Documentary “The Advocates” is First Roy W. Dean Grant Winner for 2018

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Richard Kaufman

Film Explores the Homeless Crisis in Los Angeles and Those Working to Transform it Through Compassionate Community Action

Roy W. Dean Grant Winner "The Advocates" Oxnard, CA Sept 1st 2018 – From the Heart Productions, a non-profit dedicated to helping indie filmmakers get their films funded, has awarded the Roy W. Dean Grant for Spring to “The Advocates”. Awarded 3 times each year, the Roy W. Dean Grant goes to a film that is unique and makes a contribution to society. The filmmakers behind the winning project will receive $3,500 in cash and $30k in film production services to help complete their documentary.

“Watching ‘The Advocates’, you will be shocked to see how many people are living on the streets”, commented Carole Dean, president of From the Heart Production. “You can’t watch this film and not be moved by their plight and inspired by those working to make life better for them.”

Directed and produced by Remi Kessler, Roy W. Dean Grant Winner “The Advocates” goes behind debates and headlines about homelesness with real-life demonstrations of transformation from the trenches of the crisis. Sharing insights, skills and dedication, this emotive, revelatory film is driven by two unforgettable main characters.

Both are Los Angeles natives and Latinos who give tireless, highly skilled outreach and support to people experiencing homelessness. While experts analyze the underlying causes of the current Los Angeles homeless crisis amid a changing policy landscape, these two caseworkers win our hearts with their dedication and integrity.

In addition to the $3,500 cash prize the Roy W. Dean Grant winner will receive $500 in expendable, lighting or grip equipment from Filmtools, a hard drive from G-Technology, 15% off legal services from entertainment lawyer Robert Seigel, Movie Magic Budgeting software from Entertainment Partners, and more from heartfelt donors.

About the Filmmaker

Remi Kessler – Director

President of KSA Productions, Rémi has produced shoots in locations throughout the globe. His expertise ranges from commercials to independent features to episodic television. He has produced and line produced countless commercials for clients such as Peugeot, Renault, Chrysler, Pontiac, Mercedes, Dior, and MTV.

He was a producer at Animatogrofo in Lisbon and Paris, one of the major European production service companies averaging 25 feature film and television productions per year. While at Atlantique Productions in Paris, Rémi line produced four television series over a period of three years and then went on to become a producer of Prime Time fiction at Protecrea, one of France’s major TV network (TF1) production companies.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now in its 26th year, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to films. Grant is awarded to films budgeted under $500,000 that are unique and make a contribution to society. It has been an important lifeline for independent filmmakers needing help to continue working on their film and to get it completed. Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made.

Past winners of the grant that have been completed include the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, the SXSW Best of Fest Music Film The Winding Stream: An Oral History of the Carter and Cash Family, and Kusama-Infinity which is just now going into theatrical release around the US.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer films fiscal sponsorship which allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible. From The Heart has raised over $3 million for crowdfunding films. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Finalists Selected for Spring 2018 Roy W. Dean Grant

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Richard Kaufman

20 Filmmakers Take Next Step Toward Winning Grant Valued at $30,000

Finalists for Spring 2018 Roy W. Dean Grant From over 300 submissions from around the world, 20 films have been named finalists for Spring 2018 Roy W. Dean Grant. The grant, which is offered by non-profit From The Heart Productions, seeks unique films that contribute to society.

The Roy W. Dean Grant winner will receive $30,000 in a combination of cash and donated from film industry professionals and companies which support independent filmmakers.

“We are truly blessed right now having so many talented, creative filmmakers with passion for their projects shining a light on the social, environmental, and human rights issues facing our world.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions.

Submissions included documentaries, features, short films and web series. While most films came from U.S., projects were received from filmmakers in Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Belgium, Chile, Spain, and Portugal.

Out of these Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Spring 2018, the grant judges will select a final five from which they will choose the winner. Announcement of the winner will be made in September.

Finalists for Spring 2018 Roy W. Dean Grant

View overview of project summaries and filmmakers for the 20 finalists for Spring 2018 Roy W. Dean Grant which include:

26 Seconds (Documentary)

999 – The Extraordinary Story of the First Girls and First Jewish Transport to Auschwitz (Documentary)

Brown (Feature)

Detention (Documentary)

Every Second Breath (Short)

Guardian (Documentary)

It Happened Here: Warnings to the West from Dorothy Thompson & Sinclair Lewis (Documentary)

Medicine Man: The Stan Brock Story (Documentary)

Power of 7 (Documentary)

Queen of the Capital (Documentary)

Stoke (Feature)

Red Heaven (Documentary)

Rising Up to Climate Change: Storytelling with Saris (Documentary)

Strong (Short)

The Advocates (Documentary)

The Good Detective (Short)

The MicroCosmic Cartoon Show (an animated/live action musical) (Feature)

Thirst For Justice (Documentary)

True Memories and Other Falsehoods (Documentary)

Tuesday Lunch (Documentary)

The grant winner will receive $3,500 in cash provided by From the Heart Productions as well as donations of film services and products. These include a 1TB G-Drive from G-Technology, a 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC, 40% deduction on color, editing, and production services from ProMedia, and much more from heartfelt donors those who care about helping independent filmmakers.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Awarded 3 times each year, the Roy W. Dean Grant seeks films that are unique and make a contribution to society. There is a Spring, Summer and Fall Grant. The Fall Grant is now accepting entries and closes September 30^th. Films submitted to the grant can be short films, documentaries or features from early stages of pre-production to those needing help in post.

Recent past winners of the grant include the award winning “Heist: Who Stole the American Dream”, “The Brainwashing of My Dad”, and Emmy winner “Mia: A Dancer’s Journey”.

About From The Heart Productions

The 501(c)3 non-profit was founded by Carole Dean when she saw how many filmmakers with important, new, and often controversial stories were having trouble getting financing for their films. From The Heart offers fiscal sponsorship for films which allows donors to get a tax deduction for their donations. Their Intentional Filmmaking Classes which teaches filmmakers the tactics on how to get funded is now open for enrollment. Classes start in September.

“Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery” Wins Final 2017 Roy W. Dean Grant

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Richard Kaufman

Documentary Shows the Success of Using Diet and Environment to Drastically Change Lives of Children with Autism

Oxnard, CA Feb 27th 2018 – In closing out the 25^th year of the Roy W. Dean Grant, From the Heart Productions, the film funding non-profit which oversees the grant, has awarded its 2017 Fall grant to Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery.

The Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded 3 times each year to a film that is unique and makes a contribution to society. For winning the Fall grant, “Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery will receive $3,000 in cash and $30k in film production services including animation and film score.

“Carole Dean, Carole Joyce and the team at From the Heart Productions has been so wonderful and gracious to us.” said director of “Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery” Ryan Hetrick. “They saw the importance of the message and the potential a film has to change the hearts and minds of society.”

“Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery” will show how families and practitioners are rediscovering therapies that allow the human body to naturally recover. These families are located throughout the United States. Interviews and animations in the documentary take people into the lives and bodies of children with autism, and the way that food is affecting their family’s ability to achieve harmony.

In addition to the cash prize, services Ryan will receive in include $15,000.00 in theme music and score written by award winning composer David Raiklen , $6,000.00 in animation from Emmy award winner Charlie Canfield (who is also currently working on the project), hard drive from G-Technology, and much more from many heart-felt donors.

About the Filmmaker Behind “Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery”

Ryan Hetrick, Producer/Director

Ryan has worked in the behavioral health field with autism spectrum clients for over 11 years, aged from 2 to 30, as a neurocognitive and Certified Brain Injury Specialist. One of the families he worked with began dietary interventions and their child experienced expansions in vocabulary, eye contact and overall social interaction.

After years working with children on the autism spectrum, Ryan could see that dietary and biomedical therapies made a large beneficial impact. He was motivated to make this film after seeing the results firsthand.

He has taught courses in acting, writing, and film editing for children at Actors for Autism. While in Los Angeles, Ryan became a health and nutrition coach. He worked with teens on the autism spectrum to make nutritional goals achievable..

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now accepting application for its 2018 Spring Grant, over a quarter century the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to films. The grant has been an important lifeline for filmmakers. It gives them the resources needed to continue working on their film and to get it completed. Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made.

Past winners of the grant that have been completed include the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, the SXSW Best of Fest Music Film The Winding Stream: An Oral History of the Carter and Cash Family, and the now in release on video and on demand the very relevant The Brainwashing of My Dad.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to educating and helping filmmakers get their projects funded. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer films fiscal sponsorship which allows donations to films be tax deductible. From The Heart has raised over $12 million for filmmakers through fiscal sponsorship. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Roy W. Dean Grant Won by “Belly of the Beast”

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

2nd Roy W. Dean Grant Winner of 2017 to Receive Cash and Services to Complete Documentary

Still from Roy W. Dean Grant winning documentary “Belly of the Beast”

Oxnard, CA Dec 16th, 2017 – From the Heart Productions , the non-profit dedicated to helping indie filmmakers get their films funded, has awarded its second Roy W. Dean Grant of 2017 to the documentary “Belly of the Beast”. Awarded 3 times each year, the grant goes to films that are unique and make a contribution to society. As a result of winning, “Belly of the Beast” will receive $3,500 in cash and $30k in film production products and services to help it complete production.

Directed by Erika Cohn, “Belly of the Beast” intimately chronicles the journey of women fighting reproductive injustice in their communities.

“Persistence and passion for the project paid off for Erika” admired Carole Dean, founder and president of From the Heart Productions. “This was the fourth time she applied to the grant with this project! We could see the growth in her work and the last submission really impressed us.”

For winning the Roy W. Dean Grant, “Belly of the Beast” filmmakers receive $3,500 cash given by From the Heart Productions. The winners also receive a hard drive from G-Technology, Scholarships to Writers Boot Camp , 25% discount on Publicity services by David Magdael & Associates, Inc., 35% discount for lighting services from PASKAL LIGHTING, and much more from many heart-felt donors.

About the Filmmaker

"Belly of the Beast" Erika Cohn is an Emmy award winning director/producer who Variety recognized as one of 2017’s top ten documentary filmmakers. Most recently, Erika completed The Judge, a film about the first woman judge to be appointed to the Middle East’s Shari’a courts. It premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and will be broadcast on PBS’ 2018 Independent Lens series.

In addition, Erika co-directed/produced, In Football We Trust, an Emmy award-winning, feature documentary about the unique faith and culture that ultimately drives young Pacific Islander men into the NFL. It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and was broadcast on PBS’ 2016 Independent Lens series. Her work has been supported by IFP, the Sundance Institute, Tribeca Institute, Hot Docs, Sheffield, ITVS, Women in Film, BAVC and the CPB Producer’s Academy among others.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now in its 25th year, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to films. The grant has been an important lifeline for filmmakers needing help to continue working on their films. Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films would have never have been made.

Past winners of the grant that have been completed include the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, the SXSW Best of Fest Music Film The Winding Stream: An Oral History of the Carter and Cash Family, and the now in release on video and on demand the very relevant The Brainwashing of My Dad.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer films fiscal sponsorship which allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible. From The Heart has raised over $2.4 million for crowdfunding films as a partner with Indiegogo. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

“Stranger at Home” Wins First Roy W. Dean Grant for 2017

Posted on October 21, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

Documentary Explores Mental Health Crisis Facing Active Duty Soldiers, Veterans, and Their Families

Oxnard, CA October 21st, 2017 – The first Roy W. Dean Grant for 2017 for independent filmmakers, awarded by the non-profit From the Heart Productions, goes to the documentary “Stranger at Home”. Now in its 25th year, the Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded 3 times a year to films that are unique and make a contribution to society. “Stranger at Home” will receive $3,500 in cash and $30k in film production products and services to help it complete production.

“Stranger At Home” filmmakers with their main story subject Navy Commander (retired) and Psychologist, Dr. Mark Russell (c) with war stress injuries cohorts Dr. Charles Figley and Bonnie Zinn.

Directed by Luis Remesar and produced by Luis, Beth Dolan, and Sheila Higgins, “Stranger at Home” documents a Navy psychologist’s personal journey from decorated officer to reluctant whistle blower. His relentless mission is to hold the military accountable for continually disregarding their own solutions to the military mental health epidemic.

“Stranger at Home” has completed research, development and secondary, photography production. The filmmaker’s goal is to finish production in time to submit to Sundance Film Festival in September of 2018.

“From the Heart Productions is committed to supporting films that have life changing stories told by filmmakers with passion.” said Carole Dean, founder and president of From the Heart Productions. “This film follows in that tradition. We are proud to award it our first Roy W. Dean Grant for 2017 and to help in its completion.”

About the Winner of First Roy W. Dean Grant for 2017

The documentary reveals that active duty military, veterans and their families are facing a mental health crisis of catastrophic proportion. But, even in this day and age of advanced knowledge and unlimited resources, the mindset of the military is one where mental illness and the admission of psychological trauma are still considered a weakness or a defect of character.

Through the film, we see the staggering consequences of these archaic and damaging beliefs. This includes 24 suicides to every one battlefield death since 1999, rampant homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration and broken homes. These are all symptoms of untreated war stress Injuries. The film explores the questions of why are we failing our bravest men and women who suffer needlessly? What is being done and what more can we do about it? Why have we let this preventable crisis happen?

As winner of the first Roy W. Dean Grant for 2017, filmmakers receive $3,500 cash given by From the Heart Productions. The winners also receive a hard drive from G-Technology, 40% deduction on color, editing, and sound & all production services from ProMedia, 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC, Movie Magic Budgeting software as a gift from Entertainment Partners , and much more from many heart-felt donors.

About the Filmmakers

Luis Remesar – Director/Producer/Editor

Luis, a native of Havana, Cuba, is a graduate of Columbia University where he studied psychology as well as filmmaking under both Andrew Sarris and Milos Forman. He has been honored by the Los Angeles City Council for his short film OUT OF ORDER and won an ACE Award of Merit for his bilingual,anti-smoking PSA for the American Lung Association. His feature-length documentary REGRESO – about the resiliency and inventiveness of people living through the many challenges in today’s Cuba – has screened at festivals and universities worldwide.

Beth Dolan – Producer/Writer

A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University School of Drama, Beth has worked on popular situation comedies such as FOLEY SQUARE and VAN DYKE. She also worked on LOS BELTRAN, an award-winning Spanish language comedy for Sony/Telemundo. Under her own production banner Coyote Pass Productions, Beth has produced award-winning PSAs and short form documentaries. Her feature-length documentary REGRESO premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and has screened at other festivals and universities worldwide.

Sheila Higgins – Producer/Editor

Sheila has worked in multiple media genres as a producer, director, editor and videographer. This includes working on such shows as: TALK SOUP, E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORIES, as well as the OSCARS, EMMYS, and the GOLDEN GLOBES. She’s also worked as an editor for Tribune/KTLA News and Special Projects where she won awards from the Greater Los Angeles Press Club as well as a TELLY. Other documentaries she has worked on inlcude: OUR STORY, KIDS GET CANCER TOO – SEEING IS BELIEVING; THE INSPIRING STORY OF RWANDA – AHE PASSION TO PLAY, ONE PLAYER’S STORY and SINGING FUNNY.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

The Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to films. The grant has been an important lifeline for filmmakers that need help to complete their film. Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made.

Past winners of the grant that have been completed include the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, the SXSW Best of Fest Music Film The Winding Stream: An Oral History of the Carter and Cash Family, and the now in release on video and on demand the very relevant The Brainwashing of My Dad.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made. Besides providing funding through the grant, they offer films fiscal sponsorship which allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible. From The Heart has raised over $2.4 million for crowdfunding films as a partner with Indiegogo. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.

For More Information and interview requests, please contact:

Richard Kaufman

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Summer 2017 Selected

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Summer 2017 Selected

Winner to Receive $30,000 Grant to Complete Their Project

Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Summer 2017 From The Heart Productions, the non-profit dedicated to helping indie filmmakers get funding, has selected 21 Roy W. Dean Grant finalists for Summer 2017. Now in its 25^th year, the grant seeks films that are unique and make a contribution to society. The winner will receive $30,000 in a combination of cash and donated services from film industry professionals and companies which support independent filmmakers.

“It’s so wonderful to see that great indie filmmaking is alive around the world” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “Submissions included entries from a record 22 countries.”

The grant is open to documentaries, features, short films and web series. Every filmmaker that applies to the grant gets a free consultation on their project.

That along with the cash and production services awarded has made the Roy W. Dean Grant one of the top grants to apply to for new filmmakers. Just some of the nations represented in the applications include Sierra Leone, Ireland, Great Britain, Israel, Thailand, Japan, and India.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Summer 2017

View overview of project summaries and filmmakers with loglines for the 21 Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Summer grant. These films (some of which do not have web or social media sites set up as yet) include:

419: How Nigeria Was Scammed Out Of Its Rightful Identity (Documentary)

American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton (Documentary)

An Act of Terror (Short)

Axe Cop: The Documentary (working title) (Documentary)

Daughters of the Revolution (Documentary)

Finding Kai (Documentary)

Free Spirit (Feature)

In the Executioner’s Shadow (Documentary)

Ken and Alex (Documentary)

MANRY AT SEA ~ In the Wake of a Dream (Documentary)

No Man’s Land (Documentary)

Parallel Chords (Feature)

Pick (Short)

Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery (Documentary)

Salt Water (Feature)

Stone | Fruit (Feature)

The Rukus (Documentary)

Troubled Water (Documentary)

Untitled Witchcraft Project (Short)

Women of the Holocaust (Other)

Ashes To Eden: an Immigrant’s story (Documentary)

From this group of Roy W. Dean Grant Finalists for Summer 2017, a smaller group of 4 to 6 finalists will be selected by our judges. The winner will be chosen from that group and will be announced in late October.

This year’s grant winner will receive $3,500 in cash provided by From the Heart Productions and donations of film services and products from film industry professionals and companies. Some of which include a 1TB G-Drive from G-Technology, $1295.00 Scholarship to Writers Boot Camp , 35% discount on lighting from Paskal Lighting, Discount of rental of screening room from Raliegh Studios, and much more from heartfelt donors those who care about helping independent filmmakers.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Founded in 1992, there are 3 Roy W. Dean Grants awarded each year. There is a Spring, Summer and Fall Grant. The Fall Grant is now accepting entries and closes October 14th. Films submitted to the grant can be short films, documentaries or features from early stages of pre-production to those needing help in post.

The grant has been integral in helping talented artists with great stories get their films produced. Recent past winners of the grant include the award winning “Heist: Who Stole the American Dream”, “The Brainwashing of My Dad”, and Emmy winner “Mia: A Dancer’s Journey” which just won an Emmy award.

About From The Heart Productions

Carole Dean founded the 501(c)3 non-profit when she saw how many filmmakers with important, new, and often controversial stories were having trouble getting financing for their films. From The Heart offers fiscal sponsorship for films which allows donors to get a tax deduction for their donations. Their Intentional Filmmaking Classes which teaches filmmakers the tactics on how to get funded is now open for enrollment. Classes start September 30^th.

Roy W. Dean Grant Spring 2017 Finalists Named

Posted on August 26, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

Roy W. Dean Grant Spring 2017 Finalists 21 films that are unique and make a contribution to society were named as Roy W. Dean Grant Spring 2017 finalists. The grant is offered by From The Heart Productions, the non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get funding. The winner will receive $30,000 in a combination of cash and donated services from film industry professionals and companies which support independent filmmakers.

“We are very fortunate to have so many filmmakers exploring stories and ideas that look to change how we view our world.” said Carole Dean, President of From the Heart Productions. “These finalists highlight the passion and dedication of the hundreds of applications we received.”

A record number of 345 films were submitted to this year’s Roy W. Dean Grant for Spring from across the US and around the world. Entries were received from France, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The projects included features, short films, documentary, and web series.

View overview of project summaries and filmmakers for the Roy W. Dean Grant Spring 2017 Finalists which include:

American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton (Documentary)

Belly of the Beast (Documentary)

Bruce the Challenge (Feature)

Flight of the Dodo (Short)

Grace (Documentary)

Imagemakers (Documentary)

L (Feature)

Louder Than Thunder (Documentary)

Restoring Balance: Autism Recovery (Documentary)

Rising Up to Climate Change: Storytelling with Saris (Documentary)

Stoke (Feature)

Stranger At Home (Documentary)

Stunt Life (Documentary)

The Creative High (Documentary)

The Last Amendment (Documentary)

The Real Thing (Short)

The Roar of a Lion Cub (Documentary)

What If (Short)

Yellow is Forbidden (Documentary)

Yoshi: Wake Up With Me (Documentary)

Now in its 25^th year, the Roy W. Dean Grant seeks films that are unique and make a contribution to society that need help getting started or completed. Out of this group of 21 Roy W. Dean Grant Spring 2017 finalists, a smaller group of 4 to 6 finalists will be selected by our judges. From that group will come the winner of the Roy W. Dean Grant. Winner is expected to be announced in late September.

This year’s grant winner will receive $3,500 in cash provided by From the Heart Productions and donations of film services and products from film industry professionals and companies. Some of which include a 1TB G-Drive from G-Technology, a 30% discount in equipment rental from AbelCine Tech, Inc. NYC, 40% deduction on color, editing, and production services from ProMedia, and much more from heartfelt donors those who care about helping independent filmmakers.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Founded in 1992, there are 3 Roy W. Dean Grant every year. There is a Spring, Summer and Fall Grant. The Fall Grant is now accepting entries and closes September 30^th. Films submitted to the grant can be short films, documentaries or features from early stages of pre-production to those needing help in post.

The grant is integral in helping talented artists with great stories get their films produced. Recent past winners of the grant include the award winning “Heist: Who Stole the American Dream”, “The Brainwashing of My Dad”, and Emmy winner “Mia: A Dancer’s Journey” which just won an Emmy award.

About From The Heart Productions

“The Coverup” Filmmakers Win Inaugural Redford Center Grant

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

Roy W. Dean Grant Winning Film Part of Select Group of 6 Chosen

All of us at From the Heart Productions are proud to have our Roy W. Dean Grant Winners, Malina Fagan and Lynn Pelletier, chosen along with their film The Coverup for the inaugural Redford Center Grant.

The Redford Center

“We truly want to thank you both so much for all your feedback, encouragement and support.” Malina emailed From the Heart Production president Carole Dean and Carole Joyce upon receiving the Redford Center Grant.

“We’ve applied to many grants this past year and yours is the only one that provided feedback, which is what has helped us grow.”

282 filmmakers applied to the grant from over 28 countries. 6 indie documentaries were selected along with the 7 filmmakers who made them.

The grant was created to provide support for six feature-length film projects in early development that are focused on driving awareness, education and tangible action on a variety of environmental topics.

“The Coverup” reveals that the average person is exposed to about 126 chemicals a day, just from their cosmetics and personal care products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, makeup, etc.). Scientists have linked some of the chemicals to serious health effects including cancer, infertility, and birth defects. The documentary seeks to empower consumers and companies alike and challenge our government to protect the public.

What’s Next for Filmmakers

Malina and Lynn will be going to Utah this November to attend a story summit at the Sundance Resort. They will also receive a $15,000 development grant to produce a written film treatment and short proof-of-concept film over a 3-month time frame, mentorship from issue experts and industry leaders to refine their project narratives and impact goals, a GoPro Hero 4 Black Camera, film distribution as part of Redford Center Grants’ series of shorts and consideration for co-production with The Redford Center.

They will also be making full use of all the donations in the Roy W. Dean Spring Grant which includes:

Media Distributors and G-technology for the hard drives.
Artbeats royalty -free stock footage for unlimited use.
Promedia’s discount on color, editing and sound and all production services including lighting truck.
Free budgeting consultation with Norman Berns.
ANTP Transcriptions services.
Glue Edit for online color correction.
BZ Rights and Permissions, Inc. for copyrighted materials.
$1600 in sound mix session from Silver Sound.
Voice over services from Claire Papin.
Web Site by Silke Mayer.
Movie Magic budgeting from Entertainment Partners.

The Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded 3 times each year to a film that is unique and makes a contribution to society. Applications for current grant are now being accepted.

Fall 2016 Roy W. Dean Grant Won by “Do No Harm”

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

“Silent Epidemic” of Physician Suicide Exposed in Eye-Opening Documentary Feature

Oxnard, CA Jan 16th, 2016 Why are the doctors we rely on to keep us healthy, ending their own lives at an alarming rate? Emmy winning former PBS Producer/Director Robyn Symon examines this critical problem in the documentary Do No Harm, the winner of the Fall 2016 Roy W. Dean Grant. As the grant winner, Robyn will receive $30K in cash, film products, and services to help her finish her project.

Still from Roy W. Dean Grant Winner “Do No Harm”

The Roy W. Dean Grant is awarded 3 times each year to a unique film that makes a contribution to society. Founded in 1993 by the 501(c)3 non-profit From the Heart Productions, grants are open to all types of film projects including documentaries, short films, features, and web series in any stage of production

Following three people bonded by grief, “Do No Harm” delves into why young physicians in medical school have the highest suicide rate of any profession, almost twice the national average. They are jumping from hospital roofs, hanging themselves in closets and overdosing on readily available drugs. “This documentary reveals a dark side of our medical system.” commented Carole Dean, president of From the Heart Productions. “We are proud to support Robyn and her work to shine a light through her film on this important underreported story.”

The film shows how what it calls this ‘dirty little secret” in the medical community is a symptom of a broken heath care system that’s not only putting the lives of doctors at risk… but patients too.

“Medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the United States alone,”notes director Robyn Symone,”often caused by sleep-deprived and disillusioned doctors forced to practice assembly line medicine. And the crisis is getting worse.”

About the Filmmaker

Robyn Symon is a two-time Emmy winning Producer/Director and has produced programming for many national networks including PBS, The Travel Channel, CNBC and DISCOVERY HEALTH. Robyn began her career as a TV news reporter in Texas before joining the PBS station WPBT in Miami, where she produced documentaries, public affairs programs, the TV series Florida!, the docu-series Voices of Vision, and the medical series Health & Family airing on the Discovery Health network.

Her most recent film, Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride!, was selected for a prestigious Film Independent Documentary Lab Fellowship and will premiere at a Miami film festival in April 2016. In addition to two Emmys, Robyn has been honored with 3 national Telly awards; 2 national NABJ awards and honors by both the Associated Press and UPI.

The Fall 2016 Roy W. Dean Grant includes $3,000 cash given by From The Heart Productions. The winners also receive a hard drive from G-Technology, $15,000 in theme and score music from composer David Raiklen, $6,000 in animation services from Charlie Canfield, one week DSLR camera package rental from Birns & Sawyer, and much more from many heart-felt donors.

About the Roy W. Dean Grant

Now in its 23^rd year, the Roy W. Dean Grant has awarded over $2,000,000 in cash and donated film services to films. The grant has been an important lifeline for filmmakers needing help to continue working on their film and to get it completed. Without assistance from the grant, many excellent and important films may never have been made.

Past winners of the grant that have been completed include the Emmy winning Mia: A Dancer’s Journey, the SXSW Best of Fest Music Film The Winding Stream: An Oral History of the Carter and Cash Family, and the now in release on video and on demand the very relevant The Brainwashing of My Dad.

About From The Heart Productions

From The Heart Productions is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to helping filmmakers get their projects funded and made. Besides providing funding through the grant, they are also a fiscal sponsor which allows donations made to films they sponsor to be tax deductible. From The Heart has raised over $2.4 million for crowdfunding films as a partner with Indiegogo. President Carole Dean is the best-selling author of The Art of Film Funding: 2^nd Edition, Alternative Financing Concepts.

For More Information, please contact

Richard Kaufman

www.fromtheheartproductions.com

NetCaptioning Joins Donors to Roy W. Dean Grant

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Richard Kaufman

Winners of All 2017 Grants Will Receive Free Close Captioning Services for Their Film

From the Heart Productions, non-profit sponsor of the Roy W. Dean Grant for indie filmmakers, is proud to have new grant donor NetCaptioning for 2017. The winners of the Spring, Summer, and Fall Grants will each receive will each receive free close captioning services for their winning film (a $600 value).

In addition, NetCaptioning owner Elliot Roberts is giving a 20% discount on all From the Heart Productions fiscally sponsored filmmakers and grant applicants. The discount not only applies to close captioning, but to their other services as well. These include subtitling and transcription services.

“We are thrilled to have NetCaptioning join our family of donors”, said Carole Dean, president of From the Heart Productions. “Mr. Roberts has great compassion for indie filmmakers. Especially those working to convey a message like the ones who come to us for us for help. He is very excited to work with and support those filmmakers.”

Since 2006, NetCaptioning has offered their services to Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Fox Sports, as well as some of the largest video distributors in the country. They work with a broad network of highly-qualified translators to offer cinema-quality foreign language subtitling. They’ve developed workflows that allow them to offer the industry’s lowest prices — while not compromising on quality.

“NetCaptioning handled closed captions for I Voted? and did so in a flawless fashion.” commented Jason Smith, winner of the Roy W. Dean Grant. “They provided me with outstanding customer service and helped us pass quality control without any issues on our “video on demand” platforms. And their prices are extremely reasonable with quick turnarounds. As an added bonus, they seem to actually care about their work.”

NetCaptioning prides itself on not being simply an assembly line of close captioning and subtitling. They offer personal service to every client. They offer simple pricing so that clients know what to expect and remain in budget.

For more information on NetCaptioning and their services, you can email them at or call them at 240-654-6235.

The Roy W. Dean Grant is now accepting applications for its Spring Grant. Deadline is April 30^th. For more information about the grant, go to https://fromtheheartproductions.com/roy-w-dean-film-grants-and-awards/ For questions, please email or call 805-984-0098.