CAAM Documentary Fund + Junior Editor

Now that election day is over, I’m glad to hear that Joe Biden’s north star is “compassion”, which both sides could use right now.

Two announcements: the deadline for the CAAM Documentaries for Social Change Fund is Friday, November 20th. More below.

Also, I have a newly-groomed junior editor. He’s fast and highly personable and happens to be my nephew. The last doc he cut played on public television. Email me to learn more getting one-third off our normal editing rates for this auspicious collaboration.

Also, we’re currently helping filmmakers apply for CAAM development funds up to $15,000. This year CAAM (The Center for Asian American Media) encourages docs that explore stories informed by the “double pandemic” of COVID and calls for racial justice.

For those of you who applied to the most recent round of ITVS’s Development Diversity Fund, I’ve learned that of 140 projects reviewed, 21 moved to the next phase, according to ITVS staffer Davin Agatep.

Due to limited staff capacity, ITVS was not able to offer feedback this year for projects that didn’t advance to the panel phase. But don’t be discouraged about that funding application or others.

According to our story consulting client Pamela Tom, “One key thing about CAAM is that you have to be persistent. Funded projects have often been turned down multiple times.”

An Emmy-winning writer/producer/director, Tom had been turned down once—before finally winning CAAM funding for Tyrus. Her award-winning documentary about a 105-year old artist Tyrus Wong screened on PBS’s “American Masters”.

Email me for more tips on applying to CAAM, and how it differs slightly from the Core Documentary Application.