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Project:Involve INDUSTRY TRACK

Submission Deadline: March 22, 2010

This past year, Film Independent launched its inaugural Industry Track, a component of Project:Involve that is geared towards individuals planning to work in the film industry as agents/managers, development execs, acquisitions/distribution execs, and marketing. Fellows accepted into the Industry Track will fully participate in Project:Involve alongside the writers, directors and producers traditionally taken in the program. They will be paired one-on-one with a mentor from the film industry, attend filmmaking workshops and community screenings, and receive career development assistance.

Now in its 17th year, Project:Involve is Film Independent's signature diversity program, the primary goal of which is to increase diversity in the film industry. We feel that in addition to supporting writers, directors, and creative producers -- as we have done for 17 years -- it is important to also increase diversity in the ranks of the industry's decision makers -- 'the suits'. With the Industry Track, we will support aspiring film professionals from under-represented backgrounds. These are the film leaders of tomorrow -- the execs who will decide which writers and directors to represent and to hire, which films to buy for theatrical release, which films to market, etc. Film Independent is excited to expand the scope of Project:Involve in this way and to connect these up-and-coming film professionals with people in the industry who can mentor and advise them on their chosen career paths.

WHAT IS PROJECT:INVOLVE?

Project:Involve is Film Independent's signature diversity program, dedicated to increasing cultural diversity in the film industry by cultivating the careers of under-represented filmmakers. The program, which runs from October through June, selects filmmakers from culturally diverse backgrounds and filmmaking tracks. The Fellows are paired one-on-one with a mentor from the film industry, attend filmmaking workshops and community screenings, and receive career development assistance.

During the nine-month program, the Fellows are assigned to a team to produce a 3-minute short film project, incorporating a given theme.

40 Fellows are selected for the program each year.

Project:Involve Fellows receive:

  • A one-year membership with Film Independent
  • A pass to the Los Angeles Film Festival (Westwood Pass)
  • Alumni support

Applications are accepted in the following categories:

Acquisitions/Distribution, Agent/Manager, Cinematography, Development Exec, Directing, Documentary, Editing, Film Programming, Marketing, Producing, Screenwriting, and Writer/Director

Past Project:Involve Fellows include:

Effie T. Brown (P:I 1993) - Real Women Have Curves
Jon M. Chu (P:I 2002) - Step Up 2 the Streets
Jennifer Phang (P:I 2000) - Half-Life

Past mentors include:

Stephanie Allain (producer, Hustle and Flow)
Gregg Araki (director, Mysterious Skin)
Patricia Cardoso (director, Real Women Have Curves)
Richard Chew (editor, Star Wars)
Kasi Lemmons (writer/director, Talk to Me)
Christopher Nolan (director, Batman Begins)
Alexander Payne (writer/director, Sideways)
John Toll (cinematographer, The Last Samurai)
Jessica Yu (documentarian, In the Realms of the Unreal)

ONLINE APPLICATION

Applicants must complete the online application by the March 22, 2010 deadline.

Project:Involve is made possible by the support of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Kodak, HBO, Sony Pictures, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and James Irvine Foundation.

WHAT SELECTION CRITERIA ARE USED IN EVALUATING PROJECT:INVOLVE SUBMISSION?

Applicants must meet Project:Involve's goals of increasing cultural diversity in the film industry. Strong consideration will be given to the following:

  • Individuals who come from communities severely under-represented in the film industry
  • Quality of their projects
  • Individuals who demonstrate passion, vision, talent, and commitment to pursuing a career in filmmaking
  • Individuals who demonstrate a high level of responsibility and professionalism

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

Aside from the application fee, there is no tuition to attend Film Independent's Talent Development programs. Film Independent offers Project:Involve as a mentorship opportunity where filmmakers in all capacities can develop their craft and/or projects.

DEADLINES AND FEES

Deadline: March 22, 2010
$55 Film Independent members
$75 Non-members

For more information, please contact Project:Involve at 310.432.1280 or ProjectInv@FilmIndependent.org.

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