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 is designed for 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.

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 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 are not designed to cover the full production budget of even a modest short film. 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.

Eligibility

The Scratchpad Series is aimed at 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.

How It Differs from Larger Grant Programs

Most documentary and film grants fall into one of several categories: development grants (which require a treatment and some evidence of viability), production grants (which require a financed project with a crew and schedule), and post-production grants (which require a rough cut). The Scratchpad Series sits before all of these.

This positioning means the Scratchpad Series fills a gap that most funders do not address. The trade-off is that the grant amounts are small, and filmmakers should view the program as a stepping stone toward larger grants rather than a standalone funding source.

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.

Because the program supports early-stage work, the application materials are typically lighter than what larger grants require. Filmmakers should expect to submit:

• 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.

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
• Filmmakers working in experimental or hybrid forms that may not fit conventional grant categories
• Filmmakers who need a small amount of targeted support to build toward a larger funding application
• First-time filmmakers without prior professional credits who want to test an idea before committing to full production

Filmmakers who already have a polished treatment, secured access, and a clear production plan may be better served applying directly to development grants like the Catapult Film Fund or the Sundance Documentary Fund, which offer larger amounts and support projects at a more advanced stage.

Limitations and Considerations

The Scratchpad Series is a small-scale program. The grant amounts are modest and will not cover full production costs. Filmmakers should have a realistic plan for how the micro-grant fits into a longer-term financing strategy.

The program's website (scratchpadseries.com) has had intermittent availability. Filmmakers interested in applying should verify the current application status and deadlines directly. If the program is between cycles or temporarily inactive, filmmakers should consider alternative micro-grant programs such as the PANO Microgrants (which offers $1,000 grants to underrepresented filmmakers) or the Southern Documentary Fund (which offers $15,000 production grants to Southern US filmmakers).

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.