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What is the Paul Robeson Fund for Independent Media?
Ic is a fund chat gives grants to video, film, and radio programs.
How long has it been in existence?
It's been around since 1987. Originally it was called the Film Fund and in '87 the name was changed.
Was there a reason for that?
Back then there was a sense that the name, the Film Fund, was too generic and we wanted to have a name that better reflected its progressive values.
Why did you decide to name the fund after Paul Robeson-the world-renowned African American scholar, actor, athlete, and singer?
The fund was named to honor him as both a legendary artist and civil rights activist. Paul Robeson spoke fiercely against the injustice in this country, even in the face of blacklisting during the McCarthy era. We thought the name was perfect to represent who we are-a fund that connects independent media artists, community organizing, and social change.
What's the mission of the fund?
We're looking to fund or distribute mediamakers that are innovative, that are grassroots, and that have projects that lead to social change-which means we encourage independent makers to use their creativity and skills to further the critical base-building work necessary to transform our society into one that is democratic and socially just.
What types of projects do you seek?
We typically fund projects on contemporary social issues that are misrepresented, or viewpoints that are underrepresented in mainstream media. All of our projects must articulate a thoughtful distribution strategy, in which the maker presents a target audience and the means to reach this audience. They must also tell us the reason for selecting this audience and why the involvement of this audience is essential to the social change goals of the video, film, or radio. Some of our grantees have partnered with grassroots...