English      Español      Français      Arabic

Terms and Eligibility

Site Selection:

• Only current members of the Listen Up! Youth Media Network are eligible for production awards. (Not a member? Sign up here.)
• Listen Up! will consider any youth media organization that has a proven track record willing to join our network.
• Not a youth media organization? Organizations working around issues of the environment can either partner with local youth media organizations or demonstrate that they have the capacity and experience to execute this project. Awards will not be made to individual persons.
• The production award will be dispersed in three payments: 1) upon completion of story treatment (US$4000) 2) upon review of rough-cut film (US$3000) and 3) upon submission of a final cut film and project evaluation (US$3000). Each allocation is dependent on completion of project deadlines and production tasks. Failure to meet the deadlines and tasks may mean forfeiture of all or part of the award payment.
• Producers from all nations and languages are encouraged to apply and we want your film to be told in your native language. However, we require that:
  **your team have at least one person with excellent English language skills during live conference calls and written correspondence with the Listen Up! team
  **English subtitles be provided during all stages of production (rough cuts as well as final cut).

Production Teams:

• All stories must be conceived, written and produced by youth, ages 13-19.
• Youth must be principal camera, audio, lighting and editing crew.
• All organizations must provide adult mentorship in the craft of filmmaking.
• Digital still photos of meetings, shoots, editing sessions, and screenings are required.
• Films must be edited using PC-based Adobe editing software.
• Each team will produce several rough cut versions of their video with the goal of producing a broadcast quality 4-6 minute documentary.
• Teams must organize and hold two public presentations of their films upon completion.
• With few exceptions, we expect youth to be experienced filmmakers -- Beyond Green will not be their first film.
• Even after your fieldwork for Beyond Green is complete and your work is “in the can,” we will ask teams for further support.  Production of a full-length documentary may last a year after fieldwork is complete. While youth filmmakers may move on, we’ll need the continued support of your organization.  

Technical Requirements:

• Selected sites receive a $10,000 production award to offset equipment needs and production costs.
• Listen Up! will provide a production guide outlining all of our technical requirements and offering technical strategies for each stage of production.
• All teams must shoot and edit using DV digital video format (widescreen).
• All teams must use external mics. Artificial lighting in most cases is also required. (These elements discussed in detail in the production guide.)
• Projects must be edited using Adobe PC-based products: Premiere Elements & Premiere Pro (provided by Listen Up! and Adobe Youth Voices).
• Each team should have frequent access to email. While broadband Internet is not required, the ability to upload images and video is a big part of participating in the project. We will do our best to overcome any digital divide.

Copyrights & Licensing Requirements:

• Signed releases from all youth media producers (or their parents or guardians if they are under 18) are required.
• Signed releases from all interviewees (or their parents or guardians if they are under 18) are required.
• Absolutely no copyrighted music, images, or video can be used without licensing fees paid or written clearances from copyright owners. Original clearances must be submitted to Listen Up!
• In the case of music and video, remember that correct licensing may include Master as well as Sync licensing ­ it may not be enough to get the permission of the artist or performer.
• Listen Up!’s parent non-profit production company Learning Matters, Inc., will be the sole owner of the final short documentary.
• Listen Up! and the documentary filmmakers at our parent non-profit production company, Learning Matters, Inc., will have executive approval on content and technical quality. That is, we get “final cut.” We have exceptionally high technical standards for both sound and picture. We have even higher standards for storytelling.
• In post-production, the broadcast master of each piece will be compiled at editing facilities in New York. To do this, contracted teams must submit original master interview and b-roll tapes as well as the producer's final edited segment. Dubs of original tapes must be made by your organization and can be used for local projects.