Open Call: Watch Over Me

The Call

Forty-four million Americans are caring for aging relatives and friends. Are you one of them? If so, tell us your story.

How has the process affected you and your family? Are you arguing more with your spouse or siblings? Do long independent parents feel isolated and helpless? How do you make ends meet with the burdens of uncovered medical or home help expenses? And are there benefits? Is your family closer? Given the many challenges and costs of caring for parents, why do so many families persevere? Why did your family?

In April, PBS will broadcast a special program, Caring For Your Parents, by award-winning filmmaker and FRONTLINE producer Michael Kirk. The program profiles five American families caring for aging parents and the struggles they confront.

To complement the program, The WGBH Lab invites you to submit your own completed 3-minute video story. Selected shorts offer a personal perspective, a provocative question, a surprising visual style, a fresh genre or a unique point of view. Selected works may be licensed for use via broadcast or broadband in conjunction with the April premiere of Caring For Your Parents on PBS in April.

The Process

1. Submit Your Work

   January 24th – February 29th*
   
   Submit your best take on the theme we’ve outlined above. We are open to your personal interpretation of the topic, and we encourage films from all points of view. Most of all, we’re looking for fresh ways of telling a story – a surprising visual approach, an unexpected genre, or a unique voice. Fill out the online application and upload your completed piece according to the instructions. Finished submissions should be no longer than three minutes and comply with WGBH Lab eligibility and guidelines.
   
   From the submissions, the WGBH Lab creative board will select 10-20 films that will be open to community review.
   
   

2. Community Review

   February 25th – March 24th*
   The WGBH Lab community members can now review and rate the selected short films. With their help, the Lab will choose up to five completed works that will be licensed for possible use during the broadcast premiere of Caring For Your Parents on PBS in April. All five finalists will find a permanent home for their work at the WGBH Lab. Their films may also appear on the Caring For Your Parents web site.

*All dates are subject to change.