Melusina Media
Founded by Lou-Lou Mason, this theatre and film production company was established in 2023.
Championing and producing new work across theatre and film, telling stories with social impact, created by people in underserved communities
The Reach Fund
The biggest barriers to artists creating work in theatre and film are funding and production knowledge. The Reach Fund aims to change this.
As part of our agenda to make creating art accessible and a valid option for all, Melusina Media launches The Reach Fund.
A platform to enable emerging artists with valuable feedback, mentorship and funding to realise their work, alongside effort to end industry-wide gatekeeping and build a community of artists to support one another.
Lou-Lou Mason, creator and director of The Reach Fund has 25 years experience in devising, dramaturgy, producing, directing and script development, through training and industry practice, supporting many new and emerging artists with:
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R&D
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Script feedback
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Direct mentorship
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Finanical investment
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Production support
All of this expertise has been brought together with a team of specialists working in production and script development to create a platform that enables emerging artists to realise work for themselves: tackling these obstacles: supporting fundraising efforts and demystifying development and production, to make work happen.
During the application window, we will share a range of production insights, knowledge and key information to really help your application sing.
Follow @MelusinaMedia to access.
What you get
Lower entry fee compared to most competitions and longer submission windows, giving you time to create your application at the cheapest window possible.
Competition entry fees can sometimes run into the hundreds. The Reach Fund ensures that entry is accessible, while still providing a useful and positive competition experience for all participants.
Cost - Tier 1: £35 - Tier 2: £50 - Tier 3 £65
Every submission receives feedback, therefore every project, script and team gets a return on the investment of the cost of entry.
Key insights for production and application writing via social media, so you're in with a better chance of submitting a winning application - for any competition!
The winner(s) of The Reach Fund will receive a share of £1000-2000 to contribute to the financing of their project.
Alongside valuable mentorship to enable your team to bring the project to life, through production templates, advice, guidance and direct mentoring sessions.
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Guidelines
The guidelines for The Reach Fund are comprehensive and detailed. To give you, your project and your team the best chance of being selected, please note the following:
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Please ensure that you read all of the guidance and criteria, as well as terms and conditions before beginning your application and again before submitting.
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Please ensure you include everything that needs to be included when you apply.
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Incomplete applications or those that do not fit the criteria will be immediately discounted.
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The Reach Fund is open to emerging writers/producers who have some production experience, with a theatre script (50 mins max) or short film script (20 mins max).
Apply to The Reach Fund
Submission requirements
The Reach Fund is
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Open to emerging writers and their production teams, with narrative projects that they intend on presenting or shooting their project within 6-12 months of the date for submissions to the Reach Fund opens
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To be used exclusively for production of the project submitted
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Open to submissions for projects that are in the early stages of, or about to move into, pre-production
Participants must have previous experience of production, whether work experience, fringe, events, low budget indie or larger scale production or can demonstrate they understand how production works, planning and budget necessary to use funding to best effect.
All entries must complete all of the requirements in order to qualify
All entries will receive feedback on submission and script
What to submit
Please prepare the following for entry:
1. Project overview - max three pages with
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Log line or 50-word synopsis.
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Treatment or extended synopsis
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Outline of how you plan to include The Reach Fund Core Values
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Statement of aspiration
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An overview of what you want to achieve with this project
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How you see yourself participating in the Reach Fund community in future
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2. Your script - No more than 20 mins for film, or 50 mins for theatre.
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It doesn’t have to be the final version – this programme is about development. The script should be in a good enough state to start production, with a view to including final rounds of edits.
Creating your application
3. Production overview / Pitch deck – max two-three pages to include
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High level budget - rough numbers are totally fine! It's just to demonstrate you're thinking about how to allocate funding.
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Forecast cost for production including team, cast, location/venue etc
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What you’re planning to do to raise the rest of the funding required.
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Production plan
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Where you are in terms of pre-production at the moment. It’s absolutely fine if you’ve not done any production so far, and you’re still finalising your script first – there’s still time for everything!
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Planned/approx. dates for casting, rehearsals, performance/shoot - nothing has to be confirmed, aspirational is fine
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Overview of collaborators: production/creative team and any cast/crew attached/confirmed, ie, you and your team and who migh tbe helping you
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CV and/or statement of previous experience for the lead artist/s (1 page)
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This should be relevant experience only. It doesn’t have to include your ‘money jobs’ but do include what you’ve done before creatively, including film or theatre, corporate content and/or event production.
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