Fulbright 70 Video Production Contest

Prize

• Video production costs (max $AUD 5,000)
• Trip to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts – flights, accommodation (3 nights), campus tour, and tailored Film / Media / Graphic Arts workshop with USC Fulbright Alumni network (conditions apply – see below)

Eligibility:

• Open to current undergraduate / postgraduate students, or graduates who completed studies in 2016/17, in the areas of multimedia / film / design or other relevant field
• Teams (max 3 persons) may apply
• Once the winning pitch is selected, the team will receive funding to produce the video but must finalise by 1 February 2019 to receive the full award
• Videos may include animation, stop motion, voxpops, sizzle reels, interviews or testimonials from Fulbright Alumni, or other innovative media

Proposals

Applications must include:

• Plan for design, development & production of video
• Timeline for pre-production, production, and post-production
• Storyboard and treatment spec
• Detailed budget and breakdown of production costs (include licensing for music etc.)
• A sample of a previously completed video project – include reel & project description
• CV & Portfolio
• 2 reference letters (relevant academic or professional)

End product must:

• clearly convey key messages as outlined in Guidelines section (see below)
• incorporate the Australian-American Fulbright brand
• be suitable for desktops and small screen mobile devices
• have a shelf-life of 2-3 years

Conditions

• Candidates must source production equipment themselves
• Candidates must include all production costs in proposed budget including any equipment rental / travel / other expenditure – no additional funds will be offered
• The Commission will support the successful candidate & link them with Fulbright Alumni where necessary
• References should convey candidates reliability, capacity to work to deadlines
• Successful candidate must update Fulbright staff once a month during development phase
• Final editorial control rests with the Commission
• Deliverables should include a broadcast quality version not just desktop
• Successful candidate must complete the project by deadline of 1 February 2019 in order to receive full award
• LA trip to be coordinated with the Fulbright Commission – timings contingent on availability of University of Southern California faculty, flights booked via Commission travel agency

Proposal Application Deadline: 30 September 2018
Successful entry announced: 15 October 2018
Project completion deadline: 1 February 2019

I) Objectives of Video Campaign

• To raise awareness of the Australian-American Fulbright Scholarships program, and highlight impact
• To commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the Australian-American Fulbright Scholarships program
• To attract a contemporary audience
• To engage potential Fulbright Scholarship applicants and media

II) Target Audience:

• General public
• Students, researchers, lecturers and professionals in all disciplines
• Media

III) Key Messages:

1. Fulbright Scholarships have a significant impact on the lives of awardees
2. The Fulbright Program has been supporting educational exchange in Australia for 70 years
3. Fulbright Scholarships are open to postgraduate students, scholars & professionals in all disciplines

Secondary (optional) messages:

1. A Fulbright Scholarship is an opportunity to make an impact in your field and on the community, to connect with people internationally, and to expand horizons
2.  The Fulbright community is a global network with Fulbright Programs in 160 countries

IV) Tone:

• Fresh and engaging, a new take on our current messaging
• Appropriate for a varied audience (postgraduate students, academics & professionals)
• Fulbright awards are prestigious / competitive but accessible to all
• Examples can be seen in links below. We are looking for a new approach that will engage a modern audience

• Take careful note of the guidelines! Make sure that your pitch aligns with our objectives – to raise awareness, highlight impact, to commemorate our 70^th anniversary, and to engage a contemporary audience
• Be resourceful and budget conscious – the Fulbright Commission is a non-profit organisation that operates with minimal resources. We’ll be looking for proposals that aim to get the most out of the budget.
• Work to your team’s strengths – make sure your pitch utilises and showcases all of your skills, and is supported by your portfolio. Have an ace cameraman? Focus on cinematography. Post-production pro? Show off your editing skills. Top Gun drone pilot? Incorporate some aerial footage scenes.
• Be realistic about what you can achieve within the time-frame – media production specialists will be assessing your pitch, and they will know if your proposal seems overly ambitious.
• Be creative – Don’t be afraid to put forward some innovative ideas! We want to get our message across, we want it to stand out, and we want it to be engaging. If you have a unique idea about how you can achieve this, go with it!
• Know who we are, and where we’re coming from – a general understanding of the history and ethos of the Fulbright Program will provide crucial insight into our brand, and may give you some ideas on how to capitalise on that.