Community Partners: Film Composers
- Introduction and Purpose [+]Community Partners: Film Composers Edition provides direct support to composers for production of a film score for a new film that highlights Philadelphia communities, cultures, or history, such as:
- Films highlighting, depicting or otherwise involving Philadelphia communities or individuals within those communities
- Films of specific interest to Philadelphia communities, but not necessarily directly about the community
- Films that highlight some aspect of Philadelphia's history or cultural heritage. For example, a documentary on cultural or political issues that affect Philadelphians, or historical events or landmarks in Philadelphia.
- Films that highlight an influential or overlooked individual or community group whose work has impacted Philadelphia communities.
- Films that are fictional, depicting an individual, community, or political or cultural issue, if it relates directly to Philadelphia and its communities.
- Eligibility [+]Individual composers in the Philadelphia region are eligible to apply. Applicants need not be members of the American Composers Forum to apply; however, artists whose projects are funded must become ACF members and remain ACF members for the duration of the project. To join ACF online, visit the composersforum.org website.
Composers are encouraged to work closely with the film director in the project planning and application process. However, the composer must submit the application and if awarded, the composer will receive the grant award. In order to encourage greater access to and broader distribution of the resources available, previous Community Partners: Film Composers grant recipients must sit out one full year before reapplying. Grants will be made to composers residing in the following six counties: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia Counties in PA and Camden County in NJ. The film director need not be Philadelphia based, but the project must involve a Philadelphia community (as outlined above). - Project Funding [+]The maximum grant award is $10,000. Requested funds may be used for expenses related to the production of the film score only, and may not be applied to other film expenses. Films in any stage of production will be considered, provided that they do not already have musical scoring in place.
- Criteria [+]An independent panel of local composers, accomplished instrumentalists, music educators, and/or other music industry-professionals will review and judge all eligible proposals on:
- Artistic merit
- Quality and depth of community engagement
- Demonstrated ability of the artist and film director to carry out the project
- Degree to which the project is well planned and feasible
- Significance of the project to the applicant's career
- The clarity and persuasiveness of the application in supporting the criteria listed above.
- Work Samples [+]Applicants should submit at least two samples (scores and audio samples) of their work—and two samples of the film director’s work (DVD). Composer’s audio samples will be accepted on one CD or DVD only. Please include a detailed track listing and cues, if appropriate. MP3 files will not be accepted.
- Evaluation [+]Grantees must submit a Final Report within six weeks of the project’s conclusion, to include: a narrative report documenting the experience; financial reports; and documentation of the project. Composers with overdue Final Reports will not be eligible for additional grants until the Final Report is submitted.
- Funding Credit [+]The American Composers Forum, Philadelphia Chapter must be credited as a supporter in the film.
- Deadline [+]Applications, including all required attachments, are due May 4, 2012 (postmark deadline) for projects scheduled between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of the grant decision approx. 4 to 6 weeks after the deadline.
- Questions? Contact [+]James Falconi, Program Manager, 267-639-2518; james@acfphiladelphia.org Composers are strongly encouraged to discuss their project with staff prior to submitting a proposal.
- Funders [+]Community Partners: Film Composers is made possible with generous support from the William Penn Foundation.
- Application, Guidelines and Grantee Forms [+]
- Application and Guidelines [+]Guidelines and application for Community Partners: Film Composers Edition (Revised 12/2010) - Download
- Proposal Writing Tips [+]Useful tips on writing your grant proposal - Download
- Community Partners Film Composers Evaluation [+]Composer evaluation for completed CP Film projects - Download