Latino Lens Guidelines

Presented by NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) and supported by a variety of industry, media, and organizational sponsors, NALIP’s Latino Lens is an exclusive incubation and media content production program designed to develop, nurture, and produce a series of creative Latino projects. Working simultaneously as a distribution model of Latino media screenings, festivals, and speaker showcases,the Latino Lens program highlights Latino talent as producers, directors, and writers.

NALIP’s Latino Lens is divided into 4 main categories: Narrative, Digital, Documentary, and TV/Streaming. Each pipeline has its own funding source, sponsor, media liaison, and industry partners. We create and develop these incubation programs specifically with an outcome and an outlet in mind.

The Latino Lens: Narrative Shorts Incubator is a call to content creators to submit their profile as well as an original short narrative concept to be considered for this signature incubator program.

In addition to other media and industry sponsors, The Latino Lens: Narrative Shorts Incubator is supported by Time Warner Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Keeping with NALIP’s mission to foster and promote Latino media, the Latino Lens: Narrative Shorts Incubator will feature 3-5 short narrative scripts from Latino media content creators.

Each 3 - 10 minute short film will present a creative approach and independent focus on an engaging storyline. NALIP will contribute to pre-production, production, and post-production tools, resources, and assets to support the successful completion of each film. NALIP will also consult with these content creators on a viable distribution strategy to ensure viewer exposure.

To be considered for the Latino Lens: Narrative Shorts Incubator, you must apply online and submit your profile and original short narrative content. Your profile should be submitted by 11:59 PM PST, Friday September 11th, 2015. Apply here. Before you apply, please read all the guidelines listed below and refer to the FAQ page here.

NALIP will consider content creator profiles beginning August 7, 2015 and ending 12:00 AM/ Midnight PST on Friday, September 11, 2015. Out of this pool of profiles, 50-75 will be invited for the second round of finalists for the Latino Lens: Narrative Shorts Incubator.

Profiles considered for the second round will be notified by Monday, October 5th, 2015.

Overall Eligibility:

To apply and be considered for this incubator program, you must meet these requirements:

Be current NALIP members. To become a member, please follow this link.

NALIP members must be 18 years or older.

NALIP members must have a valid email address.

First Round: (DEADLINE PASSED)

NALIP requests the following materials for first round consideration:

Current NALIP Membership (Media Maker or Media Maker Pro Levels)

Submission form

Content Creator profile

Original short narrative concept in logline format

Links to Content creator’s reel

Bios of key creative team

Short narrative concepts with themes that highlight complex lead characters, innovative and compelling storylines, and offer a fresh take on the Latino experience will be highly considered for Latino Lens.

All submissions must be original concepts. Members submitting for Latino Lens must hold authorship over the work being created. They must also not have previously entered any contest or competition. Nor should it have won any previous awards. Plagiarizing or using copyrighted material without the consent of the original author will result in automatic disqualification.

Second Round:

50-75 projects will be invited for the second round of consideration.

Finalists of the second round will be required to pay a $65 processing fee along with submitting additional materials such as a letter of recommendation, budget summary, detailed timeline, and a partner and resources list. We ask that these documents explore an innovative concept surrounding a theme which adheres to NALIP’s provided guidelines.

NALIP requests the following application materials for the second round of applications:

Treatment
Short script (3 to 10 pages)
Budget outline (Top Sheet only)
Production timeline (February 19 2016 - March 25, 2016)
Letter of Support from a key mentor will also be requested. This could be industry veteran with recent IMDB-verified Television, film and or digital web series credits (no older than 2013), an industry-based or arts oriented organization (such as Sundance, Film Independent, IFP, Outfest, New Filmmakers, Tribeca, PGA, DGA, WGA, FICG in LA, Walter Kaitz, Women’s Film Institute, NHMC, IDA, etc...) network, studio, MFA program, talent agency and management companies.
Payment processing fee of of $65 for the Second Round to be payed HERE.

The deadline to submit these additional materials and the processing fee for the second round of consideration is 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, October 29th, 2015 to [email protected]

Third Round:

The final three selected projects will receive financial support between $15,000 - $25,000 to produce the narrative short. Participants will work with the NALIP andLatino Lens staff, crew, and mentors to work out the best plan on how to produce the short film.

Selected producers will work with NALIP throughout the development, production, and post-production processes. This will culminate into a Latino Lens Screening on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at NALIP’s annual Media Summit in Los Angeles, CA. Information regarding the screening and media summit will be available on our website and sent via our newsletter.

NALIP requests the following for third round eligibility:

NALIP reserves the right to withhold portions of the support if, during a required update or review of the project, certain goals and guidelines previously set are not met.

It is required that each Latino Lens team have all consent, release forms, rights and permissions before moving to the next phase. If the team does not meet this requirement by the end of the pre-production period, then the team will be disqualified.

Selected finalists must provide a financial production report that details the costs and usage of the budget and account for all support. Grantees must also acknowledge NALIP and Latino Lens in the opening and end credits, all promotional material and publicity of the short film project.

Funding for the Latino Lens: Narrative Shorts Incubator will be provided by Time Warner Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts among other media and industry sponsors.

More information about the initiative is available at http://www.nalip.org/latinolens.

The National Association of Latino Independent Producers — NALIP— is a national membership organization that addresses professional and advancement needs of Latino/Latina independent content creators, producers, performers, writers, directors and leaders in media. NALIP works to increase the quality and quantity of images by, for, and about Latino/as in the media landscape. We provide ongoing support for the Latino content creators of digital platforms, tech, narrative film, documentary and television including advanced and mid-career professionals as well as emerging producers, actors, writers, directors, and students. Since our inception in 1999, NALIP has established itself as one of the premiere Latino media organizations; one which focuses on transforming the media field by addressing the needs of the largest ethnic minority in the country at a time when our community continues to be underrepresented both in front of and behind the camera.

As the first national organization of its kind for over 16 years, NALIP has been addressing the professional needs of Latino content creators while supporting and strengthening grassroots, community-based, and independent work. Along with a link to publicly funded and industry-based media artists in film, television, documentary and digital, NALIP works to strengthen and multiply the quality and quantity of images by and about Latino/as. We strive to create new and innovative tools and projects for the community and the public at large.

Submission Review and Selection:

Proposals will be reviewed by NALIP and evaluators. Final decisions will be made by NALIP in consultation with evaluators and mentors. Successful applicants will be required to sign a binding agreement with NALIP who will administer the agreement, provide development, and production assistance.

Timeline:

September 11th, 2015 - Deadline for Latino Lens First Round Submissions via NALIP

October 18th, 2015 - Notifications to 50-75 projects to apply for Second Round

Dec. 15th, 2015 - Notifications to Twelve (12) projects selected as semifinalists for Second Round

Dec. 15th, 2015 - Jan. 18th, 2016 - Third Round Evaluation of Twelve (12) Semifinalists

January 18th, 2016 - NALIP Announces Selection of Three (3) Finalists.

January 18th - Feb. 19th, 2016 - Pre-production of 3 Final Shorts Narrative Projects

February 19th - March 25th, 2016 - Production of 3 Final Shorts Narrative Projects

March 25th - May 20th, 2016 - Post Production of 3 Final Shorts Narrative Projects

May 30th, 2016 - Final Approved Narrative Shorts Due to NALIP

*June 23rd, 2016 - Narrative Shorts screen at 2016 NALIP Media Summit

*scheduling, screening and eventual broadcast of shorts is at the editorial discretion of NALIP.

NALIP Conditions:

NALIP is not responsible for loss or damage to material submitted with or in support of this open call. Any submission to NALIP shall become the property of NALIP (not including any intellectual property rights contained in such submission), and NALIP is not required to return any submitted materials to any Applicant. NALIP is not responsible for any violation of copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other rights that may result from disclosure made by response to this call.

Solicitation by NALIP of profile and short narrative concepts does not constitute an agreement by NALIP to extend funding to any party for the project under consideration. NALIP may, in its sole discretion, elect not to pursue this project in any manner.

By submitting a profile, short concept and if invited to submit an application for subsequent rounds, each Applicant grants to NALIP the right to duplicate, use, disclose, and distribute all of the materials submitted for purposes of evaluation, review, and research. In addition, each Applicant guarantees that the Applicant has full and complete rights to all of the information and materials included in the proposal. Each Applicant also guarantees that all such materials are not defamatory and do not infringe upon or violate the privacy rights, copyrights, or other proprietary rights of any third party.

Conditions of Agreement:

If a proposal is selected for funding, Applicants will be required to sign a binding agreement. Until both parties have signed an agreement, no express or implied commitment has been made to provide financial support. Applicants are not authorized to commence activities until the agreement is fully executed. If Applicants opt to commence activities, they do so at their own risk. No oral or written statement other than the signed, written agreement will govern or modify the relationship.

As a condition of agreement, Applicants must guarantee that, among other things, any activity they undertake on behalf of NALIP is not defamatory and will not violate or infringe upon the privacy rights, copyrights, or other proprietary rights of any third party. Applicants must also agree to indemnify NALIP against any loss resulting from breach of any of the guarantees contained in the agreement.

Those receiving production support from NALIP must be able to comply with a number of requirements that will be included in the operative agreement. These requirements include but are not limited to:

(1) Maintenance, for 3 years following receipt of relevant funds, of all financial records to the project, which records shall be accessible to NALIP, and to the U.S. Comptroller General or other representatives for examination and audit purposes. (Applicant will additionally ensure that any subcontractors or consultants under the agreement shall also maintain such records for the period specified and under the same terms);

(2) Maintenance, for 3 years after approval of a final financial report, of a complete file of all subcontracts and other agreements, licenses, clearances, and other documents related to the activity undertaken, copies of which shall be made available to NALIP on request;

(3) Compliance with equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination laws and policies;

(4) Applicants will be required to provide documentation as to actual costs, and provide supporting detail demonstrating that all costs are reasonable, necessary and allocable to the requirements and objectives of the activity undertaken; and full financial report.

(5) All research and materials created, developed, compiled or produced pursuant to or as a result of this project (including but not limited to all reports) will be considered ordered and commissioned by NALIP as works made for hire under the copyright laws, and made in the course of services rendered. If, for any reason, the proposed research and materials to be provided are not considered works made for hire under the copyright laws, then the Applicant will be required to assign all right, title and interest in and to such research and materials to NALIP. Applicant further agrees that neither they, nor any of their subcontractors, will have any copyrights or other intellectual property rights whatsoever in any research and/or materials created, developed, compiled or produced by them or by any subcontractor, or by any third party participating in the preparation of research or materials for this project.

(6) Latino Lens does not support short narrative concepts based upon stereotypes and/or storylines which portray Latinos in a negative light; must avoid including anything that is offensive to a specific race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic group; can not include any defamatory statements; anything which has already been submitted to other programs; completed projects already in post, streaming, or premiered; previously sold or optioned; cannot violate any local, state or federal laws; cannot violate or threaten any business, person, place or group.

(7) The agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Other material terms and provisions will be set forth in the documents provided to the Applicant that successfully completes the selection process.

NALIP will have complete rights to the reports created as deliverables for this project.

NALIP will not be responsible for any costs incurred by an Applicant in preparing and submitting a proposal, or in performing any other activities relative to this solicitation.

Additional Requirements:

Applicant will recognize NALIP funding support by including a NALIP and Latino Lens logo (in accordance with NALIP standards and approval) on content.

Produced content will be made available online via a third party player, such as nalip.org for embedding on http://www.nalip.org/latinolens

If you have any questions, please e-mail: [email protected]

BEFORE YOU APPLY, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO REVIEW THE FOLLOWING:

Did you review our webpage?

Did you visit the Latino Lens webpage?

Have you gathered the following information?

1. Brief Bio

Provide a brief bio summarizing your narrative experience. (250 Words or less)

2. Narrative Short Concept

What is your narrative short concept?

Logline

Please provide a short narrative concept in logline format. Themes that highlight complex lead characters, innovative and compelling storylines, and offer a fresh take on the Latino experience will be highly considered for Latino Lens. Concept must also adhere to NALIP’s provided guidelines.

3. Work Sample

Please provide links to your prior work. We prefer links via Vimeo or YouTube. If you are sending us a private link, be sure to include the password.

4. Production Team

Can you list the key members of your above the line production team and their responsibilities?

5. NALIP Membership

Producer applying must be a current NALIP member. To become a member, please use this link.

Want PDF of call to review before applying? Download it HERE.