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Getting a film started financially is one of the hardest things to do in this industry. Many of us have been there, trying to get our passion project off the ground, looking to make a great story come to life but only to fall short of being able to get the project funded.

Our good friends at Musicbed want to help. Recently they launched the “Musicbed Film Initiative” to provide filmmakers with a series of resources they need to fund their films. Filmmakers like you reading this article, seriously – you. Specifically you.

Musicbed’s mission is to help filmmakers tell better stories,” said Daniel McCarthy, CEO and Founder of Musicbed. “With the Musicbed Film Initiative, we’re committing to support the passions of filmmakers out of a desire to see their best work come to life. Our hope is that we inspire both established and emerging filmmakers to take risks and do more daring work.

The program is in its second year and is available to filmmakers around the world. The Initiative will give away more than $50,000 in grants, production gear, and products from sponsors to make it possible for these projects to get started.

This year will award one winner and two runners-up.

Winner: $40,000 in cash and production gear
$10,000 Cash
One-week Red Camera Package from LensRentals
Freefly MōVI M10
Sound Design Session with DeFacto Sound
JetBlue Travel Credit ($1,500)
Zacuto Gratical X + $500 Rental Credit
Kessler Gear Credit ($2,500)
Westcott 2×2 LED Flex Panel
RØDE Microphone Package
Red Giant Magic Bullet Suite + PluralEyes4
Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve
Presonus E66 Studio Monitors
Musicbed License Credit ($1,000)
Filmsupply License Credit ($1,000)

Runners-Up: $5,000 in production gear
Kessler Gear Credit ($1,000)
Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve
RODE Microphone Package
Zacuto Gear Rental Credit
Westcott LED Flex Panel
Musicbed License Credit ($250)
Filmsupply License Credit ($250)
Presonus E44 Studio Monitors
Red Giant PluralEyes4
One year Free Frame.io Account

There is a week left until the winners are chosen. You have until April 4th to submit your entry: musicbed.com/filminitiative

Anyone can pick up a camera and make a film

At SXSW last year Director/Actor Mark Duplass said it best “There’s no excuse not to make films on weekends with friends,” and he couldn’t be more correct. Make the stories that matter to you the most. That is what this crazy art of filmmaking is all about, getting in touch with what moves you and the world around you. We’re all looking to get better in the art and having an opportunity like the Film Initiative should be the best motivation for you to get started.

If you get a chance, take a look into Mark Duplass and his brother Jay Duplass and their overall body of work. They continue to put together their own projects like HBO’s “Togetherness” (which they Co-Direct and Mark stars in) as well as they both star in various projects. Mark has been on FX’s “The League” for the run of the show and Jay has been a staple character on Amazon’s “Transparent.” I think they are a great example of filmmakers who create their passion, who work hard to accomplish what they have their mind set to, without letting anyone get in the way of their creation. I think they are good people to look at when looking to internalize in yourself how to tell YOUR story as an artist.