• ROOFTOP FILMS & EASTERN EFFECTS EQUIPMENT GRANT
• ROOFTOP FILMS & EDGEWORX STUDIOS POST-PRODUCTION GRANT

Rooftop Films works with our partners to help future productions by filmmakers whose work has screened at our festival. Only almuni filmmakers are eligible for grants.

In the current Summer 2011 round we have two grants for artists making short films and two grants for feature-length films. Grant deadlines for 2012 will be announced in June, with applications due in July and notifications in September.

Click here for short film guidelines.

Eastern Effects is film production rental house based in Brooklyn. Since 1999, Eastern Effects has been providing Lighting & Grip Equipment Rentals for Independent Feature Films, Television Productions, Corporate & Industrial Videos, Student filmmakers, and Live Broadcast. In 2006, they opened The Production Offices at Eastern Effects, Inc.—an all-inclusive office rental facility to meet your production’s expanding needs. Their mission is to provide customer service that exceeds our customer’s expectations, to deliver equipment of only the highest quality to satisfy the demanding needs of our customers, and to sustain a business founded on reliability, personal values, and good communication.

Edgeworx Studios is a post-production house based in Manhattan. With a fifteen year track record, Edgeworx provides full service production and post-production. Their areas of expertise include motion graphic design, animation, VFX, editorial and finishing. By fusing innovative ideas with technical savvy, Edgeworx has built an impressive roster of clients including, HBO, NBC, Bravo, Nova, ABC, Disney, Focus Features, USA Films, PBS Roadside Attractions, Discovery Channel, MTV, ESPN, A&E, BBC, Magnolia Pictures, IFC, Killer Films, Partizan Entertainment, ThinkFilm and New Line Cinema. From concept to execution, Edgeworx produces original, high-end design for a diverse range of creative projects.

How does it work?
Who is eligible? (important)
What is the history of the grant?

THE ROOFTOP FILMS & EASTERN EFFECTS EQUIPMENT GRANT
Rooftop Films is working with our partners at Eastern Effects to provide 30 days of lighting and grip equipment to one feature-length film (over 50 minutes long). 

What we have:
2 Ton Lighting and Grip Easy Gear™ Package (no vehicle) from Eastern Effects for 30 days.
A complete package equipment list please is available here. Some substitutions and special requests are possible. Eastern Effects will work with you to fill your needs within the range of the equivalent cost of the package. The equipment must be picked up in Brooklyn, but can be used anywhere. Filmmakers must provide standard production insurance. Email Rooftop Films Artistic Director Mark Elijah Rosenberg at filmfund@rooftopfilms.com if you have further questions.


THE ROOFTOP FILMS & EDGEWORX POST-PRODUCTION GRANT
Rooftop Films is working with our partners at Edgeworx Inc. to provide a post-production package to one feature-length film (over 50 minutes long).

What we have:
Approximately 1-2 weeks of post production work valuing up to $10,000. The Edgeworx staff will work with you to fill your needs within the range of the equivalent cost of the package. This package may include a combination of the following: titles and simple 2D graphics, color correction and conform (max 3 days on Avid Symphony or Final Cut Color) and online mastering to HD Cam. For more details, please visit www.edgeworx.com or email Rooftop Films Artistic Director Mark Elijah Rosenberg at filmfund@rooftopfilms.com.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR BOTH GRANTS:
We are open to any genre or type of film, but in our choosing of grantees, we are biased toward:
• People who convince us they will actually produce another movie with these resources.
• People who do not have access to other resources.
• People who make the kind of movies that we don’t see enough of (see below).
• People who use money and materials sparingly and wisely.
• Films are encouraged to request support from both Eastern Effects and Edgeworx, but it is highly unlikely that the same film will receive support through both grants. If only one service is applicable to your production, please specify which one. If you are interested in receiving either grant, please explain how each service would help your production.

Films we don’t see enough of:
• Intelligent political films: whether documentaries or fiction, drama or comedy, experimental or animation, we see a dearth of thoughtful, well-researched, well-reasoned movies that actively seek to change our world for the better.
• Films with women and people of color in primary production roles.

Crucial elements:
• We need to be convinced that you will make this film as it as presented and in a timely fashion—within 18 months. If you can provide a production schedule and convincing reasons as to why you will adhere to it, that’s great.
• We are more likely to fund films for which we will have a large impact. That is, we are more likely to fund a film which can do all the shooting and lighting with this package than a film for which use of this package will be only a small portion of the production.
• We are more likely to award films that make the most of their resources and community. That is, we are more likely to fund films that have creative, independent funding resources than films with a single corporate funder.

Advice:
All filmmakers are encouraged to email Rooftop Artistic Director Mark Elijah Rosenberg with a draft of their application for advice, or call 718-417-7362.

Due to time constraints, we can only provide one round of notes, but simple questions are welcome any time.

Selection Process:
Filmmakers must first submit an initial proposal—a simple, short description of their project (no more than 3 pages; 1 page is great.) The Rooftop Films staff will read all the proposals and invite certain projects submit a more full proposal, which may include a script or detailed treatment, a detailed budget, a production plan/schedule, and more. At the end of the second round, the Rooftop Films, Eastern Effects and/or Edgeworx staffs will determine which projects to support, and we will work together to establish a schedule and set other logistics.

The Application:
• Download the application and the budget form for the Rooftop Films Feature-Length Film Grants (the same application applies to both grants).

The application asks for the following information:
• Your name and contact information.
• A description of the film you want to make.
• A production and/or post-production plan.
• What you want from Rooftop, Eastern Effects and/or Edgeworx Inc.
• A rough budget. (Use our form or your own.)
• A few lines about yourself.

Please keep in mind that this application is merely an initial proposal. At this stage, we do not want more than basic details, a rough budget, and no more than 3 pages about the film. 1 page is great. Selected projects will be invited to submit a more complete proposal.

Returning the Application:
Email the application and budget as attachments to filmfund@rooftopfilms.com.

You are also welcome and encouraged to send footage, rough cuts, fine cuts, etc. in any format. Online links are preferred. We also accept DVDs. Please do not send masters or your only copy. Send 1 copy of footage to:

Rooftop Films
Attn: Filmmakers’ Fund
PMB 401
285 5th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Deadlines:

2012 Deadlines will be announced in June. The deadlines will follow similar dates as in 2011.

• Initial applications must be received by Tuesday, August 9, 2011.
• Applicants will be notified about the 2nd round of the application process between August 17 and September 9, 2011.
• The 2nd round will conclude between August 31 and October 5, 2011.
• The winning applicant will work with Rooftop Films, and either Eastern Effects or Edgeworx to determine a specific production schedule and you will be expected to complete your project on schedule.
• If you are rewarded a grant, you will be expected to file one very simple progress report and one very simple completion report, which we will send to you at the appropriate times.

Good luck! We’re excited to hear about your films, and to help them get made and get screened on the roof.