EXPORT TRAINING ASIA PACIFIC (ETAP)

The Racial Equity Screen Office is excited to present Export Training Asia Pacific (ETAP), a training and development program for racialized Producers ready to export to and work with creative partners in the Asia Pacific.  Launched with support from the Canada Media Fund, and CanExport Associations, ETAP’s main goal is to support and equip Producers with the global relationships, and foster the growth of participant companies and facilitate the creative pathways needed for greater co-production by Canadians, across the Asia-Pacific. 

RESO's ETAP Program is designed for content creators and producers who are already working in the film and television industries who wish to expand their operation internationally by increasing their knowledge of producing and co-producing in the Asia Pacific region and those who are interested in building up a pan Asian professional network.  Six (6) producers with a project will be selected to prepare and refine their television/streaming series for co-production or export in the Asia Pacific, with a core focus on ensuring their commercial potential in a competitive global environment.

The program will have seven (7) virtual workshops and two and a half (2.5) days of in-person workshops, beginning June 10 and ending in late August.  Participants will be asked to be flexible in time zones to accommodate coast-to-coast participants, as well as industry guest speakers located internationally.  The program will be led by industry executives from leading production companies with deep ties across the Asia-Pacific.  ETAP’s lead trainer and mentor is Janice Chua, a global film and TV producer.  Janice was VP of International Development at Imagine Entertainment; prior to that she was VP of Development and Production in Asia at Ivanhoe Pictures.  She has worked on breakthrough projects such as Crazy Rich Asians, Taiwan Crime Stories, and John Woo’s The Crossing. 

For this inaugural year, ETAP will accept six (6) racialized producers for the 2024 cohort.  We encourage producers with a project in development, from across Canada to apply.  If applicable, writers may attend workshops 1 and 2 for consultations with script experts, as part of a broader producer team.

A key pillar of RESO’s mandate is to create infrastructure for racialized creatives to export their content to global markets and audiences.  ETAP’s core focus is to create global relationships, facilitate the growth of participant companies, and advance the financing, export, and co-production of IP.

OVERVIEW

  • Applications open: April 17, 2024

  • Application deadline: May 5, 2024 (11:59PM PST) DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MAY 8, 2024

  • Selected participants notified: May 30, 2024

  • Phase 1: June 10 | weekly virtual workshops begin

  • Phase 2: July 23 – 28, 2024 | 2.5 days, full time, in person + EXNW; Vancouver, BC

  • Phase 3: August 2024 | virtual wrap-up session, Public Masterclasses, and Asia-Pacific Market Prep

Costs/Allowances/Stipend 

  • $25 non-refundable application fee.  Payable by e-transfer to accounting@reso-ca.org.

  • Six (6) Producers who are selected for ETAP will receive a $1,500 stipend to support the development time and labour required to participate in this program.  Writers who participate in a secondary/support manner, will not receive a stipend.

  • A travel allowance for producers to attend the in-person workshop (Vancouver) will be available to cover flights/trains as applicable. 

  • Group accommodations/housing will be arranged by RESO in Vancouver for the duration of the workshop. 

    • *participants are welcome to arrange their own arrangements at their own expense. 

  • Complimentary passes to EXNW are included to producers and writers participating in ETAP.

This training is for you if:

  • You are a mid-career producer in Canada with a TV/streaming series currently in development.

  • You identify as racialized or Person of Colour (POC)

To be eligible you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada aged 18 or over;

  • Have already produced a dramatic feature short film or series;

  • Not be a participant in any other program that would conflict with your ability to commit to this program;

  • Commit to the necessary time and travel costs to complete the program;

    • We will reimburse a portion of your travel and accommodation costs to attend workshops in Vancouver.

  • Own or control an independent production company;

  • Ensure you have majority/full rights to the story and or IP; and

  • Maintain creative and financial control over the project as well as technical ownership. This includes ownership of, or option on, all underlying rights (if any).

Specifically, this training program will:

  • Strengthen POC producers’ capacity to lead strong and successful companies which enable them to retain the IP of their content;

  • Empower producers to be more creatively involved and better able to contribute to the development process and overall project strategy;

  • Enable a strong understanding of financial, export, and corporate development of both their companies and their content;

  • Strengthen connection between Canadian producers to expand their networks across provincial and international borders and enhance the quality of productions produced;

  • Enable a better understanding of the central role of marketing at every stage of the development, production, sales, and distribution chain; and

  • Facilitate an understanding of current, rapid changes in the media industry as it relates to new forms of distribution and exhibition, and new market opportunities presented by video-on-demand and the digital development of television and cinema distribution.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The heart of training will focus on developing your company and project, which is likely an English language project with Asian elements, and viable for exporting or co-producing within the Asia-Pacific.  

Please note projects from participants with work in development will serve as case studies.  All producers will read and give feedback on the projects.

You will be required to submit updated deliverables and carry out background reading in advance of the training.  Producers must attend all workshops.  If applicable, writers may attend workshops in Phase 1.

Phase 1 workshops are virtual, and will be scheduled flexibly, to accommodate international experts and their time zones.

Phase 2 is delivered in-person in Vancouver over 2.5 days and is full time on those days. RESO will arrange group accommodations in advance, although participants are welcome to make alternate arrangements at their own expense. 

Phase 3 is virtual and includes each participant in ETAP sharing some key insights in a Public Masterclass.  Selected projects may receive additional market preparation support for Asia-Pacific markets (e.g., ATF Singapore).

After the workshops, you may also have an opportunity for final feedback sessions with script consultants for your project (if applicable).

In between workshops, you will be given assignments on project strategy, company/career planning, and creative development.  You will work in assigned cohorts throughout the training and your commitment to the program is essential to the success of your group.

PROGRAM PHASES

Training Sessions

Through the workshops, you will enhance and finalize your project pitch materials, script or series pilot, company and financial planning documents, co-production contracts, sales strategy, clearance, and rights materials, and chain of title documents.

Through a combination of masterclasses, group work, one-on-one meetings, in-person workshops, and online feedback sessions you will:

  • Focus on developing each producer’s real projects and/or companies;

  • Work within groups led by experienced producers and experts on script analysis, development and production financing, legal aspects of co-production, marketing, pitching, packaging and more;

  • Participate in group work reading and giving feedback on the other projects including producers without a project;

  • Analyze fellow participant’s projects with industry experts in finance, sales, pitching and story; and

  • Between workshops, you will receive continued support to complete assignments on project strategy and script development. 

    • Participants will receive additional script consultant feedback sessions following workshops 1 and 2.

Please note all dates are subject to change.

Phase 1

7 weekly sessions, part time, online

Two to four hours per weekly session – June 10 - August 31 2024.  All producers must attend weekly sessions and plan to do work outside of virtual workshops and online sessions.  If applicable, your writer may attend.

You will:

  • Get feedback on your project, refine your pilot, and develop an international project strategy; 

  • Focus on international sales and company strategies and continue to discuss project development in groups;

  • Meet with a sales expert to identify the best international strategy for each project; and

  • Complete a SWOT analysis of your company and build a company strategy.

Phase 2

2.5 day workshop, in person held in Vancouver BC 

In-person workshops, for all producers – July 24-28, 2024.  This is the culmination of Phase 1 work, and you will have opportunities to pitch to industry executives from North America as well as the Asia-Pacific.  You will receive a complimentary pass and be invited to Delegates-only networking activities at East by Northwest (EXNW) Global Creative Summit.  If applicable, your writer may attend and be eligible for EXNW passes.

Phase 3

online/virtual 

During August 2024, you will participate in a group virtual wrap-up session, a RESO-hosted Masterclass to share key learnings with a broader community of Canadian producers.  Additional preparation and details for a related Asia-Pacific Market opportunity (i.e. Asia TV Forum) will be available in this phase. *Top projects may be supported for outbound market activities, TBD.

PROGRAM GOALS

Our Commitment to Underrepresented Voices

At RESO, we are committed to training racialized participants from a diverse community of voices including women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and two-spirit (LGBTQ2S+), and people with disabilities.

Disability accommodation is available upon request.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Projects:

  • Scripted series with potential for the international market and co-production in the Asia-Pacific. 

  • Projects in line with RESO’s core values (tolerance, human rights, diversity etc.).  RESO will not be supporting projects blatantly pornographic in nature, projects advocating violence, or projects inciting a violation of human rights.

  • Projects at a suitable stage of development (i.e., early development, not having been over-exposed at co-production markets and other training programs).

Non-Eligible Formats:

Web series, reality, documentary and short films.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please use this application form when submitting your application: https://forms.gle/nQnRhcWf3c4uw9jX9

You will be required to submit:

  • Resume / CV;

  • Company profile (if applicable); 

  • Project Synopsis or Series Bible/Treatment (max 15 pages)

    • An explanation of where your project best fits in the Asia-Pacific market

    • An explanation about why you believe your project is relevant in today’s global market

  • Estimated production budget and finance plan;

  • Links to previous work by the director/core project team (if applicable)

  • Motivational statement (written or recorded video. max. 2 min video, 2 pg. written). This should be divided into two parts: 1) how your work experience is relevant to this program and explain why you feel you are professionally qualified to be selected for the program; 2) explain your expectations and the potential benefits you hope to gain from participating in ETAP, at this juncture of your career.   In short, Why You + ETAP, Why Now.

  • $25 non-refundable application fee.  Payment is processed through e-transfer to accounting@reso-ca.org.

An independent industry selection committee will review applications and select participants.  Readers and committee members will be made up of RESO staff/advisors, ETAP faculty, and guest lecturers who serve as senior executives in studios or production companies, who can identify projects with production potential.

All copyright in the project remains with participants.  The Racial Equity Screen Office reserves the sole right to disqualify any participant who does not fully own the rights in and to the project.

The Racial Equity Screen Office requires a tail credit on all films or produced episodes as well as a credit on all publicity and promotional materials developed with respect to the project.  Additional recognition for other partners will be confirmed during Phase 1.

A contract will be signed outlining the commitments and responsibilities of the participant and the Racial Equity Screen Office under the program.

The relationship between the participant and the Racial Equity Screen Office shall not be deemed to constitute a partnership or joint venture.  The participant shall not have the right to incur any debts nor make any commitment of or on behalf of the Racial Equity Screen Office.

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