ETV looking for DOCUMENTARY PROPOSALS – 3 days to go
ETV is giving young documentary producers a chance to submit their ideas – only trick is – they have to be in by the end of the month – so get cracking! It sounds great – lets tell our stories majita!
INVITATION FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTARIES
…
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 e.tv is launching a national documentary project in June 2005. The objective of this project is to provide an opportunity to young documentary producers in provinces which, historically, have not been part of mainstream television production in South Africa.
1.2 The project is intended to develop production capacity for television in historically marginalized provinces as well as to produce documentaries which reflect the unique stories of the people living in South Africa’s various provinces.
1.3 In the circumstances, this invitation is restricted to producers who operate in the following provinces:
ý Eastern Cape
ý Free State
ý KwaZulu Natal
ý Limpopo
ý Mpumalanga
ý Northern Cape
ý North West
1.4 Producers in the above-mentioned provinces are invited to submit proposals for a half-hour documentary which reflects issues unique to their province, on the terms and conditions set out in this invitation.
2.THE BRIEF
2.1 e.tv wishes to encourage producers to present ideas that are creative and unique to their province. In the circumstances, this invitation is not overly prescriptive with regard to content, form and style but seeks to set out the broad parameters of e.tv’s requirements.
2.2 The proposals must deal with a topical aspect of the lives of people residing or working in the relevant province. The topic chosen must hold appeal for a national audience. The documentary must be focused on a person or persons and must be unique to the province.
2.3 The documentaries will be broadcast in prime time and must be suitable for early prime time and daytime viewing. The target market is middle to upper income viewers and must have broad appeal. The documentaries may be presented in English but at least 15% of the dialogue must be in languages other than English which are unique to the province. Dialogue which is not in English will be sub-titled in English. Producers are required to indicate in their proposals how they propose to incorporate the language requirements in a manner that reflects the linguistic diversity of their province.
2.4 e.tv will accept programme proposals only from South African production companies which have a registered business address in the province concerned. If the producer is not a business, s/he must demonstrate, to e.tv’s satisfaction, that s/he resides and works in the province in respect of which s/he is submitting the proposal.
2.5 The budget for the 26-minute documentary will be a maximum of R100 000. The final budget will be determined by e.tv.
2.6 All programme proposals submitted will be evaluated by e.tv. Short-listed producers will be required to present their proposals to an e.tv panel at a venue to be determined in the province. Producers are required to cover any and all costs incurred in making and submitting the proposals as well as, in the case of short-listed producers, presenting the proposals to the e.tv panel
2.7 One proposal from each province will be selected for commissioning by e.tv.
The producer concerned will be required to work within the final budget determined by e.tv and to sign e.tv’s standard commissioning agreement.
2.8 The successful producer will be required to work with an Executive Producer from e.tv and any such other staff as e.tv may, in its sole discretion, determine. All commissioned documentaries are subject to e.tv’s final editorial control.
2.9 The selection of programme proposals, the determination of the budget for the programme and the terms and conditions of the standard commissioning contract are all entirely within e.tv’s discretion.
3. CONTENT OF PROPOSALS
The proposals must contain the following information:
ý A detailed treatment of the proposed documentary;
ý A description of the locations where the documentary is to be shot and the names of individuals to be interviewed;
ý Proposed name/s of the presenter or commentator, if any;
ý Production budget incorporating a detailed description on personnel, equipment and resource requirements;
ý Information which confirms that the key personnel working on the documentary are based in the province concerned.
4. FORMAL REQUIREMENTS
4.1 All programme proposals from production companies must include the following
information:
ý Name and registration number of production company;
ý Names, race and gender of shareholders of production company;
ý Names, race and gender of directors of production company;
ý Names, race and gender of senior personnel at the production company and their positions; and,
ý Details of training initiatives engaged in by the production company over the past 12 months.
4.2 If the producer is not a company, s/he must provide detailed information of the race and gender of the proposed personnel for the documentary.
4.3 All proposals must contain the name, address and telephone numbers of person representing the company for purposes of the proposal.
5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS INVITATION
5.1 Submission of the proposals is based on the unconditional acceptance by the producer of the terms and conditions in this invitation.
5.2 e.tv may, at any time prior to the closing date for the submission of the proposals, inform interested persons of an amendment to this document.
5.3 The documents requested and information sought (as set out above) must be provided. Failure to furnish all required information or documentation or the furnishing of any false or misleading statement or document may disqualify the proposal.
5.4 All costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposals must be carried by the producer concerned. e.tv will under no circumstances be liable for these costs.
5.5 e.tv’s decision concerning the commissioning of programme proposals is final.
5.6 e.tv is under no obligation to provide feedback on particular proposals and will not enter into any correspondence on the proposals.
5.7 Producers who supply material or tapes do so at their own risk. Owing to the administration involved, e.tv will not return to producers any material or tapes submitted to it in terms of this invitation.
6. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
The programme proposals must be submitted to e.tv’s offices in Johannesburg No 5 Summit Road, Hyde Park, Johannesburg 2146, by no later than 30 June 2005 for the attention of Malebo Phage, Head of Local Productions.
