Documenary & Series Proposal Check List

PROPOSAL/TREATMENT CHECK LIST

This is the basic format I use for writing a documentary or series proposal. I change it, add to it and rearrange it as needed. Please note that most places where you will submit your proposal, especially for grant funding (check out the Grants and Funding category), will ask for specific information.

• Title – think long and hard about your title. It should be short, sweet and to the point.
• Project description – what makes this idea special?
• Overview of story – step by step, how will the documentary or series unfold?  Include sample segments and/or episodes.
• Story-telling style – how will you convey the story (interviews, still photos, graphics and charts, music). Help the reader SEE your idea.
• Need or importance of project – why should this story or series be made?
• Target Audience – who are they and why will they watch?
• Project timeline – a brief calendar outlining the workflow from development to delivery.
• Distribution plan (including Website and New Media) – how and where will viewers be able to see your documentary or series?
• Budget with fundraising plan including any funds already raised (read the Sample Budget blog to see how a budget is laid out).
• Personnel bios or resumes
  • Key production staff involved
  • Key interviewees
  • Consultants

Note: Any pictures that can be inserted into the proposal or video that can be sent with the proposal always helps.

• Trailer or funding reel if you have it.  It should be polished.

National Black Programming Consortium Funds African-American & African Diasporic Programs

The National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) offers funding for series, documentaries and online media relating to the black global experience.  “Since 1991 NBPC has invested $7 million dollars in iconic documentary productions for public television; trained, mentored and supported a diverse array of producers who create content about contemporary black experiences; and emerged as a leader in the evolving next-media landscape through it’s annual New Media Institute: Africa Programs.”

 

Click here for more information.

Find out 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.

Authur Vining Davis Foundation offers public television grants

The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations offers grants to public television series with lasting educational value particularly in the areas of history and science.  There are no yearly deadlines.

Proposals for “capstone” grants to complete production funding are preferred. Initial research and pre-production funding are seldom supported. Neither multi­year grants nor annual funding of continuing series are normally considered. Recent “capstone” produc­tion grants have ranged from $100,000 to $400,000.

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.

Singing Praises for Unsung

TV One’s “Unsung” is one of my favorite biography shows on television.  Each show takes us into the lives of musical artists and acts through narration, interviews, performance footage and photos.  Television doesn’t get more basic than that. Yet, Unsung has managed to focus an interesting light on singers, groups and bands that have made important contributions to the music industry. 

Fittingly, Al B Sure was the voice over talent for the first season.  He did surprisingly well.  The new, lesser known narrator is just as good and doesn’t get in the way of the story telling.

Many of the episodes have provided fodder for water cooler conversations in the African American community.  When the Debarge story aired from the first season, even national radio hosts like Tom Joyner talked about it.  We all know the Debarge music and something about the drug abuse in the family. But how many of us know about the abusive father or El Debarge’s efforts to make the group a success while the rest of his siblings were out partying?

For me, the most touching episode was the one about Donny Hathaway.  He has one of the purest voices of all time. But his struggles with depression ultimately drove away his family and claimed his life.  To hear industry experts explain the depth of his genius made me appreciate his music even more.  Listening to family and friends talk about his declining mental health was hard to watch.  It is amazing to think about how little was known about depression at the time.

The Heatwave story was the most insightful.  I knew nothing about this group yet love some of their classic hits like “Always and Forever” and “Grooveline.”  This particular episode shed light on the groups international players, their unusually strict code of ethics and the success of keyboardist and writer Rod Temperton who went on to produce some of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits. 

Other profiles have included Tammy Terrell, Tenna Marie, The Fat Boys, Miki Howard and the O’Jays.  The upcoming season promises the likes of The Spinners, Big Daddy Kane and Evelyn “Champagne” King.  Many of the “Unsung” artists have never been profiled on television. But when I see them, I am moved to get up and dance or go running to download my favorite songs.

I’m looking forward the batch of shows.  My DVR is already set.  “Unsung” gives me the information I want without all of the flash and whistles.  But most of all, it gives me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the music that has become the soundtrack of my life.

 For more reviews, visit the Docmentary and TV Reviews category.

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.