NEW YORK (October 1, 2014) — “National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), a nonprofit based in Harlem that has been presenting stories about the Black experience on the public airwaves since 1979, is launching NBPC 360, a new funding initiative designed to identify innovative storytellers and to generate quality serial, digital and multiplatform content for public media outlets, including the Web. Producers will compete for development funds of between $50,000 and $150,000 and the chance to work with veteran producers to develop their series pilots. The program launches on Wednesday, October 1.
NBPC was founded on the mission to bring visionary stories about the rich global Black experience to public television. NBPC has supplied public media with hundreds of hours of quality programming from diverse producers—content that challenges, provokes, educates and entertains. It has since gone on to establish itself as an trailblazer in the digital space, providing training, mentorship, funding and distribution for new digital, multiplatform work. NBPC 360 is the next phase in its storytelling mission; the incubator will help launch nonfiction serial projects for broadcast and Web, fiction projects for the Web, as well as interactive or “transmedia” projects.
“As the public media landscape is evolving, so is NBPC. NBPC 360 signals a shift in our focus from funding ‘one-off’ independent documentaries to creating a complete infrastructure and production model that helps outstanding producers of color create the type of serial programming that will be the wave of the future,” said NBPC Interim Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz.
To kick off the program, NBPC will present a series of professional development webinars and informational workshops at film festivals, hackathons, public television stations, public media conferences and nonprofit media organizations in key markets. Beginning October 1, interested producers may apply for the program at www.blackpublicmedia.org. Up to 10 projects will be selected through an open call for the NBPC 360 inaugural class.
Those chosen projects will enter the incubator phase, a residency that consists of a boot camp and six weeks of intense, hands-on training and preparation for the pitch and pilot phases of the program. The producers of each project will be assigned a mentor to fine-tune their project concept as they work to develop a full proposal and sample reel to pitch to public media and industry professionals.
The 10 teams will present their project to a high-profile panel of production companies, station representatives interested in hosting a project and a live audience brought together by NBPC during a pitch session at a national film festival. Teams will be evaluated on their market/audience research, technical and artistic merits, relevance, team capacity and suitability to the broadcast venue. Three winners will be selected, and each winning team will be awarded between $50,000 and $150,000 to cover production costs for its pilot.
The three winning teams—with help from an assigned executive producer and/or a producing station—will produce its pilot over the next four to six months. The teams will outline the remaining episodes, production plan, market research and budget that support a primetime broadcast slot or web series. The three producing teams, together with NBPC, will then pursue broadcast and distribution opportunities for the programs.
To continue to nurture the next generation of content producers, NBPC will help facilitate meetings with distributors, funders and other interested producing outlets for producers of the seven projects that do not move on to the pilot stage. The meetings will be aimed at providing further development and funding of these additional projects.
Promotional Images
Click here to download the promotional logo image for NBPC 360
Online Webinar Details
The NBPC 360 online webinars and information sessions are professional presentations designed to help producers plan and explore important themes helpful to putting together the best application for NBPC 360.
(Participants will need USB headsets to participate in any of these online sessions.)
Wednesday, October 8th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
How Do You Plan for an Interactive Project?
Producers find out the general guidelines, funding levels, and timeline for NBPC 360 initiative. Also learn from experienced producers what it takes to plan, budget, and recruit the right skills needed for a successful interactive project with Adnaan Wassey of the POV Hackathons project.
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (646) 749-3131, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/585694365
Wednesday, October 15th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
Many Rivers to Cross: How Do You Make an Engaging Multi-Part Series?
Producers find out the general guidelines, funding levels, and timeline for NBPC 360 initiative. Also they learn from Senior Story Producer for “The African Americans: Many Rivers To Cross” Leslie Asako Gladsjo discussing what it takes to create engaging serial content using factual or historical content as your foundation.
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (872) 240-3312, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/485664445
Wednesday, October 22nd @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
Finding and Keeping Your Audience
Producers learn best practice audience engagement methods, planning and execution of successful marketing strategies, and matching a real world audience to the right online platform or project experience. With Deniese Davis, COO of Issa Rae’s ColorCreative.tv, and producer of the hit web series “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.”
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (571) 317-3112, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/311074125
Wednesday, October 22nd @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
No Producer Is An Island: Developing Your Infrastructure for Series Production
Producers learn what it takes to turn their “one man bands” into sustainable collaborative crews, and ultimately production entities which can be funded consistently and produce content regularly. With commercial and public television series producer Banks Tarver of Left/Right Media.
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (872) 240-3412, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/367293789
Wednesday, November 5th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
What’s a Pewdiepie? Anatomy of a Web Series (Part 1)
Over two online sessions in consecutive weeks producers will learn what it takes to make a web series especially via a channel like YouTube, with case studies, best practice tips, and revenue numbers. With producer Jorge Rivera.
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (872) 240-3412, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/380251181
Wednesday, November 12th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
What’s a Pewdiepie? Anatomy of a Web Series (Part 2)
Over two online sessions in consecutive weeks producers will learn what it takes to make a web series especially via a channel like YouTube, with case studies, best practice tips, and revenue numbers. With producer Jorge Rivera.
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (571) 317-3112 long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/907284877
Wednesday, November 19th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
Marketing + Measuring Impact: What Are Vanity Metrics
Producers learn how to track their impact throughout the project and stay away from “vanity metrics,” in order to help their fundraising. With social media strategists Ann Nguyen and George Weiner of the Whole Whale social media firm.
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (805) 309-0033, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/480994141
Digital Office Hour Details
Digital office hours will be held on Fridays at 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST via GoToMeeting.
Digital Office Hour I
Date/Time: Friday, October 3rd @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (646) 749-3122, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/521052933
Digital Office Hour II
Date/Time: Friday, October 17th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (619) 550-0003, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/282600405
Digital Office Hour III
Date/Time: Friday, October 31st @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (312) 878-3078, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/426196037
Digital Office Hour IV
Date/Time: Friday, November 14th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (571) 317-3112, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/654505765
Digital Office Hour V
Date/Time: Friday, November 28th @ 4:00 PM EST/1:00 PM PST
We suggest you use your microphone and speakers (VOIP) for audio. However you may also listen via phone by calling in here: (805) 309-0033, long distance charges apply.
Link to join session: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/693262501