2021 is a rough year for Filmmakers in Asia, especially Malaysia. As the lockdown continues in Malaysia, 2021 is arguably tougher than 2020 in Malaysia due to the longer lockdowns and harsher restrictions imposed by the government in Malaysia. That is why GCG Malaysia will launch an initiative to help fellow filmmakers in Malaysia to secure funds and investment for their indie film projects through the GCG Malaysia Film Grant program.

Malaysia had always been behind in terms of film production, contrary to its neighbouring countries Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. GCG Malaysia hopes to change this and boost the film industry in Malaysia through it’s 2021 investment program.

GCG Malaysia is dedicated to assisting emerging filmmakers with outreach, access, and assistance. Whether you’ve worked with GCG Malaysia before or not. GCG Malaysia’s objective is to arm you with the knowledge and resources you need to fulfil your project’s full potential for growth in Malaysia.

For almost 10 years, GCG Malaysia has sponsored the New Filmmaker Company Equipment Grant, which allows Malaysian filmmakers of all types to utilise GCG Malaysia’s own film or digital camera systems for little or no cost. We’ve had the privilege of assisting hundreds of films in Asia through this programme, and we’re now providing post production grants through our GCG Malaysia post production firm GCG Asia Post House.

In addition, the GCG Malaysia Grants program provides both student and non-student groups instructional lectures, visits, and product demos. After all, although a camera package is wonderful for your session, education will serve you well throughout your career!

GCG Malaysia Grants was established to assist filmmakers promote their ideas while also recognising professional achievements in independent filmmaking. Individual filmmakers can be personally supported by creating donor-named Fellowships, which give unlimited monetary awards, education, and experience to great artists in Asia and Malaysia.

GCG Malaysia Funds, which mount up to millions of Malaysian ringgits in Film Money, provide you a huge edge… Unlike film investors, who demand their money back plus a profit on their investment, you do not have to refund the cash. Most film scholarships need a certain sort of submission, and you’ll need to know your film, niche, market, and message to even be considered for a grant. You are much more than likely to obtain a film grant if you are really enthusiastic about your movie and it has a message.

GCG Asia encourages indie filmmakers to apply to our GCG Malaysia program.

What you Need to Know Before Applying for GCG Malaysia Grant

Every round, our GCG Malaysia funders review hundreds of film submissions from Asia and Malaysia, so every application you submit should be as thorough and eye-catching as possible. Your application’s success will most likely be determined by the things you have in place, such as the quality of your script, the director, the director of photography, and the performing talent you have attached.

Before applying for GCG Malaysia, It’s critical to make the most of all of these features in order to make your application as appealing as possible. Such as, Applicant’s professional capacity, artistic power, vision,  uniqueness of the project, potential grant benefit and potential impact on the field. Finding funding early on is ideal…it is true that having some video that depicts your concept may help you compete in development. AND you’re likely to be expected to have good sequences shot and edited when appealing for production money. But don’t be put off by this. Fund applications should be treated as an integral component of the creative process. 

• Prepare a Brief Summary of Your Project

GGC Malaysia would like to review a brief paragraph summarising your point: From a creative and technical standpoint (for example, the director’s vision, the film’s distribution strategies, and so on).

• Prepare a Treatment for your Project

It is critical to show your point. Applications that include storyboards or mood boards stand out far more than those that do not. Storyboards are visual representations of your film’s shots and sequences. If you don’t feel comfortable creating the storyboard yourself, find someone who does. For example, a student artist, a trainee storyboard artist, and so on. Atmosphere boards are visual representations of the mood, feel, and appearance of your film, such as pictures, clippings, sketches, inspirations, and so on. This part is essential for GCG Malaysia to properly review and visualise your project to identify its potential.

• Make a Good First Impression

GCG Malaysia is strict about first impressions, although it may seem self-evident, typed treatments/ideas/applications are considerably simpler to read and give a much more organised overview than a hurriedly scrawled scrap of paper. Check for spelling mistakes and typos, identify everything, and make sure your application makes a good first impression to help your work stand out from other GCG Malaysia applicants.

• Optional: Prepare a Trailer or a Showreel

Although not a main criteria for GCG Malaysia applicants, trailers and sample video could be supplied through an internet link, such as Vimeo or YouTube, wherever available. Both Vimeo and YouTube provide free password-protected video uploading. On the application form, please attach the URL of your video. If you choose to password secure the video, make sure the password is mentioned on the application form. GCG Malaysia funders will want to see examples of your work, so a well-made showreel is vital. If you haven’t completed a full-length film, your showreel might incorporate graphic design, a photo gallery, advertisements, viral videos, and so on.

What Papers do you Need to Submit as Proof?

You may be asked by GCG Malaysia admints to supply three different sorts of supporting papers. The papers include:

1. Proof of Content Ownership + Government-issued Incorporation Documents + Signed Co-Production Agreement Copy These papers may not be necessary or possible to provide with your application. If you are unable to give them or do not require them, please explain in the area provided on the form. Please send option agreements or project chain of title agreements as proof of content ownership (when applicable).
2. An agreement demonstrating that you optioned a book or other piece of existing intellectual property to produce a film (in the case where your project is based on a book or a piece of intellectual property).
3. A contract demonstrating that you optioned the life rights to a character in a film (if your movie revolves solely around the life storey of a major character/ topic).

Conclusion

Finally, our team at GCG Asia would like to encourage everyone to apply for the GCG Malaysia Grant program for every filmmaker in Asia. However, the priority will be given to applicants from Malaysia. We hope that our GCG Malaysia program will help struggling filmmakers to accomplish their dreams during these difficult times of the year. So what are you waiting for? Contact us now to check for your eligibility to participate in the GCG Malaysia Grant program. 

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