ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXAnyone got any advice/experience with putting together a 30 minute cut to use for a funding application for a feature doc?
10 years, 3 months ago - Marie Cecile Embleton
This is our first time putting together 30 minutes of footage to send off for a funding application for post production for a feature doc. We are looking for advice on how best to approach this. Is is better to focus on the strongest footage instead of making a smaller version of the film? Or perhaps consider making three lots of ten minutes instead? Any advice or ideas would be really useful. Thanks in advance.
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10 years, 3 months ago - Marlom Tander
30 mins is a LOT.
Do they ask for that?
This is an area where less is more, and I agree with Wozy - trailer territory. You want to make them think "that's a story that must be told". A trailer, plus a bunch of supporting documentation is probably better than 30 mins, because busy people don't have 30 mins.
Response from 10 years, 3 months ago - Marlom Tander SHOW
10 years, 3 months ago - Marie Cecile Embleton
Hi both, many thanks for advice!
Response from 10 years, 3 months ago - Marie Cecile Embleton SHOW
10 years, 3 months ago - Marie Cecile Embleton
Hi Wozy and Marlom and thanks for your advice. I should have mentioned before it's for a 'soft funding' application not for TV commissioners. They've specifically asked for 30 minutes. Our plan is to go for the strongest bits of footage, with the best bits at the top as a hook just in case it doesn't all get watched. And either do 30 minutes straight or 3 sequences of 10 minutes plus a trailer.
Response from 10 years, 3 months ago - Marie Cecile Embleton SHOW
10 years, 3 months ago - Marlom Tander
Marie - Go for the strongest story, (which will almost certainly include the strongest footage, but if it doesn't, don't force it).
Response from 10 years, 3 months ago - Marlom Tander SHOW
10 years, 3 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren
I would probably steer towards a trailer of 1-2 mins of what you have shot. For that, I would be looking for an editor with specific experience in cutting trailers. The mind set can be quite different to that of actual features/programmes.
Also, what specifically does the application say? That might shed some more light on a possible answer.
Wozy
Response from 10 years, 3 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW
10 years, 3 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren
Well - 30 mins of cutting could be quite a lot of work. It means you're already in post production and spending time and effort and money for what you might not get in return! Seems somewhat odd.
Why not send me a copy of the application and I'll take a look.
Also, if you mention the funders name, someone else here might have had some experience submitting to them previously and can shed some light on the process.
Wozy
Response from 10 years, 3 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW