Scratchpad Series
A development and production micro-grant program supporting early-stage short and experimental documentary and fiction projects by emerging filmmakers.
Overview
The Scratchpad Series is a micro-grant and development program for early-stage short and experimental documentary and fiction projects by emerging filmmakers. The program takes its name from the concept of the scratchpad -- the space where ideas are first worked out before they are ready for more formal development -- reflecting its commitment to supporting projects at the earliest stages, before they have enough shape or track record to attract conventional grant funding.
The Scratchpad Series operates with the understanding that many of the most interesting films begin as experiments, and that funding structures that only support projects with polished development materials miss the most adventurous and formally exploratory work. By providing support at the scratchpad stage, the program gives emerging filmmakers the resources to test ideas and discover their projects' true form.
What It Funds
The Scratchpad Series provides micro-grants for development and early production of short and experimental projects. The grants are sized to cover the specific costs of early-stage filmmaking: prototype footage, research and access, equipment rental for tests, and the development of project materials. They are not designed to cover the full production budget of even a modest short film, but to provide meaningful seed funding that allows a filmmaker to move from concept to something tangible.
Both documentary and fiction projects are eligible, as are hybrid and experimental works that sit between those categories. Short film is the primary format supported, though early-stage development for longer projects may be considered in some cycles.
Eligibility
The Scratchpad Series is aimed at emerging filmmakers in the US. The program particularly values projects that are genuinely exploratory -- filmmakers who are working through a formal or thematic question rather than executing a fully predetermined plan. Prior professional credits are not required, and the program is accessible to filmmakers who are early in their careers.
Who Should Apply
Emerging US filmmakers with an early-stage documentary, fiction, or experimental short film project that needs micro-grant support to move from concept to prototype. The program is particularly valuable for filmmakers whose work does not yet have enough material or track record to apply successfully to larger grant programs, and who need a small amount of targeted support to build toward those applications.
See Also
For short film production planning, use the Shot List Generator and the Production Schedule Calculator. For an overview of how micro-grants feed into a longer-term filmmaking career and financing strategy, see Documentary Financing: Building Your Stack.
