Scratchpad Series

Overview

The Scratchpad Series is a micro-grant program for early-stage short and experimental documentary and fiction projects by emerging filmmakers in the United States. The program targets projects that are too early in their development to attract conventional grant funding: the concept stage, where a filmmaker has an idea and needs resources to test it, shoot prototype footage, or build initial materials.

The program takes its name from the concept of a scratchpad: the space where ideas are first worked out before they are ready for formal development. Most grant programs require a polished treatment, a rough cut, or a demonstrated track record. The Scratchpad Series targets the gap before those milestones, giving filmmakers small amounts of targeted funding to move from concept to something tangible.

Note: The Scratchpad Series website (scratchpadseries.com) has had intermittent availability. Filmmakers interested in applying should verify the current application status directly. If the program is between cycles or temporarily inactive, consider alternative micro-grant programs listed in the See Also section.

What It Funds

The Scratchpad Series provides micro-grants for development and early production of short and experimental projects. The grants cover the specific costs of early-stage filmmaking:

• Prototype footage and test shoots
• Research and subject access development
• Equipment rental for tests and experiments
• Development of project materials (treatments, mood reels, sample scenes)
• Exploration of formal or thematic approaches before committing to a full production plan

The grants do not cover full production budgets. They provide seed funding that allows a filmmaker to build toward larger grant applications, festival submissions, or crowdfunding campaigns.

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.

Typical Award Size Range

The Scratchpad Series operates with micro-grant amounts. Specific award sizes vary by cycle and have not been consistently published. Based on the program's positioning and comparable micro-grant programs, awards typically fall in the following range:

For comparison, similar micro-grant programs include:

• PANO Microgrants: $1,000 per grant
• Southern Documentary Fund: $15,000 production grants
• Catapult Research Grant: $10,000 with mentorship

Filmmakers should treat the Scratchpad Series as seed funding, not a primary production budget. The grant is designed to cover specific early-stage costs, not to finance a complete short film.

Eligibility

The Scratchpad Series targets emerging filmmakers in the United States. Key eligibility parameters:

• Geography: US-based filmmakers
• Career stage: Emerging filmmakers; prior professional credits are not required
• Project stage: Early-stage development or prototype phase
• Formats: Short film (primary), documentary, fiction, experimental, hybrid
• Project character: The program values projects that are genuinely exploratory, where the filmmaker is working through a formal or thematic question rather than executing a fully predetermined plan

Filmmakers who already have significant production funding, a completed rough cut, or an established track record may be better served by larger grant programs. The Scratchpad Series is designed for the stage before those milestones.

No fiscal sponsor is required. No completed treatment or rough cut is needed. The emphasis is on the idea and the filmmaker's intent to explore it.

Payment Structure

The Scratchpad Series disburses micro-grant funds directly to the filmmaker. Payment is typically made as a single lump sum upon selection. The program does not require a fiscal sponsor for payment processing.

Filmmakers are responsible for managing the grant funds and documenting how they were spent. A simple budget outline is typically requested as part of the application, and a brief report on how funds were used may be requested after the grant period.

Past Recipients and What They Made with the Money

The Scratchpad Series does not maintain a public list of past grant recipients on its website. The program's intermittent online presence makes it difficult to verify specific recipient outcomes.

Based on the program's design, grants would typically fund early-stage work such as:

• Prototype footage for a documentary concept that later developed into a full production
• Test shoots for an experimental short film that went on to festival submissions
• Research and access development for a documentary subject that led to a larger grant application

Without publicly available recipient data, filmmakers cannot verify the program's track record through independent sources. This lack of transparency is a limitation. Filmmakers should weigh this against the program's low barrier to entry and early-stage focus when deciding whether to apply.

If the program is inactive, filmmakers should consider alternative micro-grant programs with documented recipient histories, such as the PANO Microgrants ($1,000 grants to underrepresented filmmakers) or the Catapult Research Grant ($10,000 with mentorship for early-stage documentary).

What Makes an Application Competitive

Because the Scratchpad Series supports early-stage work, the application materials are lighter than what larger grants require. Competitive applications typically demonstrate:

• A clear concept statement that explains what the filmmaker wants to explore and why
• Genuine exploratory intent rather than a fully predetermined execution plan
• A specific use for the funds that moves the project from concept to tangible material
• A simple budget outline showing how the micro-grant will be spent
• Any existing materials (mood boards, references, sample footage if available) that give a sense of the filmmaker's visual or thematic approach

The program does not require a fiscal sponsor, a completed treatment, or a rough cut. The emphasis is on the idea and the filmmaker's intent to explore it. Applications that read as fully formed production plans may be less competitive than those that genuinely engage with the exploratory spirit of the program.

Application Process

The Scratchpad Series operates on a cyclical basis, with application windows opening and closing throughout the year. Filmmakers should check the program's website for current application status, deadlines, and specific requirements for each cycle.

Required materials typically include:

• A project description or concept statement
• A brief explanation of what the grant will fund and why this stage of support is needed
• Any existing materials (mood boards, references, sample footage if available)
• A simple budget outline for how the micro-grant will be spent

The program does not require a fiscal sponsor, a completed treatment, or a rough cut. The emphasis is on the idea and the filmmaker's intent to explore it.

If the program's website is inaccessible, filmmakers should check alternative micro-grant programs and verify the Scratchpad Series status through filmmaker community forums or social media.

Watch

What Filmmakers Should Know

Emerging US filmmakers with an early-stage documentary, fiction, or experimental short film project should check the Scratchpad Series website for current application status. The program fills a gap that most funders do not address: the concept and prototype stage before a treatment, rough cut, or track record exists. The key trade-off: grant amounts are small and the program's online presence has been intermittent, making it difficult to verify application timelines or past recipient outcomes. If the program is active, apply with a clear concept statement and a specific plan for how the funds will move your project forward. If the program is inactive, pursue alternatives like PANO Microgrants ($1,000), the Catapult Research Grant ($10,000 with mentorship), or the Southern Documentary Fund ($15,000 production grants). Use the Scratchpad Series as a stepping stone toward larger grants, not a standalone funding source.

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. For a development grant that supports projects at a slightly later stage, see the Catapult Film Fund entry.