Sportskool is accepting completed sports documentaries

SPORTSKOOL  is accepting completed feature-length documentaries about sports and sports related topics to air nationwide on cable on-demand channels. Documentaries should have all rights cleared by the owner and be available on a broadcast quality format such as digi-beta.

Previous sports documentaries seen on SPORTSKOOL include:

Yogi Berra – Get to know baseball legend Yogi Berra then and now.  Yogi is joined by his biggest fans – from celebrities to family members – to shed some light on his enduring legacy.

Morgan Lacrosse Doc – A look into the formation of the 1970s Morgan State University lacrosse team, the first and only varsity program at a historically black institution.  Told by the athletes and coaches who changed the face of this traditionally white sport.

Chasing the Dream – Hit the waves before class with the pro surfing hopefuls at Huntington Beach High.  On this team, if you want to hand ten, then drop and give me twenty!

Submissions should be sent to:

            SPORTSKOOL

            100 Cathedral Street, Suite 9

            Annapolis, MD 21204

Include a DVD screener and 1-sheet synopsis.

Email questions to info@gracecreek.com

 

SPORTSKOOL is the only on-demand television network where the biggest names in sports deliver the secrets to better performance, winnings scores and bigger tricks. Join Shaun White, Doug Flutie, Mia Hamm, Bode Miller, Misty May, Tony Gwynn, Bill Walton, Mike Vallely (Mike V.) and other star athletes for one-on-one training and instruction…when and where you want it.

SPORTSKOOL is currently available to more than 34 million digital television subscribers. Television providers carrying SPORTSKOOL include Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Mediacom, Insight, Verizon FiOS, Mid-Hudson, Shrewsbury and Suddenlink.

Visit SPORTSKOOL online at sportskool.com

POV Calls for Documentary and Film Submissions

“POV, public television’s premier showcase for independent, non-fiction film seeks programs from all perspectives to showcase in its annual national PBS series. All subjects, aesthetic approaches and lengths are welcomed.”

Here are some of the guidelines:

• Non-fiction only.
• Works by independent filmmakers.
• Works that have not been broadcast nationally. 
• Works that are complete or near completion.
• Works not previously submitted to POV
• Works of any length will be considered. Works that comply with PBS underwriting guidelines.

For more information, visit the POV submissions page.

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.

Writing Successful Grant Applications

Some of the most successful independent television and film producers are also the most successful at securing grant funding.  There are many types of grants out there including government agencies, non-profit organizations and private funding.  Once you have identified the grants that match your project, it is time to delve into the process of actually applying for the grants.  Here are a few pointers to help you make the most of your submissions.

• Carefully read the instructions and guidelines and then FOLLOW THEM to the letter.  This means filling out every section of the application in entirety.  If you talk to grant readers, one of the biggest mistakes they site is a non-complete application.  During my short stint as a grant reader, I found it helpful when the grant applicants mimicked the grant outline exactly as it was laid out.
• For any narrative answers, write clearly and concisely in jargon-free language.  This is not a time to impress people with your industry speak.  You want to plainly set out your intension so that anyone reading the application has a clear picture of you goals.
• Share your passion.  Just because you are writing clearly, doesn’t mean you have to be boring.  The best way to convince someone that your idea is worthy is to show some excitement about it.
• Give specifics.  A good idea or worthy cause do not speak for themselves.  Grant givers want to know that you have a plan to achieve your goals.  Do some research ahead of time and create an outline for yourself about what you are going to do and how you are going to do it.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Believe it or not, grant givers want complete, competitive applications.  If you don’t know how to answer a question, ask for clarification.  You can even ask about what the grant giver is looking for.  You never know what kind of response you’ll get.  Also ask previous successful grant recipients what they did to create a winning application.  They may have some insight that you never thought of.

Good luck.  For more information about fundraising in general, check out the recording of my teleseminar:  Funding Your Dream Documentary.