Open Call: War stories

1. Pitch | 2. Rate Pitches | 3. Production | 4. Rough Cuts | 5. Completed Productions

What is the Open Call?

Open Call seeks big ideas for small screens. Selected applicants receive funding to produce a short film. During production, you'll get valuable input and a place to showcase your work. Keep checking back, because we'll be hosting more Open Calls in the future, including one hosted by our editorial partner, P.O.V. In the meantime, check out our current Open Call, War Stories!

Phase 1: Pitch

WWII Paratroopers from Lab Sandbox Paratroopers. Courtesy WGBH Lab Sandbox.

War Stories

Wars erupt between nations, between ideas, and between people. This summer's OPEN CALL is a chance to tell us your story as it relates to this topic. It may be about the ongoing conflicts in Darfur or Iraq, your grandfather's memories from World War II, your take on the war between the sexes, or your account from the front lines of the war on poverty. We challenge you to pitch us an idea for a 3-minute video that conveys a compelling perspective on war, generating a new understanding of conflict.

Finished work may be presented in conjunction with Ken Burns' series, "The War," via broadcast and broadband.

There are Four Phases of the Open Call

Here's what to expect in the coming weeks:

Phase 1: Pitch

June 7–June 25
Submit your pitch for your 3-minute War Story and a sample reel of your work. Give us the old one-two hook.

Phase 2: Rate and Review

June 29–July 9
If your pitch is a knockout, it will be posted on this website for the community to review. Then a WGBH-appointed creative board, together with input from the online community, will select pitches for funding.

Phase 3: Producers Announced/Production Begins

July 11
Once your pitch makes it to this phase, you're on your way. You are officially a Lab producer, and your work has just begun...

Phase 4: Virtual Rough Cut Review

August 7- 17
During this final stage of the Open Call, you produce and present a rough edit of your short in the Lab's virtual "rough cut" room. Rough cuts are posted online and are open to community critique and rating. You'll revise or refine your short based on feedback from the community. The final version of your short will be posted online and become part of the Lab's permanent showcase.

Eligibility | Guidelines | What to Submit | Group Applicants | Selection Criteria

Eligibility

Almost anyone with a good idea and the gumption to execute a video short may apply to the Lab's Open Call. You must be a legal resident of the United States and be at least eighteen years of age to apply.

Employees of WGBH are not eligible to enter. All entries submitted become the property of WGBH and will not be returned or acknowledged.

If selected to receive a grant you must complete, sign, and return a Producer Services Agreement and:

comply with all independent contractor criteria of WGBH 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
be available to produce the short during a four week period beginning on or around 7/10/07 and ending no later than 8/17/07
not become an employee of or provide other services to WGBH prior to December 31, 2007
if deemed necessary by WGBH, obtain a fiscal agent
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 US
grant WGBH all right, title and interest, including the copyright, in and to the short produced with the grant

Guidelines

All persons who have contributed to the proposed Open Call short must complete the online application and accept the terms of the submission release form at the end of the online application.

What to Submit

To be considered, applications must be complete. Completed applications include the following:

Online Application Form

Your pitch, including style and approach to material
Sample of a previous work or pitch (if applicable)

Be creative when making your pitch. In addition to your short written proposal, you may also send us a link to a video of yourself making an "elevator pitch."

Submission Release Form (pdf)
Read the submission release agreement at the end of the online application and accept or decline the terms of the release. Applicants must agree to the release to apply for a grant from the WGBH Open Call. If you are not willing to be bound by the terms of the release, you must not click the "Accept" button and your application will not be processed.

Applicants will not be notified if incomplete applications are submitted. Please retain copies of any material you submit with your application, as such materials will not be returned to you.

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 a pitch, you must represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to the material submitted.

Proposals submitted to or currently under consideration with other production, broadcast, funding or distribution entities should not be submitted.

Note: Only one submission will be accepted per person per Open Call. If more than one person has originated the proposed program as a group, all persons who have contributed to the proposed program must complete the online application and a submission release form.

For Group Applicants

Follow these guidelines if you are applying to the Lab Open Call as part of a group.

All persons who have contributed to the proposed program must complete the online application and accept the terms of the submission release form at the end of the online application. Each person should indicate on the online application that they are part of a group submission and list the names of each member of the group. Each group member will compete the online application, including the pitch and any samples of previous work.

Note: Only one submission will be accepted per group per Open Call. Only one grant will be awarded to any joint submission.

Selection Criteria

There are four phases of the Open Call, which include two rounds of selection.

In the first round of selection, all Open Call entries will be reviewed by a creative board whose decisions are final and not subject to review or appeal. Criteria during round one 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, and meets WGBH broadcast criteria

The WGBH Lab creative board also considers whether the applicant demonstrates a track record of creative expression and 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. WGBH will select finalists based on the criteria above. Of the finalists, WGBH will select at least three producers to receive a grant.

In the second round of selection, uploaded sample reels and pitches from the finalists will be available online from June 29 through July 9 for online community review. Audience favorites will factor in, but will not solely determine who will become the final Open Call producers.

Notification of grant awards will be made by e-mail on or before 7/11/07.