⚠️ OTV IS NOT A PRODUCTION or FILM FINANCING COMPANY - PLEASE DO NOT PITCH PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THIS PORTAL ⚠️

 This is the avenue for submitting your project (pilot, series, video art, doc, short-film, etc.) to OTV - Open Television. Completed content submitted through this form will be considered for exhibition on the OTV APP, non-exclusively. OTV staff will review all materials and follow-up with next steps on a rolling quarterly basis.
*Submission does not guarantee exhibition*

⌛️Due to the volume of submissions and limited staff capacity, please allow for up to 1 month turn around time of response. Subject to change based upon staff capacity⌛️

Distribution Process:

• Step 1: Submit your completed/finalized content through this portal for non-exclusive distribution.
• Step 2: The OTV leadership team reviews content on rolling slate needs basis and follow-up via Submittable. Please make sure the email associated with your submittable account receives emails 🚨🚨from submittable at 'notifications@email.submittable.com' 🚨🚨- and communication does not go to your spam folder. Submittable is how we manage our slate and process all communications.
• Step 3: If content (films/series) is approved, Development will follow-up with next steps which are: the licensee fee, legal info, the release strategy and marketing action items.
• Step 4: You receive your release date (based upon OTV slate strategy) and marketing kit.
• Step 5: Your content is released on the OTV APP.

FAQ:

Is OTV a production company or will OTV produce my script/idea for me? No.

Does OTV pay its artists for content? Yes.

• How much? It depends on the current year's slate budget, duration of content and exhibition strategy. If you have decided to pass on the license offer + agreement, and return a following year wanting to accept the same offer - you may not receive the same offer due to the years slate budget. Email Development@weareo.tv, if you have questions regarding your offer.

Can you walk me through the OTV distribution agreement (contract)? Sure thing. HERE is a step-by-step explanation walkthrough video of our Terms.


What does non-exclusive mean as it relates to distribution? You are still free to upload, screen, distribute or sell it to any other entity.

What does perpetuity mean as it relates to distribution? Our contract will not expire until one of the parties [signing artist and OTV] requests for a termination of contract.

• Why? We used to offer 3-year contracts, but this burdens our non-profit with an extremely small staff with administrative work. The reality is many creators end up not seeing much monetary ROI in their web series due to the indie nature. We want to avoid having to take down projects because artists are too busy creating their next best work to re-sign while reducing our legal fees for negotiating said renewals.

"The agreement references “Standard Terms & Conditions” but I don't see them included in the document." Standard Terms + Conditions’ are on the bottom of the submission page (within submittable) - It's the check box.

• For easy access: “Terms and Conditions: *By submitting your project to OTV-Open Television LLC, you agree to the following terms and conditions:  Filmmakers must submit their media files as downloadable URL links - 1080P or higher resolution. Do not send your master tape or original. Submission of film constitutes your affirmation that it does not violate any copyright. ’The film(s) may be produced anywhere in the world. Artist hereby grants OTV - Open Television the right to utilize footage, BTS, stills, biographical material, names and likenesses from the film for promotional purposes and in the distribution program. OTV Open Television shall not be held liable for inadvertent errors or omissions as it relates to the submitted work. OTV Open Television and Artist reserves the right to cancel any film releases and remove content.”

Section 1(e) “manipulate, edit, modify, add to, incorporate, translate, adapt” (Section 1(c)), and to use the Program “in any manner” (Section 1(d)), and the right to prepare derivative works based on the Program (without notice or consent.) - what would this entail: This is for online social marketing assets, drop trailers (where multiple films are in 1 trailer), app assets (banners, thumb nails), social media promo (instagram post) etc. This clause is in there *only* for marketing purposes and you will receive the marketing assets to share when its been created as well.

• Why: Based upon the number of artists and projects we onboard and market - there tends to be a large bottle neck with late responses for approvals which affects our timelines and the artists launch experience. It keeps the process moving and you will receive the assets as well. 

What if I have my project on OTV and then I want to take it down and terminate the contract? No problem. You own all the rights to your project and we would be happy to remove it from any channels as you see fit. We can terminate the agreement and pull assets from the app with 14 days, if requested by the artist. You would do this by emailing Development@weareo.tv


"The Grant of Rights in Section 1 states the licenses are 'irrevocable,' yet I have the right to terminate the license/licenses - could you clarify? And I’m a bit confused as to my right to terminate? We can terminate the agreement and pull assets from the app with 14 days, if requested by the artist. You would do this by emailing Development@weareo.tv.

• Why: We (historically) do not renegotiate a submitted films license fee once its been onboarded because we pay a one time licensee fee and due to capacity.

Does OTV syndicate shows? Yes, if the artist consents to having their show across a number of platforms. We want to reserve the right to syndicate your show to other platforms. You will be notified every time we syndicate your show and the value of that deal. Any value we get from redistributing your series could be considered a tax-deductible donation to OTV by you. You will have the right to say no to any syndication deal we propose and negotiate directly with our buyer.

• Why? Based on surveys of artists in 2020, most of our artists want us to do the work of finding audiences for your series beyond OTV. Indeed, over the years, other distributors have consistently asked us to distribute your content, but since this was not in our contracts, we had to step aside and connect artists directly to these distributors. What we found is that neither OTV artists nor the other distributors -- which tend to be indie like OTV -- had the capacity or interest in negotiating a deal because nearly all of these deals do not pay or pay very little. The goal is exposure. However, if we start to make six-figures or more in syndication you will be notified and allowed to renegotiate your contract at that very time (because you can always take down your show at any time for any reason).

Does OTV provide VOD - ‘Videos on demand’? Yes. OTV has options for videos on demand including but not limited to, a one-time public livestream via OTV app (free) or PAY-PER-VIEW (paid) via the OTV APP.

I would like to pitch a Live Stream Idea - how do I do that? Submit your pitch to OTVLIVE, Have questions? Reach out to community@weareo.tv (Head of Marketing + Exhibition)

Are the contracts negotiable? Absolutely. If you have a specific vision for distribution terms or length we are able to customize our contract to reflect what the artist feels most confident with.

Who do I contact if I have updates about my work that is currently on the app if I would like to make changes? Submit a request for update through this portal.

I have an idea for a project and I don't know where to start. We totally understand it can feel daunting at times, here are some resources to help.

• Dr. Aymar Jean Christian's Development Blog Post
• OTV Development Blog 
• OTV Study Hall 
• OTV APP

I would like to be a part of the OTV Artist Development Programs, how do I get involved? OTV - Open Television offers a number of development opportunities within its programming. OTV programs for exhibitions are expanding year by year. As of 2023, our current artist development offerings include:

• #OTVFELLOWS
• #OTVSTUDYHALL
• #BRAVEFUTURES

OTV is a research-based organization, how can I read the reports?

• Research Reports
• Development Reports

I have questions about the development process or a project, who do I contact: DEVELOPMENT@weareo.tv 

Table Read Club has entered the group chat; will you answer the call? Presented by the Emmy-nominated intersectional streaming platform, Open Television (OTV) Table Read Club is a traveling series designed to identify and activate the boldest scripts through an interactive table read. Listen to the stories that amplify our humanity and celebrate cultural differences come alive through a rotating cast of actors, performance artists, directors and more. 

This one-night only showcase not only brings together writers, directors, actors and executives to read through a script out loud it also provides creators with the opportunity to receive real-time feedback from the audience. Hearing  the script out loud creates a variety of opportunities to strengthen the characters relationship to one another and cultivate room for more inclusive world-building. 

Selected Table Read Club participants will receive:   

• Cash honorarium for their participation 
• Anonymized feedback digitized from industry leaders and peers   
• Promotion across Open Television (and community partners) social platforms 

Interested in having your script selected to participate in the next Table Read Club? That’s what we like to hear! Consider submitting today by following the details below.  

Are you an actor or performer interested in reading for the Table Read Club? Great! Follow this link and complete the form for a chance to be selected to participate.
 

SUBMITTERS NOTE: You can save drafts of the application in the top right hand of your screen. Additionally, we suggest writing out your answers to the questions in a separate document. 

QUESTIONS? For Submittable questions, reach out to Customer Support for more information. If you have any questions about the application, please email Development@weareo.tv.

#BraveFutures é um programa interseccional que desafia cineastas a realizarem um curta-metragem em até 48 horas usando sua cidade como tela. Após edições de sucesso em Joanesburgo, Berlim, Guadalajara, Londres e Cidade do Cabo, a plataforma interseccional trará o conceito para Salvador, Brasil, em outubro de 2024, através de uma parceria inédita com a DiALAB.

Reconhecida como a Capital Negra da América Latina, Salvador é uma cidade apaixonada por seu povo, expressão viva de uma beleza ancestral rica em cultura, memória e resistência. Com o tema Fabulações da Cidade Negra, convidamos você a celebrar Salvador como um lugar onde as fronteiras entre o real e o imaginário se dissolvem, proporcionando um cenário de infinitas possibilidades. Um lugar onde a liberdade de inventar novos mundos é o que inspira a nossa criatividade.

Tendo Salvador, Bahia, como cenário, 24 artistas, distribuídos em 6 equipes diferentes, serão selecionados e cada equipe trabalhará em conjunto para criar, produzir e finalizar um curta-metragem de 3 a 7 minutos de duração. Cada filme deve incorporar os elementos do Brave Futures: um tema, uma locação e uma ação. Ao final do processo, todos os filmes serão exibidos publicamente e concorrerão a diversos prêmios.

Para participar é preciso formar uma equipe com 4 pessoas e fazer um pré-cadastro online gratuitamente. Podem se inscrever cineastas com qualquer nível de experiência. O programa prioriza cineastas que são frequentemente marginalizados pelas intersecções de raça, gênero, etnia, classe, sexualidade e nível educacional. Brave Futures convida e desafia a próxima geração de cineastas a desenvolver histórias que representem o seu poder e resiliência num ambiente de produção independente que tem como bases a interseccionalidade, a inclusão e o impacto social.

As inscrições são totalmente gratuitas e estão abertas até o dia 8 de agosto de 2024. 

Este formulário permitirá que os candidatos inscrevam suas equipes com 4 integrantes. Um desses membros atuará como líder da equipe e será o principal contato para a comunicação com a organização do Brave Futures em Salvador.

As equipes deverão ser formadas por:

• 1 Roteirista
• 1 Produtor(a/e)
• 1 Diretor(a/e)
• 1 Editor(a/e)

As equipes deverão estar disponíveis para participar nas seguintes datas:

• 14 de outubro de 2024 — Evento de lançamento
• 16 de outubro de 2024 — Laboratório Criativo com Painéis e Mentores
• 18 a 20 de outubro de 2024 — Brave Futures 48 Hour Film Race (Produção/Pós-Produção)
• 30 de outubro de 2024 – Cerimônia de exibição e premiação Brave Futures Salvador

CANDIDATURA: Através do link abaixo, você poderá criar uma conta gratuita para enviar sua inscrição. Todas as notificações relacionadas à sua inscrição serão enviadas ao e-mail que você informar ao criar a sua conta em nosso sistema. Portanto, para garantir que você não perca nenhuma mensagem importante, recomendamos que você ative as notificações da lista segura de sua caixa de entrada para evitar que as mensagens sejam enviadas para o spam. Observe que o formulário salva automaticamente as suas respostas como rascunho. Após preencher todo o formulário, clique em enviar. Você receberá um e-mail de confirmação de que sua inscrição foi recebida com sucesso.

QUESTÕES? Para mais informações sobre o #BraveFutures em Salvador, acesse o nosso regulamento. Dúvidas podem ser enviadas para o e-mail bravefuturessalvador@dialab.me. Mais informações sobre o #BraveFutures podem ser obtidas no site oficial do programa.
 

SOBRE #BRAVEFUTURES:
#BraveFutures é uma competição e programa interseccional de filmes trazido a você pela premiada plataforma de streaming e incubadora de mídia Open Television (OTV), que desafia cineastas de todos os níveis a criar um curta-metragem inteiro em 48 horas ou menos usando sua cidade como tela.

SOBRE @WEAROTV:
OTV | Open Television é uma plataforma indicada ao Emmy para televisão interseccional, com artistas e suas visões criativas no centro. Em 2015, esta plataforma de distribuição sem fins lucrativos que apoia artistas e comunidades marginalizadas pela sua raça, género, sexualidade, classe, religião, deficiência ou nacionalidade começou como parte de um projecto de investigação em curso na Northwestern University. Além de fornecer uma rede de atendimento para fomentar toda a trajetória de um projeto criativo, desde o início até o lançamento, a OTV também oferece conectividade, financiamento e consultoria por toda parte. Tudo isso para levar ao público as histórias do nosso tempo, que muitas vezes são sub-representadas ou ausentes na TV.
 

SOBRE DiALAB:

DiALAB é uma plataforma internacional voltada ao desenvolvimento de carreiras, consultoria de projetos e networking para profissionais negros do audiovisual. Criada em 2018, desenvolve e impulsiona projetos como os premiados “Açucena”, de Isaac Donato, vencedor de melhor filme da principal Mostra de Cinema de Tiradentes e “Nós, Povos das Ilhas”, de Elson Santos, premiado no Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival e Blue Ice Docs Canadá e selecionado para o Spotlighted Projects do Marché du Film do Festival de Cannes. Os programas da DiALAB já receberam representantes de 13 países da América Latina, Europa e África, tornando a plataforma uma das mais relevantes do Brasil.