September 28, 2023 Submitted by Harbor Media
Harbor Media, Hingham’s hyperlocal community television provider, today announced the results of the first application cycle and distribution of $57,000 as part of the newly launched Harbor Media Production Grant program (HMPG). This first of its kind reimbursement program in Hingham utilizes cable funding to incentivize the community to produce local programming by covering production expenses. All who live, work and enjoy the town of Hingham are welcome to apply for the next cycle opening October 1st.
Each year through May 2027, the HMPG committee will oversee one or more grant cycles disbursing up to (approximately) $67,000 total per year. The next application cycle for the HMPG opens October 1 through November 30, 2023 with all grant materials available at www.HarborMedia.org.
In total, seven applications were submitted and five projects were funded for the first grant cycle which opened May 1, 2023. All projects will be completed and airing by July 2024 on Harbor Media’s local high definition channels (Comcast 1072/Verizon 2131). Awardees and their projects include:
● “Born to do This” The Company Theatre, producer Zoe Bradford, documentary
● “Dinkalings” Pickleball Productions, producer Elizabeth Dings, comedy
● “Hingham History Video Collection” Hingham Historical Society, producer Deridre Anderson, short format collection
● “Hingham Immigration Diaries” Juri Love Productions, interview episodes
● “Substance Free 02043” Hingham CARES, producer Kristen Arute, interview episodes
Members of the community interested in learning more about the HMPG are invited to attend the upcoming Harbor Media Open House and studio tour Wednesday, October 11th at 6:30 pm, held at 35 Pond Park Rd, Suite 8 in Hingham. Boston-based Emmy-nominated and award-winning producer Kris Meyer is the keynote speaker. RSVP encouraged by clicking HERE.
This new grant program was formed in partnership with the Town of Hingham as part of a new five-year service contract with Harbor Media utilizing cable funds encouraging local video production with expense reimbursement for producers and their crew. The availability of these grant funds empowers those who live, work and enjoy Hingham to share their voice and vision from a Hingham perspective. Diverse audiovisual formats are encouraged including short form, episodic, feature length, fiction and documentary with resulting production aired on Harbor Media’s high definition Comcast 1072/Verizon 2131 channels.
In addition to grant funds, Harbor Media will also make available at no cost its high quality audio and video production equipment, staff support and the use of its professional studio with multiple set options and made for TV kitchen. These resources are currently available to all members of the public to create local television and HMPG applicants may also choose to use these production elements in order to submit lower-cost budgets.
Available on the Harbor Media website, the HMPG application is designed to be simple and user-friendly to encourage widespread participation. Applicants answer four questions directly on the website or via email:
1) video project description
2) list of crew (producer should be a Hingham resident, affiliated with a local
business/organization or have a local sponsor)
3) amount of production funds requested with a detailed budget
4) a production timeline keeping in mind all projects should be completed within 12 months
A three-person committee composed of a Harbor Media representative and Hingham residents Mary Ann Blackmur and Angie Woodin will review the applications and select grantees. Grant recipients should consult with their tax advisor on classification of grants as taxable income.
The new HMPG fund reflects Harbor Media’s ongoing mission to offer Hingham residents the best in hyperlocal public, education and government programming and professional production resources. Additional innovations provided to the community in the past three years include closed captioning, online real-time TV schedule with video on demand viewing and multi-device live streaming.
Please go to www.HarborMedia.org for details and to sign up for email updates, call 508-318-8694, or send an inquiry to michelleb@harbormedia.org for more information.