Open Call: Youth Voices Eligibility and Guidelines

Submission application instructions

Applications must include contact information, your written pitch and a video pitch reel. You must also agree to the terms set forth on the application.

It is your responsibility to make sure your entry is complete and accurate. Applicants will not be notified if incomplete applications are submitted.

Please submit only the requested items.

All entry materials become the property of WGBH and will not be returned or acknowledged. WGBH is not responsible for entries that are lost, damaged, mutilated or misdirected.

By submitting an application, you represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to the material submitted and that you agree to the Terms of Use of this Website. Proposals submitted to or currently under consideration with other production, broadcast, funding or distribution entities may not be submitted.

Each applicant or applicant group may submit only one idea per program Open Call. If you are working with several people on one production, each member of the group must submit an online application and accept the application’s terms and conditions. Only one member needs to upload a pitch reel, however each member of the group must indicate that they are part of a group submission and list all members of their team. Only one submission will be accepted per group per Open Call.

Group submissions are only awarded one grant.


For more details on this Open Call, please see the “Heating Up!” Youth Voices page.

What are the Guidelines for this Open Call?

For this Open Call, The WGBH LAB is asking for submissions from Youth Media Makers worldwide. This call hopes to encourage youth media groups, classrooms and individuals who deem themselves as youth media makers to participate in creation of short content that explores the theme that has been presented.

The WGBH Lab awards grants based on original creative expression as well as to applicants with a capacity to bring the project to successful completion.

We encourage applicants to explore new genres, original concepts, alternative points of view, visually driven story lines and other less conventional story forms.

The WGBH Lab takes into consideration community feedback, but ultimately, the WGBH Lab's decisions are final and are not subject to review or appeal.

Criteria for all Open Call entries include, but are not limited to whether the pitch:

* demonstrates a fresh approach to narrative
* will be appropriate and entertaining for a public broadcast venue
* meets WGBH broadcast criteria
* is truthful in its articulation of the theme

All entries submitted become the property of WGBH and will not be returned or acknowledged. Participation in this Open Call is void where prohibited by law.

Who is eligible for this Open Call?

The “Heating Up!” Youth Voices Open Call is open to youth media groups, schools and individuals who are Youth Media Makers.

For this "Heating Up!" Youth Voices Open Call we will allow submissions from individuals and or groups who are or who have members that are of at least 13 years of age. This Open Call is not directed to children younger than 13 and is offered only to individuals or groups with members 13 years of age or older. Parental discretion is advised. If you are not yet 13 years old, please do not use the Website. If you are between 13 and 17 years of age, please review the application, eligibility criteria and Website Terms of Use with your parents/guardians before using this website.

Employees of WGBH or partners of WGBH Lab are not eligible to enter.

If selected to receive a production grant for your pitch, you, or your parent or legal guardian, if you are under the age of 18, must complete, sign, and return a Producer Services Agreement which will require the following, as applicable, among other things:

* your availability to produce your pitched idea into a 3-5 minute short over an 8 week period during April 2009 to May 2009 as outlined in the call.

*While producing your short, you will work independently at your location with your group, class or alone.

*Participate in online activities that are associated with the Open Call process that include:

1. Blogging about your experience,
2. Reviewing and commenting on other production teams works in progress.
3. Communicating with the WGBH Lab team via e-mail or phone about your work in progress.

* not become an employee of or provide other services to WGBH during the calendar year that you apply to an Open Call

*comply with all independent contractor criteria of WGBH, if applicable, including completing all independent contractor status verification paperwork required by WGBH (e.g. Taxpayer I.D. Number for Business). Failure to do so will disqualify you from becoming a grant recipient

* obtain a fiscal agent if WGBH deems it necessary

* certify that the completed work is original, and no other person or entity holds rights to the entry

* certify that the completed work has had no prior cable, network or public television broadcast in the U.S.
* grant WGBH all right, title and interest, including the copyright, in and to the short produced with the grant

Click here to submit your pitch online!