Introducing the Third Coast Festival ShortDocs

[Aaron Ximm <ghede@xxxxxxxx>]

Apologies for the crossposting. See below for the actual call for
proposals.

A personal word about this festival
-----------------------------------
What follows is a call for proposals from the Third Coast Festival in
Chicago, see www.thirdcoastfestival.org.  Note that they don't wany
finished pieces, they want a write up pitching a piece, which they may
then choose to pay(!) you to produce.

I think this may of wide interest. My wife and I were fortunate
enough to participate in the Third Coast Festival in Chicago last year,
and it was inspiring, humbling, and ear-opening.

It's hosted by Chicago Public Radio and largely attended by radio
producers, some from public radio stations (from the US and elsewhere),
many independent... but also by sound artists who work in documentary or
experimental sound, who have an interest in radio.

I suspect that, as I had, many of you who work in experimental or new
genres have not given much thought to doing (let alone marketing) radio
work per se: not simply getting work heard on DJed / curated shows, but
treating radio as a delivery medium with its own institutions,
constraints, joys, challenges, and opportunities.

The cool thing about this festival is that one of the goals of the
organizers is to change that: to breathe new life into public radio here
in the US in particular, and particularly by engaging, encouraging,
listening to, and nurturing non-traditional sound work: ie, the stuff you
probably make if you're reading this.

And in this case, potentially *funding* it, if in a small way for the
moment. I don't know about most of you, but I rarely get paid anything
close to what my time, sweat and energy is "worth."  I don't do it for the
money, obviously: but nonetheless, it's very satisfying to occasionally
have someone validate your work with a check.

But the real benefit of being involved in this festival would be attending
it: the people you meet, the vistas that are opened. It's a chance to
share a few days with a community of intelligent talented people who (a)
believe passionately in the power of sound, and (b) think about it ways
very different from the ones we are used to in our own communities.

If I sound enthusiastic, or like I'm shilling for the festival, it's
because I am, and I am: not because I have anything to gain from doing so
(in fact, the more of you who rise to the challenge, the harder I'm making
it on myself! ;) ), but because I had such a great time attending last
year. And I would love to see more of the amazing work that our community
produces brought to a wider (radio) audience.

Anyway... I just had to editorialize a bit about this.

Incidentally, a footnote of some interest:

A 'story' does not have to be narrative, in fact, I was specifically asked
to forward this posting to communities likely to produce alternative
interpretations of narrative and story.  One of the hopes is to (via shock
and awe) remind producers used to the cut-and-dried voice over style of
NPR at its most banal that there are potent non-linear, perhaps
non-representational ways of telling a compelling tale.

Best regards,
 and hope to hear your work at the festival,
  aaron

  ghede@xxxxxxxx
  http://www.quietamerican.org

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Introducing the Third Coast Festival ShortDocs

The Third Coast International Audio Festival is pleased to announce a new
opportunity for producers. To celebrate the versatility of the documentary
form, we're commissioning three new works on a single topic to be debuted at
our conference in Chicago this fall. Producers from all over the world are
encouraged to submit proposals with their story ideas. Third Coast Festival
staff will select three proposals of distinct style and vision. Those chosen
will demonstrate a range of interpretation, from literal to metaphorical,
narrative to experimental, of the assigned topic.

Winners will attend the Third Coast Conference and participate in a panel
discussion about their work. The winning ShortDocs may be featured at
www.thirdcoastfestival.org <www.thirdcoastfestival.org> , as part of the
Third Coast Festival Listening Room series and/or in the Third Coast
Festival Broadcast.

The Details

NOTE: Please do not submit a proposal unless you can commit to attending the
Third Coast Festival Conference in Chicago, October 16 - 19, 2003, and
presenting your work. (we'll help you get here.)

> TOPIC
Each ShortDoc must relate in some way to the topic of THIRST. Keep in mind
that all interpretations of thirst are welcome.

> LENGTH
Programs must fall between 5 and 6.5 minutes in length.

> RIGHTS
The Third Coast Festival will request non-exclusive rights for all
commissioned work.

> PAYMENT
Producers will receive $500 plus a traveling stipend of up to $400,
accommodations and automatic registration for the Third Coast Festival
Conference.

> TIME FRAME
Proposals for the Third Coast Festival ShortDocs will be accepted from April
1 - May 16th. Producers will be notified by June 1 if their proposal has
been selected. All selected programs must be delivered to the Third Coast
Festival by September 15th.

> PROPOSALS (limit: two per producer)
Proposals must include...

 - Contact info
 - Brief bio
 - Story proposal (max 200 words)

> TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL:

Email:
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fax: 312.948.4867

Send to:
Third Coast Festival
Chicago Public Radio
848 E. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611

This information will be posted at www.thirdcoastfestival.org
<www.thirdcoastfestival.org>  on April 1.

Contact info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with any questions about the Third Coast
Festival ShortDocs.

We look forward to hearing your ideas!

*      *      *      *      *
third coast international audio festival
chicago public radio
ph - 312.948.4682
fax - 312.948.4867

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