Ah, grant writing. Did you know the government will give (aka grant) you money to make your film?
There’s just one catch: you’ll have to beg for it first.
Artist Grants: What are they?
Artist grants are funds of sweet cash money set aside for investment in artists and their artwork. Quite often, at least here in Canada, they’re offered through government-funded arts organizations or councils. Artist grants are one of the ways the government invests in and supports the nation’s arts and culture.
Grants can come in all shapes and sizes. Some support travel, paying for flights and accommodation for an artist whose work has garnered interest abroad. Others support education, covering the costs of specialized learning, workshops, labs or residencies for artists looking to level up their skills. But the golden goose of the Artist Grant World is the Project Grant. That’s the one you really want to nab.
How do Project Grants work?
A Project Grant is awarded to an artist for the creation of a particular artwork. In our case, a film. That means the Arts Council or organization is essentially commissioning work, and they get to choose which projects to fund and which to send home sobbing.
The fund usually has enough cash to finance (in part) several projects of differing lengths and genres. Most offer robust envelopes for the Production of a film that cover expenses from pre-production (casting, logistics, locations, design) all the way through distribution (festival fees, promotional materials). But some organizations offer pretty generous Research and Development Grants, that cover the cost of writing a screenplay, namely your own salary as a screenwriter, plus the cost of a script consultant, research materials etc.
I’m not gonna lie to you folks. Competition is stiff. But the rewards are pretty incredible. Because if you get one of these project grants, not only will you be paid to make the art you want to make, you’ll be able to pay everyone around you too. And that’s not all. The grant lends your project an air of legitimacy, attracts more skilled collaborators and encourages other investors. Once you land one of these bad boys, you’re kind of in the club. You’ll find it easier to get a grant for your future projects too.
Why is Grant Writing so Hard?
There are a few reasons writing a successful grant can feel impossible. Some of it is the same reason Pitch Writing is tough. It’s finding distance from your project, seeing it as a product and selling it. But here are some others:
Lots of Hoops
They don’t just give money away to any old jerk with a movie idea. There are lots of hoops to jump through before you even meet eligibility for some of these funds.
So expect to provide lots of detail. They’ll want a budget. They’ll want a schedule. And they’ll want your CV and those of any collaborators. You need the full script (or treatment for a development grant) and links to solid past work. And that’s before you’ve even started answering the essay questions on the application form. (Did you think you’d seen the last of those in high school? Ha!)
A Jury of your Peers
Most grants use a jury system to decide which projects to fund. Usually, they source filmmakers, screenwriters, and producers from the community to read through a stack of hundreds of applications. Then they’ll gather the jurors to discuss and argue and make decisions.
You won’t know who these people are. They could be people you admire, or people you… don’t. They’re just mortal humans with opinions, personal tastes and preferences. You really can’t account for who will be on that jury. So your best bet is to write an excellent film followed by an excellent grant and hope it connects with at least two of them.
7 not-so-easy Grant Writing Steps
So how do you go about nabbing one of these Project Grants?
Step One: Find the Grant(s)
Research, research, research. You need to find all the grants you might be eligible for. No Film School has a pretty extensive list of International Film Grants (below). But it’s not exhaustive so be sure to Google “artist grant” + your province or state and see if there’s anything there.
https://nofilmschool.com/massive-list-winter-2022-grants
Step Two: Check Your Eligibility
It’s easy to get all worked up and start filling out forms, but trust me, check those guidelines first and read the fine print. Every grant has very specific eligibility requirements, you may have to be a resident of a province or city, and you may need a certain amount of experience. Many grants now are designed for marginalized communities or visible minorities. Most artist grants won’t fund pilots, music videos or calling card projects. Make sure you’re applying for something you AND your project are eligible for.
Step Three: Build a Grant Writing Plan
Once you’ve found a few grants and checked you’re fully eligible you need to build a plan. Take a look at the deadlines and decision dates, then mark them in your calendar and use them to create your production schedule. Take a look at the grant amounts and use them to build your budget. (Pro Tip: Do not under budget, it’s a tell-tale sign of an amateur to ask for too little funds)
Which of the deadlines is coming up first? Make a task list and start collecting the required documents now. Begin drafting answers to the application questions. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
Step Four: Dig Deep
For many, the application questions are the most daunting part of the process. It’s tough to talk about ourselves. And it feels weird to rhapsodize about our own work and ideas. But that’s the gig, buddy. And this is a skill. A skill that can be practiced and learned like any other.
All the applications will ask you a variation of these three questions. It’s your job to dig deep and find really compelling answers to them.
Why do you want to do this?
You need to explain your project and why it is important to you. Think about the genesis of the film. What inspired it. Tell the jury what it is you’re trying to say or do, and highlight how it’s different than what’s been done before. If you can tie the story to your own life and experience that helps a lot. What’s your unique perspective on the story and its themes? What is your narrative intent?
How are you going to do it?
Give details. Draw a picture. Really think about the visuals and the sound of your film. You can make references to other films here. Talk about colour, camera movement, framing, pacing, and tone. Describe the sound scape and the music.
Are there other unique aspects to the film? Will you cast non-actors? Will you travel to Peru? How do you plan to overcome technical and logistical challenges?
Are you capable of doing it?
Talk about yourself. Tell the story of how you became a filmmaker. List every experience and what you learned. Then explain how this new film is the next plot point in your journey as an artist. Use clear and passionate language to describe new challenges you’ll face, what you’ll learn and where the film will bring you if you get to make it.
Step Five: Stack your Team
If you can, seduce a strong team of collaborators. Having a producer, DOP, composer or editor on board helps the project look legit. Find folks who are experienced, but still up-and-coming. Collect and attach their CVs and, if they’re willing, letters of support/commitment.
Step Six: A second set of eyes
Before you hit send, I highly recommend having someone read over your application. Ideally, it’s someone outside the project. Super-ideally it’s a pro, like me.
Why? You’ve been sweating over this project for months or years. But the jury is coming in blind. Your application needs to make everything crystal clear and compelling. Having a fresh set of eyes on these documents before you send them off is a really good way to spot any plot holes, missing information or confusing phrasing.
Step Seven: Send and repeat.
Time to hit send!
Now don’t just sit around waiting for your answer. Most of these beaurocratic entities take at least 3 months to review and decide. It’s time to apply for the next grant. You can usually repurpose most of your supporting material, and even some of your essay questions when applying with the same project. But always read each one super carefully.
You’ve applied for all the grants you can for this film? Great! Time to start writing the next one.