Grantor: Roger Ross Gipple
Grantee: Truth First Film Alliance, Inc. – 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor for Fourth Wall Films
Target Audience: General Audience, and those already engaged in or open to
environmental activism.
Fourth Wall Films requests a grant to produce a provocative broadcast-quality visually creative 12-15 minute short film “Title” (TBD) that will examine the equally important environmental challenges of poor water quality and a lack of biodiversity, and suggest solutions for viewers to consider. Solutions include the adequate restoration of natural systems (woodland, wetland, grassland) and the meaningful reduction of human consumption. Behavioral changes discussed could perhaps include the large inventory of domestic animals (pets and livestock), and human attempts to satisfy all wants instead of needs.
As with our previous film collaborations, the completed film will support and enhance BeWildReWild’s efforts to create a wilder, more beautiful, more biologically diverse, and a more enduring Mississippi River Watershed by inspiring meaningful change.
The completed documentary will combine on-camera interviews, new footage, cinematic aerial footage, stock footage, on-screen graphics, and music/sound effects to create an engaging, memorable, and inspiring film.
The completed film will be shared via Vimeo and/or YouTube, and it will also be shared via Social Media by individuals and organizations. It will be submitted for possible use as an interstitial on WQPT-PBS reaching hundreds or thousands of viewers each time it airs (interstitials help broadcasters fill a half or one hour time slot when the main program is short). The film will be submitted to environmental and general film festivals, and special screenings will be offered to the public. The online version of the film will be “portable,” and can be used for remote presentations or public programs.
Fourth Wall Films won a Mid-America Emmy® for its short film “Over and Under: Wildlife Crossings”. All three films produced with grants from BeWildReWild were nominated for an Emmy®. Fourth Wall Films is a 5-time Emmy® Award-winning, and 14-time Emmy® nominated and award-winning independent film production company based in the Illinois/Iowa Quad Cities on the Mississippi River. Since the release of our first feature-length historical documentary film in 2004, we have completed over twenty additional films that tell important Midwestern stories. We look for topics and projects that reflect our interests and values. We recently completed and successfully distributed the award-winning films Resurrecting Forest Grove and Moved by Waters.
“Title” (TBD) Documentary Grant Request
Grant funds will be used for four phases of the film project beginning in February 2025: Research/Pre-Production Planning; Production (on-camera interviews, capturing general footage); Post-Production (writing, film editing, sound mixing), and Distribution (key art creation, online release, screening events, film festival entries). Grant funds will also cover a portion of the cost of travel, as well as a portion of the cost of music and stock footage licensing.
Phase 1: Research/Pre-Production Planning $2,500 (Feb. 2025-April 2025)
Phase 2: Production $20,000 (May 2025-Aug. 2025)
Phase 3: Post-production $15,000 (Sep. 2025-Dec. 2025)
Phase 4: Distribution $2,500 (Dec. 2025-Dec. 2026)
Roger Ross Gipple will be acknowledged as a grantor in the closing credits of the film, and in any printed materials, press releases, and/or marketing materials.
We are very grateful for this opportunity to create an important and timely environmental film.
Grant Request Payment (March 2025): $40,000
Fiscal Sponsor Details:
Payable to: “Truth First Film Alliance, Inc.”
Please note in the memo area: “FWF Film Grant”
Mail to:
Truth First Film Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 1602
Moline, IL 61266
Truth First Film Alliance, Inc. (TFFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that promotes, supports, and encourages the production and exhibition of documentary films, and narrative films based on true stories, through public presentations, grants, and educational programs in the Quad Cities region. TFFA programs include film screenings and discussions with visiting filmmakers and classroom visits to talk about film and filmmaking with students.