DUSHABE, February 13, 2010, Asia-Plus /Nargis Hamroboyeva/ — The U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan seeks project proposals from both governmental and independent TV stations and production companies from Tajikistan for the 2010 TV Cooperative program (TV Coop).
According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the Program allows the opportunity for stations to send their producers and crews to the United States for a two-week period for the purpose of filming original documentaries and news features on jointly planned topics.
For 2010 the priority themes of the documentaries include: agricultural development and food security; environmental issues and global climate change; tourism development; rule of law (including anti-corruption efforts, drug interdiction, trafficking in persons, anti-terrorism); Muslims in America (including participation of Muslims in community service, political and social life); the role of civil society and media in promoting government accountability; and other typical Americana stories.
The typical cooperative project results in at least one, and frequently a series, of prime time TV documentary-type products, plus multiple short unplanned feature stories about American life captured during the two-week trip. The team shoots and edits their own material and broadcasts the final programs during prime time. A producer from the Office of Broadcast Affairs is assigned to the project to work full time from inception to completion. The visiting crew will receive funding from the State Department to cover expenses related to the production, which includes international and domestic airfare, hotel and food allowances, and miscellaneous production expenses.
The visiting TV team should not exceed a total of three persons, one of whom must speak English fluently. The team is expected to provide its own equipment, to include a betacam SP, DVC PRO camera or similar professional camera system, tripod, lighting and audio gear and videotapes. The broadcaster must commit to airing the programs during prime-time. Following the telecast, producer must provide PA/OBS/BS a broadcast quality videotape containing the completed programs.
Both television broadcast stations and production studios are eligible to apply. Production studios without broadcast frequencies must include a paragraph on how the final products will be aired. Project proposals must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Tajik, Russian or English languages no later than Friday, March 5, 2010. Email: [email protected]
