| Articulate Your Vision for Funders |
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Page 2 of 2 Visual or audio aidsanything that gets across the look and feel of the film is helpfulAnother element that Galway thinks is often overlooked is visual or audio aids. “If you’re doing a story set in the jazz era, maybe you could include visuals of posters or photos of performers in smoky bars,” he says. “Or maybe include images or footage of a specific location, like the rural landscape or urban setting in which the script is set.” Of course, Galway laughingly adds, shooting footage of your sister and her boyfriend badly acting a scene isn’t recommended. “I’ve had some people include a CD of the type of soundtrack music they’re thinking of, to help me understand the emotional mood of the script. And then I listen to the music while I read the script. Fewer people do this kind of thing than you’d imagine. But anything that gets across the look and feel of the film is helpful.” Galway also points out that it’s helpful if filmmakers have a sense of the demographic for the script’s intended audience. “I’m sure most filmmakers are thinking that way but they don’t necessarily lay it out specifically for us to see.” Canadian contentOn the often complicated issue of what makes a film “Canadian,” Galway refers back to the Fund’s commitment to stories and points to Water, a project the Fund was involved in. Made by writer-director Deepa Mehta and producer David Hamilton, the film tells the story of impoverished widows in the India of the 1930s. “Our requirement is that the applicant is Canadian,” explains Galway. “Deepa and David are Canadians. Beyond that, the story can be set in any location or told from any experience. Ultimately, it should be a story that anyone can understand, whether that’s a personal struggle or a romance or whatever.”Communication is importantAs in most areas of life, communication is important, says Galway, yet many filmmakers simply follow the checklist on the application form and leave it at that. “I’m surprised how often I have to call somebody to have a dialogue or get some additional information. When you chat with a person, you often express things that are important to the project but don’t get written down on the application. If there’s a message I’d like to get across, it’s that it’s just the four of us here and you can call us.” |
