ABC Grant Program

UPDATED APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Visual Communications is currently accepting submissions for the 5th Annual ABC Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program.

The aim of this program is to nurture and support aspiring writers, directors and filmmakers from diverse backgrounds. The program is designed to assist college and graduate school students as well as artists who are all current members of participating non-profit creative arts institutions like Visual Communications. The goal is to provide financial support and mentorship in the development of a new work or for the completion of a work in progress.

Visual Communications can submit two nominees to ABC for consideration.

ABC and Walt Disney Studios will distribute financial support in the form of scholarships and/or grants to help finance these creative efforts. Selected participants will be paired with a mentor for ten (10) months. The program concludes with a series of workshops in Los Angeles at ABC and The Walt Disney Studios. ABC and The Walt Disney Studios will award the scholarships/grants through the participating organizations only. Winners will receive grants of $20,000 to help the development of proposed projects.

Applicant Guidelines

-Scholarships and grants are awarded to emerging artists who show promise in their respective media

Applicants must submit:

-Work resume
-Personal bio
-ABC Talent Development Application Form completed

Click the links below to download the Application Form pages (Acrobat Reader is required to view documents)

PAGE 1 PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 8

-500-800 word essay describing: 1) career goals; 2) interest in this field
-500-800 word essay describing expectations should ABC grant financial and creative support for the project.
-Applicants must also include the signed and notarized legal agreements contained in the application materials: 1) ABC Legal Agreement; 2) First Look/First Negotiation Agreement; 3) Likeness Agreement
-Detailed budget totaling $20,000.00
-If your submission is a screenplay or a TV script, you must include 1) a treatment, 2) the first ten pages of proposed script
-If your proposed project is a video, you must include 1) a sample reel of a previously completed film/video project in VHS format, 2) a project proposal
-Film and tape submission must be VHS format
-Only the proposed project will be considered. Any additional support material will not be returned.
-In the case of a writing team submission, each partner must submit a separate, notarized application package and resume. If a writing team is selected, they will receive one grant totaling $20,000.00
-A mentor will be assigned to all winners
-Individuals cannot apply directly to ABC and The Walt Disney Studios. All submissions must come through a participating organization.

Applicants who apply through Visual Communications must be members of this organization.
BECOME A MEMBER or call (213) 680-4462 ext.32

Unacceptable materials for the Scholarship Grant Program include but are not limited to the following:
Published materials, i.e., short stories or scripts adapted from other material not indicative of writing for television or film, or sequels to motion pictures, plays, magazine articles, drawings, projects that have been fully executed creatively, i.e., polished scripts or videos needing post production only, and projects that have previously entered into competition or festival.DEADLINE: Postmarked by January 31, 2005.

All materials should be sent to the following address:

ABC New Talent Development Grant
c/o Visual Communications
120 Judge John Aiso St., Basement Level
Los Angeles, CA 90012

If you have any further questions, please e-mail cndy@vconline.org

For further information

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ABC NEW TALENT DEVELOPMENT GRANT WINNER
Fatimah Tobing Rony wins the 2004 ABC New Talent Development Grant!

Visual Communications is delightted to announce that Fatimah Tobing Rony
has been selected as one of the winners of the 4th Annual ABC New Talent
Development Grant ABC announced the winners of this national competition
last month.

The ABC New Talent Development program seeks to nurture and support
aspiring writers, directors, and filmmakers from diverse backgrounds.
Visual Communications was one of the non-profit organizations selected by
ABC to submit a candidate.

In winning, ABC not only provides funds but also an ABC mentor, who will
provide professional guidance while Fatimah works on her feature length
screenplay, titled "Gracie Makes a Movie". The story is about a woman’s
journey of self-discovery, set against the backdrop of Sumatran culture.
Visual Communications is proud of both Fatimah and Yiuwing Lam, last
year’s NTD winner, who just completed his film, "Rupture".

The NTD Grant also supports the sponsoring organizations, will continue to
fund VC’s Armed With a Camera Fellowship Program for emerging filmmakers.
Congratulations to Fatimah and heartfelt thanks to Carmen Smith and ABC
Entertainment.