Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing/Sponsorship for Plays

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Expert: - 9/26/2004


Question
How do I get the ball rolling on taking a grounded (but previously sucessful) play from having no money, to a budjet that we can perform at?  Where do I get sponsors?  Any Grants I can Use?  Thank you for your help.

Tim Rose
Norfolk, Virginia

Answer
Tim,

Thanks for writing. You probably already know this, but when it comes to raising financing for plays and films, a producer looks for money any where he can find it. Individual investors, corporations, relatives, pretty much anywhere. Sponsorship is generally provided by companies that can gain advertising or a perk from being associated with the production.

As far as grants, you might try contacting TCG, Theatre Communications Group. They are THE organization for non-profit theatre across the USA and Canada. They can provide you with a lot of information about how to grant write for money to fund a project. You can find them on the internet.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil

Careers: Acting, Performing, Directing

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Phil Nemy

Expertise

I am a motion picture and television producer with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. I am also the author of the book GET A REEL JOB: Finding Your First Job In The Motion Picture Industry In Los Angeles. I can answers questions on a variety of subjects about careers in film from acting to directing to crew work, getting into the unions, successful strategies for networking, etc.

Experience

Former VP, Production for The Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group Supervised production on such films as ARMAGEDDON, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS, PEARL HARBOR, CON AIR, ENEMY OF THE STATE, THE ROCK, CRIMSON TIDE, COYOTE UGLY, A CIVIL ACTION, ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, NOTHING TO LOSE, EDDIE and others. Worked as an actor, stage manager, director on broadway and regional theater as well as L.A.' Equity-waiver scene. Former Associate Artistic Director of Los Angeles Equity-Waiver theater.

Organizations
Director's Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, Actor's Equity Association

Education/Credentials
BFA in Acting/Directing from Carnegie Mellon University.

Past/Present Clients
I've worked with such filmmakers as Jerry Bruckheimer, Tony Scott, Steve Zaillian, Scott Rudin, Garry Marshall, Frank Marshall, Michael Bay, etc.

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