<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp2a5e1602yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div id="ydp2a5e1602yiv1937676681"><div><div style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;" class="ydp2a5e1602yiv1937676681yahoo-style-wrap"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">To all:<br></div><div><br></div><div>Hello. Some of you may be familiar with my website, www.uchidatomu.com, which deals with everything related to the great director Uchida Tomu (1898-1970), "the World's Greatest Unknown Filmmaker" (as I refer to him on the site). I have set myself the task of reviewing every existing film by Uchida, totally about 30 in all. So far, I've reviewed 23 of Uchida's films, so I have about seven to go before my task is done. <br><br>But now I wish to set out on a new goal: to create a documentary film about Uchida's supremely interesting life and career. And to do so, I would like to ask for help from people on this list. <br><br>I've never made a film before, and so I will require grant money, and possible crowdfunding as well, to carry out my ongoing research of this subject just to bring me to the point at which I can start filming. One of my biggest expenses will be transportation costs for multiple trips to Japan to research sources and interview people there. <br><br>So I need advice as well as assistance with making connections. Here are a few of my initial questions.<br><br>Does anyone know of any grantmakers who particularly specialize in providing seed money for film projects such as mine? Please note that I'm a male American, based in New York, so grantmakers that exclude applicants in any of those categories would of course not be helpful to me.<br><br>Would those who have worked with grantmakers suggest that first obtaining a fiscal sponsorship from an organization be the way for me to go? From what I've read, it may be easier to get grants if I have a fiscal sponsor, but I want to know the pros and possible cons of this step before I consider taking it.<br><br>Does anybody know of directors of documentaries about films and/or filmmakers that I could consult about this project and how I might contact them? It would obviously be preferable if they had made films about *Japanese* Cinema, but this isn't strictly necessary.<br><br>Thanks in advance for your help. <br><br>John D. "Jack" Baldwin<br>New York<br><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>