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SC Film Commission Seeks Applicants for Film Production Fund Grants

March 14, 2007

Contact: Kara Borie

803.737.1998

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Film Commission encourages South Carolina filmmakers to apply for grants from the South Carolina Film Production Fund, a fund created to develop collaborative projects in film, video, and multimedia between professionals in motion picture related industries and institutions of higher learning in South Carolina.

To be eligible for the grant, filmmakers must work in collaboration with South Carolina colleges or universities on the film projects. This requirement allows the Film Production Fund to achieve the important goal of increasing the number of trained film professionals in South Carolina. Those wishing to participate must submit applications by October 27, 2007. The grant will be awarded in February 2008.

“The more trained crew members we can provide, the more attractive South Carolina becomes to the film industry,” said South Carolina Film Commissioner Jeff Monks. “The strength of our local talent is already great, and by giving film students hands-on experience in the industry we can make the spotlight shine on South Carolina even brighter.”

Collaborative projects will be awarded up to $100,000 each. Producers, writers, and other entertainment industry professionals are encouraged to apply to the Film Consortium schools regardless of the size of the project. The only requirement being that South Carolina college and university students can be used in as many facets of the project as possible including internships, apprenticeships, or actual department members.

Last year’s grant recipients are already seeing the benefits of their work. Filmmaker Matthew Sefick’s project, The Four Children of Tander Welch, is being made in collaboration with USC’s Media Arts Department. Independent producer Brad Jayne of Mt. Pleasant collaborated with Trident Technical College to produce his short film Song of Pumpkin Brown. Jayne has received great acclaim for his film in Charleston and is now entering it in independent film festivals. Several of the students who worked on Song of Pumpkin Brown have also recently been hired to work on the set of a TV series that’s shooting in Charleston.

Three South Carolina schools, the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and Trident Technical College have joined together to form the South Carolina Film Consortium with the South Carolina Film Commission. By partnering with one or more of the Consortium members, filmmakers help South Carolina build its knowledge pool while improving the skills of those already involved in the business. For more information visit: www.scfilmoffice.com/prodfund.html.

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Kara Borie

SC Department of Commerce

1201 Main St., Suite 1600

Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 737-1998 direct

(803) 806-3458 fax