Plan for east Durham Creates Phone call

Patrick's ideas about marketing

AV Festival phone call

Edan phone call

Tips on writing grants

More Research on writing applications for grants.

I have been doing a little research about writing applications for grants for arts projects. Here is some advice that has been given by other people on youtube about the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEbgdS7Lsq4

Research the artists who’ve formally been given the grant you’re applying for

• If the grant seems to go to a specific type of person, who is not like you, then you might not want to waste your time applying for that grant.

Apply for local grants

• Smaller pool of applicants, so more chance of being picked.

Use any opportunity for feedback that you can get

• If you get rejected you can ask why
• Some people give feedback to first time applicants

Focus on your budget

• It’s about proving to them that you understand the numbers. Proving that you understand money.
• It’s about proving that you won’t be wasting the money they give you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXp7PVGslXw

Write clearly and concisely

• The people on juries are chosen in a way that creates objectivity, so you won’t be able to get it based on who you know. There are no art professors on juries.
• The only way to get it is to write a something compelling.
• The way to make it compelling is to talk clearly and concisely about what it is that you do.
• No big philosophy or art language about what your work is about, or what you are about. Speak clearly so that if you spoke about it to your grandmother, who knows nothing about art, she would be interested about what you’re saying.
• Write something that is interesting enough that everybody gets it.
• Don’t try to be something you’re not
• Explain what you are doing and why it excites you.
• Why your work it exciting for you to make.
• What’s fun about it?
• People on the jury want to feel your enthusiasm and excitement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEdFwEb1_cg

Wedding film ideas

One way in which I was thinking I could potentially make some money after university is to shoot weddings on super 8. I have done some research to see if there is any demand for this and whether anyone else is doing this. There is a person who does it in Glasgow and there is a person who does it in Yorkshire, but nobody in the Northeast. Hopefully this could be my territory.

Here is a bit of information on these other wedding filmmakers:

Wedding film making

Other people who do the same

Sugar 8:

• Based in Glasgow
• Prices start from £1650
• Advertises using the idea of it being vintage
• http://www.sugar8.co.uk/

Matthew Modget films:

• Based in Yorkshire
• Prices about £1200 for full day
• http://matthewmodgetfilms.com/

Cine Reportage

• Based in the UK, not quite sure where, but seems to have filmed weddings in Kent
• Prices about £2150
• http://www.cinereportage.com/prices.html

How to promote it

Equipment and resources

Finance

Profit and loss

Tax

Super 8 art project after university

I discussed an idea for an art project involving super 8 film, that I intend to do after university, with Patrick Chapman. He was positive about it and said that I may be able to get funding to at least cover my costs for the project, but only if I have a clearer idea of the motivation behind the project, what its purpose is and what I intend to achieve.

The project is basically to shoot a film, which is similar in style to the films from the straight 8 competition, on a roll of Super 8 every month for 6 months.

I had two different approaches in mind for how I would focus this idea into a more concise project with clear intentions behind it.

One was to borrow an Idea from a poet friend of mine, who had a project called door to door poetry and knock on a random door every month to ask for an ordinary person's input into the type of film I make.

The other was to expand the idea into a sort of bigger monthly event where many such films are screened and members of the public are encouraged to shoot their own super 8 rolls.

I have written some basic notes of expansion on the second idea and these notes are as follows:

Super 8 film project after uni

Approach 1

What are you doing it for?

Find a way to make films without using the mechanism of the current big industry.who focus on what money is available etc.  Like music eg punk rock.  Making their own art. Not relying on existing structures. Not having to rely on people within those structures.

With the intention of making films that truly communicates more with thoughts and concerns of people, as it’s being made by the community not as made by the people who are speculating what real people are thinking/concerned about.re

Create a structure where people can enjoy films made by their peers. Rather than only having access to films made by a distant film industry. Introduces to the idea that they can make films.  People like them make films too. Not just someone in Hollywood can do.  Making their own art seems accessible. Make films they want to make . Communicating with people does not necessarily about their situ’ poeple can also relate to things that are distant from themselves. Not trying to impose ‘higher’ cultural standards on people.

What are you getting out of it?

I want to make and screen my own work. Build my profile as a film-maker and artist. Outside of existing structures.  Get to the stage  can make and market my own films. Current films don’t communicate with people anymore. Make the films I want to make.  People want to make.

Start an alternative way in filmaking and viewing.

What am I exploring?

Is it Observational (does it have to be)?

How does it engage people?

Participants?

Audience?

Film fans and makers.  1) who might ordinarily go to independent films. 2) those who might not, who only go to multiplexes usually. 3) People who don’t go to cinema anymore ‘cos they don’t think films ar much good.

Any age group.  Arty types - late 20’s early 40’s.  I would like to appeal to 18-20 discovering something for the first time. Sparking something in them. Who’ve never thought about it before. Making films themselves.  

How do reach them?  Where do they hang out?

Thru’ music venues/gigs. Live music venue eg Dog and Parrot.  Cumberland Arms - older audience -/crossover pubs?

Ask people how did they get into going to gigs/find out what’s on?

Publicise in mags. Dazed and confused feature.

Grants available

Where is it happening?  Start out at arty pubs/venues.  Where you don’t need certain numbers to attend to make it viable. Eg Upstairs room in Bar Loco. Open all time and not stopping other events happening.  Anything drawing in customers is better than none.

Monthly.  

Open entry.  Non super 8 section of night possibly.  

Having limitations frees you from overthinking something puts you off doing it.

Super 8 film. Rolls of film. 1 for me. Few to give out. People in pub join in to pick/pitch ideas to.

Winner of the night/free roll of film.

In a few different poplulation centres - N/C, Durham, Miidlesborough, Sunderland.

Drinks available.

Shortness of films.  Programme repeated? Or spaced out?  Has to be worth coming to time wise.