Calendar – Past Event

Saturday, April 17, 2010 in Los Angeles
The Standard, Downtown LA
9:30 - 10AM: Registration/Networking
10AM - 5PM: Workshop

Part of the 2010 Doc U Seminar series.

Looking for funding while maintaining a career as a media maker can be a competitive, elusive and overwhelming proposition. Nationally recognized consultant MORRIE WARSHAWSKI presents his popular full-day workshop full of patented street-savvy, in-the-trenches advice on how to get grants and donations for noncommercial independent film and video projects. Warshawski provides practical advice based on real experience to get filmmakers focused and effective at getting money for their projects.

The workshop completely demystifies the world of donations and grants by providing an introduction to all the basic principles of successful fundraising including:

• Ways to approach individuals for donations (houseparties, direct mail, etc.);
• How to get money from foundations and corporations;
• The role of the Internet and social networking tools;
• Designing your project to make it attractive to funders;
• Getting yourself together and dopting the proper mindset;
• Laying the groundwork for and conducting research;
• Creating the perfect written grant proposal.
• The art of asking and pitching.

Warshawski's class includes exercises, lecture, video clip examples, and an extensive handout packet full of information and references on fundraising. A must for the beginning, emerging or experienced filmmaker who has any qualms about fundraising.

MORRIE WARSHAWSKI, noted writer and media consultant, is the former Executive Director of Bay Area Video Coalition and The Media Project, Inc. His clients over the last 30 years include the American Film Institute, National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, MacArthur Foundation, WGBH-TV, President's Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and many others. Warshawski has served on numerous grant panels, has written over 500 proposals, and is the author of THE FUNDRAISING HOUSEPARTY, and SHAKING THE MONEY TREE: THE ART OF GETTING GRANTS AND DONATIONS FOR FILM AND VIDEO (now in its 3rd edition). You can find Warshawski and an audio clip on fundraising houseparties at his website - www.warshawski.com - or follow him on Twitter (MorrieW).

QUOTES:

"I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your AFI workshop. It really clarified and supported my thinking on grant writing and fundraising in general. It was nice to sit down for a day and just have all the steps outlined and discussed logically!"
- Rusty E. Frank, Los Angeles

"Your seminar is really amazing and so incredibly full of such useful information. We funders ought to have a preliminary requirement that applicants attend your workshop before submitting their proposals."
- Mary Smith, National Endowment for the Arts

"Packed with good info; good speaker; receptive to questions; obviously very experienced."
- Boston Participant

"Your presentation was just terrific. I am truly impressed with the wealth of information, articulately and logically presented in just a few hours time."
- Bill Goetz, Portland, OR

"I took your SHAKING THE MONEY TREE class at AIVF in New York about 3 years ago, and I'm happy to report that my documentary is not only finished, but aired as part of a Father's Day Special on Cinemax this year. I know of at least one other student in that class whose film is now complete and was picked up by HBO. Your class was very instrumental in getting the first grants and donations. So thank you !!"
- Cynthia Syrett, NYC

"A note of thanks to Morrie for his Shaking the Money Tree workshops. After attending one last year, I finally got the guts to approach my first private funder -- someone wealthy who had funded a doc I'd worked on previously (one in which I was hired as co-producer in post, well after she'd funded it)."

"Using the chutzpah and the tools I gained in the workshop and from the book, I wrote her a heartfelt letter. She immediately called, and wrote a check soon thereafter. With a serious donation now in hand, I felt "legit" and then wrote a different heartfelt letter to 100 friends asking for tax-free donations. I got a 20% return, with amounts ranging from $25 to $1000+. A real lifesaver to the project."
- Danielle Beverly

"Thank you for your excellent workshops in NYC this weekend. It's always good, especially for an old hand like me, to be reminded of what it takes and to be inspired anew. I especially need that now as I'm working independently, on a film, and not for a performing arts organization and need to be prepared to get money from individuals. The Zen tools you worked through with us are tremendous. Thank you, sincerely.
- Sharon Levy, Dovetail Productions, Inc, New York

Watch video clips from the Doc U seminars with Cara Mertes and R.J. Cutler.

IDA members: $85
Non-members: $110

Join IDA now! For discounted admission prices and more!

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

Complimentary Continental Breakfast will be served inside the workshop. Lunch is on your own. Lunch is available in The Restaurant at The Standard, Downtown LA, a California brasserie that serves New American cuisine. You can sit inside the vibrant yellow diner style restaurant, as well as on the outdoor patio adjacent to a flaming water fountain. Alternately dine poolside on The Rooftop at The Standard, Downtown LA, which offers an unmatched panoramic views of Downtown Los Angeles.

Links to the menus: 
http://www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles/restaurants-bars/24-7-restaurant/lunch/

http://www.standardhotels.com/los-angeles/restaurants-bars/rooftop-bar/mini-menu/

PARKING

1. Parking in the lot adjacent to The Standard, Downtown LA is $15/day.
2. Parking at Pershing Square is only $6.60/day, and a brief 4 block walk to The Standard, Downtown LA.
   • Pershing Square Address: 532 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013
     Click here to create your own unique driving directions to Pershing Square.

METRO RAIL (The greenest option)

The closest Metro rail stop to The Standard, Downtown LA is the 7th/Metro stop on the Red Line, 2 blocks from the hotel.

This map shows the proximity of The Standard, Downtown LA to the 7th/Metro station.

To find the closest Metro station to you, click here.

Doc U is the International Documentary Association's branded, yearly seminar series produced to enlighten and enliven our documentary community.

Special thanks to: