Sundance & Sloan Commission partner for science and technology film grants

Sundance/Sloan Commissioning Grant & Fellowship:

“Established in  2005, the Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant is an annual cash award for a  science- or technology-related narrative project that is at an early stage,  such as full treatment or early screenplay draft. This grant also includes a  small stipend for a science advisor to provide support through consultation and  feedback, as well as the possibility of inclusion in a Screenwriters Lab.”

The grant  includes the following:

• A cash grant of up to $20,000 to provide support during the writing period
• A stipend of up to $5,000 for a science advisor
• Creative support during the writing process from a select group of Creative       Advisors
• The possibility of a Fellowship to a Screenwriters Lab
• Strategic and practical support from the Feature Film Program staff

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.

National Science Foundation grant for science programming

The National Science Foundation has a Communication Research to Public Audiences grants for media that presents science programming in these areas:

Office of Polar Programs

Mathematical and Physical Sciences

International Science and Engineering (OISE)

Geosciences

Engineering

Education and Human Resources

Computer and Information Science and Engineering

Biological Sciences

Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences

Click here for more information.  

For more information about program financing, visit the Funding and Grants category.

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

Steal These Documentary and Series Ideas… Please!

So many ideas and so little time. So I thought I’d share some ideas for free in the hopes that someone in the universe will stumble upon them and turn them into wonderful, fun, insightful shows, series and documentaries. Or at least, get some good brainstorming going. Did I mention that they are absolutely free?

Signs of the Messiah – This would be a documentary following people who are looking for signs that the Messiah is coming in whatever religion in which they believe. I have a friend who studies rap music and hard rock lyrics because he believes that the second coming of Jesus will be announced through music. This made me wonder how many other people out there are sign seekers in such unusual and interesting ways.

The Science Behind Rock Concerts – This documentary would follow one popular music group as they prepare for a concert. As they prepare, the film would delve into how our ears hear music, how our brains process it, how instruments make music, how we are able to sing, why humans respond to music, how microphones pick up music and how speakers broadcast music.

Extreme Collectors – I was amazed to learn that there are people who spend thousands upon thousands of dollars each year to collect sneakers! What other crazy collectors are out there? I’m sure some of these collectors as colorful characters.

6 Degrees of Separation – On each episode, contestants draw a name of a celebrity out of a big name drum. Then they have 48 hours to get in touch with that celebrity. The less steps/contacts it takes to find the celebrity, the more points they get. They also get more points for face to face meetings. The show could be hosted by someone who sort of knows Kevin Bacon. The

Ultimate Couch Potato Life – this lifestyle series would be hosted by a good looking guy with a bit of a beer belly. On each episode, he would give tips on how to maximize the coach potato experience. The tips could range from comfort food recipes to entertaining on game night. There could even be a “tools and technology” segment that explores the many uses of TiVo and such things as chairs with built in refrigerators.

From Celeb to Politician – What makes celebrities like Ronald Reagan, Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to turn in the glamour for a politician’s life? And what makes them so good at it?

A Week In The Life of A Reenactor – Reenactors tend to be pretty colorful characters. They often dedicate all of their spare time to researching, practicing and preparing for reenactments in an effort to make them as real and as accurate as possible.

Greatest Fictional Characters – and their impact on society. These characters can be from books, TV, movies or cartoons. They can be dogs, doctors, lovers, villains, heros or even cars. For example, what effects have Cliff Huxtable, Gregory House and Trapper John had on our collective American psyches? This could be done as a top-10 count down show.

Mommy Bloggers – this is a phenomenon that has reached Wall Street. Many blogs started by moms about family, child rearing and motherhood now have the backing of major sponsorship. Who are these mommy bloggers and how can you cash in?

International Holidays in the U.S. – I’d love to see how Hindus in Berkeley are celebrating Diwali and how the West Indians in DC go all out for the Carnival in Brooklyn. There are lots of international holidays being celebrated in our own back yards. You don’t even need a passport.

If you’ve any of these ideas on air already, that only proves that they are good. Hey, now that I’ve written these ideas out, some of them look kinda good. Hurry up and produce them before I do!  If you have any ideas that you’d like someone else to produce, please share.