Music Video Grant Helps Shaw and Crew Gain Valuable Experience
Carey Shaw was a successful grant recipient of a Filmmaker’s Grant that paired musicians with aspiring filmmakers to shoot their first music video.
Award-winning artist Carey Shaw has been creating images for over 20 years. But it wasn’t until a unique grant opportunity from Creative Saskatchewan – one that helped emerging filmmakers produce music videos for local artists – that she stepped into the role of filmmaker.
This grant offered the opportunity to take on something new and do it right. “The funding from Creative Saskatchewan encouraged me to finally take this kind of project on,” Shaw stated. “The positive feedback I have been given has encouraged me to continue working in these roles, and the experience and confidence I gained will help build my career further.”
Shaw, who acted as producer, director, cinematographer and editor on the project, worked with Saskatoon band, The Garrys, to produce a music video for their song “Cakewalk.” The shoot took place in Saskatoon and everyone working on the project was a local resident. “I made sure the majority of the grant went to paying the crew,” Shaw said. “We had the funds to hire people to do hair and makeup and wardrobe and rent the equipment we needed. We couldn’t have done the same video without these funds.”
Applying for grants can be intimidating, but Shaw encourages any creative to go through the process anyway. Shaw, like most artists, has not received every grant she has applied for, but she still finds the application process beneficial. “Even if you don’t get funding, you really get to put your ideas and thoughts together. You end up with a really strong idea of what you want to create.”
In addition to providing Shaw with valuable, career-enhancing experience as a filmmaker, this grant also helped further the careers of the local support crew. And the finished project is currently racking up views and positive reviews on The Garrys YouTube channel.