How To Become A National Geographic Explorer (2024/2025)
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- Опубликовано: 3 авг 2024
- Grant update from NatGeo: "We recently shifted away from an open grant model to a "Request for Proposal. The RFP opportunities will be more targeted and each will have unique requirements. Please go to www.nationalgeographic.org/so..., in order to find the latest opportunities and applications."
Today I'm sharing every piece of insight I have to help you become a National Geographic Explorer. These are lessons I’ve learned from getting a grant from the National Geographic Society myself, from exchanging notes with tons of other NatGeo filmmakers, and from years of attending the National Geographic Storyteller’s Summit in which I’ve gone to sessions specifically on how to get their grants. I’m going to go over what a National Geographic Explorer grant is, who should apply, how to apply for one, what will make your application stand out, how you’re most likely to screw it up, what you should do if you get accepted or rejected, and lastly, I’ll get real about the biggest value of a NatGeo grant, which I’m going to guess, might surprise you. Hope you enjoy!
APPLICATION RESOURCES
Grants Website: www.nationalgeographic.org/so...
Pre-Application: natgeo.my.salesforce.com/sfc/...
Main Application: natgeo.my.salesforce.com/sfc/...
🍿 WATCH NEXT: My National Geographic Explorer grant film, With Grace - • WITH GRACE | A Nationa...
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📸 Instagram - / austinmeyerfilms
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🐦 Twitter - / ameyerfilms
WHO AM I?
If we haven’t met yet before - Hey 👋 I'm Austin Meyer and I am a documentary filmmaker based in Berkeley, California. I'm a National Geographic Explorer and my work has been featured by HBO, Hulu, Apple TV, The New York Times, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and PBS among others. Through my videos here on this channel, and my podcast called The Austin Meyer Podcast, I share skills, mindsets, and lessons to help you become a better documentary filmmaker and build the life full of creativity that you aspire towards.
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⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:00 - Grants Are Important!
2:05 - What is a NatGeo Explorer Grant?
3:32 - Who Should Apply?
6:28 - How to Apply
7:08 - The 6 Keys To Stand Out
7:19 - 1. Story, Not Topic
8:13 - 2. Assume A Beginner's Mind
8:41 - 3. Be Specific
9:00 - 4. Don't Promise Too Much
10:08 - 5. Help Reviewers Visualize
10:46 - 6. Ensure A Safe Investment
12:02 - How You'll Screw It Up
13:15 - What You Should Expect From The Grant
16:24 - The Biggest Value of The Grant
17:52 - Final Thoughts
#documentaryfilmmaking #documentary #filmmaking #nationalgeographic 
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Beautiful. Many congratulations for becoming an Explorer!
And many thanks for patiently explaining and guiding upcoming filmmakers on the same. Much helpful ✨
@@onelifekush thank you! So glad you enjoyed it
Great insights on grants. I have landed $80,000+ in grants for various historical documentary projects. I would encourage folks to check out their local and statewide granting organizations. As you point out, it's not easy and you will get rejected but learn from each rejection and keep applying.
Thanks for sharing your experience! Wow, sounds like you have had a ton of success with grants. Has a lot of that come from your local and statewide granting organizations? Any recommendations for how you have found those ones to apply for?
@@austinmeyerfilms All my grants have come from local and statewide granting agencies. Just as any grant, you have to tailor the film for the grant. Don't expect an Arts Council to fund your slasher film or history of slasher films. Look at the agency's mission statement and try to show that in your application. My advice is start small and build up your reputatation. Our last documentary is up for a regional Emmy and we'll hear on the 20th. Cross your fingers for us.
One of the most informative video I ever seen on YT. Thanks!
@@andrei-lazar thank you! Really appreciate it 🙏
Very clear insights and good pacing, not too fast or slow. Keep it up, Austin. 👊🏾
@@DANAMIONLINE thank you 👊
I am extremely intrigued by this, thank you for this video. There is something I've wanted to make for a long time but had no idea how I could accomplish it.
Thanks for watching! Good luck
These are some great insights. I also found it inspiring that your project was in Zambia since I'm a Zambian. I'll be sure to watch your documentary. Thank you so much for the advice, I applied for a grant last year and was rejected your video has helped me see the areas where I made mistakes for my next application. I'm so glad you posted this before I submitted my application for this year's grants.
@@katongobkampamba9808 thanks for watching! So glad it was helpful. I am so grateful for my time in Zambia. What a beautiful country 🙏
Thank you Austin for great information to work with Nat Geo
@@rajendradwivedi6396 my pleasure!
Congratulations on your NatGeo grant. I applied to be an explorer back in 2003 when I was studying Animal Behaviour at University. Had no idea what the grant entailed let alone demonstrate any track record. Obviously, I did not get a grant, or any reply for that matter. Your video is certainly informative and has re-inspired old ideas.
Thanks for watching, Dr! 20 years later, I say you go for it once again if you're feeling inspired 💪
This is so insightful! Thank you for making it and sharing it. It's also a great coincidence that the algorithm brought me here because I am Zambian! I'm right at the start of trying to break into getting funding for story telling and even just building a portfolio, I currently barely have any gear so I'm trying to see how i can build a small portfolio of sorts and how i can tell more Zambian stories about the people, the landscapes and the wildlife. Definitely saving this one and will return to it time and again. Looking forward to watching your short that you made in Zambia! Thanks again 🙏🏾🙌🏾
Hi! Thanks so much for watching the video. Shoutout to the algorithm for bringing you here. I had an amazing experience in Zambia, and look forward to going back one day. Good luck as you build up your portfolio and skillset. I hope this channel can be of help along your journey. If you ever have any questions or ideas for topics I should cover in the videos, please let me know!
@@austinmeyerfilms I will definitely reach out if anything! For now, I'll see more of your videos and pick what I can 💫
Hey!!! great videa very inspiring and nicely tips for other creatives in the world!! applicable to other creative carreers, greetings from Ecuador
This is amazing! Thank you for the taking the time to put all of these insights together. Super helpful 🙏
Thanks for watching! So glad it was helpful!
Excellent advice on applying far any grant or even corporate pitches. Thank you Austin.
@@terryhope2074 thanks Terry! Really appreciate you watching
This videos is gold! It actually made it feel not so impossible to become a national geographic explorer which is something I dream of! Super inspiring 🐋✨
I'm aspiring to nat geo, the wildlife side of things. Awesome video, very helpful tips, keep up the good work.
Good luck, Zak! You got this
Thank you very much for sharing this information and presenting it so clearly. This is precisely what I was looking for.
My pleasure! Hope it helps you land the grant. You got this 💪
Sounds intresting. Noted. Def watch sone hopefully. Thank You
@@DroseMr you got it 💪
Thankyou so much for sharing the insights this definitely will be helping us in getting our dream come true ( working with or for natgeo) . Again thanks alot for letting out so much knowledge appreciated it.
@@prathamniwal3434 I got you! Thanks for watching :)
My God so much informativ so big thank you for that Austin. I wish you good luck for your future projects
@@johnandrew1680 wishing you good luck too!
Very enjoyable video, Austin. I think that every film maker - even if they make commercials for shampoo and insurance - can benefit from having the skills to tell a good story. Beause you are such a good instructor, I would suggest you get in tocuh with your local high schools' video programs and see if you could come in and just talk to the students there about what makes a compelling story. Or... maybe make a video about that geared primarily towards high schoolers than schools across the country could use. You certainly have the teaching skills, experience and credentials to do it.
Really appreciate this! Thank you. It's a really cool idea. I completely agree that high schoolers could really benefit from story training. I know that high school Austin would have loved that opportunity! Now you've got me thinking of possibilities to make it happen :)
Really helpful dude! Thanks 😊
my pleasure! thanks for watching
This was super educational!
thanks for watching! so glad it was helpful
Such an amazing video! I was wondering if it is necessary to have attended college to apply for the beginners grant.
@@Andreaxbernal that’s a great question! You’ll have to check their website because I am not sure about age/degree restrictions these days
Hello Austin 👋. Super explanatory video, thank you so much. Now, I want to invite you to a project (nature/wildlife), a TV series that I believe can be a big hit on Nat Geo, or BBC Earth, or other organization that could put their name on a Netflix series, or the likes. I will need a small crew of talented filmmaker, thinker, visionary, etc.
Great information I know 1 person who works for natgeo but he is a full time employee night a freelancer so never understood what happens to the in the field people.
Thanks for watching, and so glad it was helpful. It's great that NatGeo works with so many of us freelancers!
Thank you Jose Mourinho
@@WeR804 thank you Pep Guardiola
thank you bro
@@shajinjaleelartist I got you!
its helpful thank you.
if you visit INDIA again plz contact.
@@souravdas5216 will do! Thanks for watching :)