Núfilms: How to Fund Your Music Video

As of this writing in October 2000, Núfilms was a group of three producers who have combined their talents to foster the production of music videos with the best possible quality/price ratio. These producers – Paul Barbeau, Stéphane Parent and Stéphane Raymond – work with video directors in the areas of hip hop, alternative, pop and instrumental music, including directors of videos by The Ramones, Kiss, Metallica and, closer to home, Dubmatique (“La Vie est si fragile”), Muzion (“La vi ti nèg”), Noir Silence (“Rack à bécyk”).

How can a creator or a group with limited funds produce a good music video?
Paul Barbeau: First the artist and the record company should select a song. Then get the best director for the video project. Finally, develop a strong case to be submitted to organizations, such as VideoFACT, which offers grants of up to $15,000, and Bravo!FACT, which grants up to $25,000.

It is really important to develop strong relationships with people from these organizations and to have a clear idea of the type of venue to which each of the projects is destined to make sure that you send the application for funding to the appropriate organization.

What are the criteria for eligibility established by these organizations?
Stéphane Raymond: The musical content and the synopsis of the video are very important. Granting organizations want to see whether a video concept can be produced within the proposed budget. In some cases, they’ll insist on mainstream videos designed for the general public — here again the venue is an issue.

Another consideration is the record company that the artist is working with. Artists with a major company don’t qualify for assistance. However, the record’s producer must be a well-established company that can be trusted to complete the subsidized project. Only record companies that have a distributor are considered.

Finally, grants may not be secured from both Musicaction and FACTOR, but a grant from either Musicaction or FACTOR may be coupled with assistance from VideoFACT, MaxFACT or Bravo!FACT.

Granting Organizations

VideoFACT
Telephone: (416) 596-8696
Website: www.muchmusic.com/music/videofact/

Musicaction
Telephone: (514) 861-8444 or 1-800-861-5561
Website: www.musicaction.ca

FACTOR
Telephone: (416) 368-8678
Website: www.factor.ca

MaxFACT
Telephone: (416) 591-7400, ext. 2738
E-mail: maxfact@bravo.ca

Bravo!FACT
Telephone: (416) 591-7400, ext. 2738
Website: www.bravofact.com

(Interview by Claude André.)

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