REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – HERITAGE MINUTES:
Historica Canada’s Heritage Minute collection contains more than 100 one-minute shorts about key moments and
figures in Canadian History. More than 25 years since the first Heritage Minute premiered, these spots have become an
enduring part of popular culture in Canada. Historica Canada has released 25 new Heritage Minutes since the project
was re-launched in 2012, including: Tom Longboat, Chloe Cooley, The Discovery of Insulin, Acadian Deportation, D-Day,
Vancouver Asahi, Jim Egan, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and Paldi.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The organization seeks to create 1 new engaging Heritage Minute that resonate with the brand and legacy of the
celebrated collection while offering a fresh vision to capture new audiences.
This new vision might include period dramatizations such as those seen in the established Heritage Minutes, as well as
new visual treatments including blending re-enactment with animation (2D and 3D) and CGI, and/or documentary
formats. Fully animated proposals will not be considered for this project, but animated portions may be accepted.
Historica Canada will work with historians and consultants, who will provide consultation on script development and
production. All aspects of the concept, script, casting, creative direction and production, however, will be required to
meet with the final approval of Historica Canada. This is a collaborative process. Historica Canada will be regularly
engaged throughout the production process. Each team should have a writer with credits, who will develop the script.
The selected team will be provided a project treatment written by Historica Canada once approved.
The Minute will be made available in English, French, and descriptive video.
TOPIC:
We are asking companies to submit a treatment for the following theme: Jewish Canadian history.
The exact story for the Heritage Minute has not been selected yet. Please include your specific story idea in your
application. Stories must tie into the overall theme of a person or event of Jewish Canadian engagement and
significance, who helped shape Canada into the country it is today. A specific person of interest is Bora Laskin, but other
suggestions are encouraged.
Please note that Historica Canada does not make Heritage Minutes about still-living figures. While we have on occasion
made Minutes about people who have recently passed, we do generally aim for a twenty-year gap between their death
and their selection for a Minute.
PROJECT TIMELINE*:
*Note: This is an estimated timeline to produce ONE Heritage Minute. Please note that in our experience, the general life
cycle of a Heritage Minute production from start to finish ranges from between 6 months to a year, depending on the
topic and scale of the project.
March 28, 2024: RFP opens2
April 28, 2024: RFP closes
Early May 2024: Teams selected for interviews will be contacted
Mid-May 2024: Top teams interviewed
Late May: Contract awarded
June – August 2024: Internal scripting development; consultation with selected teams, historians, and cultural experts
September–October 2024: Production Phase – execute shoots for new Minute
November 2024 – January 2025: Post-production Phase – complete all edits, team to deliver final product
BUDGET:
The maximum budget, before taxes, is $170,000 for the Heritage Minute. Your budget should take into account:
- English and French versions for each Minute (language dubbing is required; subtitles are not sufficient)
- ACTRA fees, as per the Heritage Minute agreement (Session fees as per the current Independent Production
Agreement, plus an additional 60% of each performer’s net fees for broadcast and new media rights in
perpetuity)
- The possibility of high-profile performers who work above scale
- Crew, set design, costuming and props
- Shooting at different locations, including possible crew travel
- Post-production including editing, music, voice over narration and visual effects/CGI
- Final broadcast-ready deliverables in both official languages
- Contingency
Please note, all admin/overhead costs should also be factored into the budget. The total should be $170,000, before
taxes.
Please submit your budget using the Telefilm Canada top sheet template only.
PROPOSALS:
If you wish to submit a Heritage Minutes proposal to Historica Canada, please prepare a .pdf document which includes
the following:
- Your creative team (including your planned producers, director, and DOP)
o An executive summary of your company or team
o Full contact information for the applicant, including phone number and email address
o Links to reels of recent work for your company and proposed creative team
o Please include any potential scheduling conflicts and other big projects your team is taking on in the
above timeframe3
- A short, one paragraph treatment on how you would approach the proposed topic (or topics) (treatment can
include your notes on narrative approach, artistic style, theme etc. NO scripts please)
- A mood board on how you would approach the proposed topic
- A draft budget following the aforementioned specifications using the Telefilm Canada Top Sheet
o Production companies are encouraged to provide additional funding they may have access to for this
project (ie: provincial grants), but the 170k budget described here must cover the cost of the Minute
being pitched.
Please limit your proposal to a maximum of 10 pages including appendices. Proposals over 10 pages will be automatically
rejected.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Selection will be based on the assessment of four aspects of submission:
Treatment Concept: Overall vision and appropriateness for the organization’s needs and brand will be considered;
including any innovative elements in your proposed concept. Demonstrated research into the topic will be considered an
asset.
Work Samples and References: Quality of your portfolio, such as: your experience with similar projects including client
work; your flexibility pertaining to potential shifts in project scope or timelines; integrity; and your process for developing
and carrying out the project in a timely manner. Please note that the production team or company should be available
during regular working hours.
Budget: Budget must be submitted through the Telefilm Canada top sheet template and must be appropriate and
reasonable to the project. Budget lines and a best estimate of pro bono work must be clearly defined in the proposal.
Community Relevance: Demonstrated involvement in the communities on which this series is focused. Historica Canada
is committed to working with the communities depicted in each Heritage Minute. Interested production companies
should ensure that Jewish Canadians are represented on the creative team, including a minimum of one key creative.
Competition is limited to Canadian companies and Canadian citizens only. All team members and performers must be
Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Historica Canada is a charitable organization that offers programs in both official languages that you can use to explore,
learn, reflect on our history, and consider what it means to be Canadian.
Information about the organization and programs may be found at www.historicacanada.ca. All of the Heritage Minutes
may be found here.
DEADLINE:4
An electronic copy of the proposal in .pdf format is due April 28, 2024 at 5 p.m. ET to productions@historicacanada.ca
with the subject heading “Heritage Minutes RFP 2024-Jewish Canadian History ‘YOUR COMPANY NAME’”.
Questions may be sent to productions@historicacanada.ca. No extensions will be granted. No phone calls please.
We regret that due to the high volume of applicants we are unable to provide detailed feedback to unsuccessful
candidates.
This is an open and competitive process. Proposals will be evaluated immediately thereafter. Historica Canada will select
up to 5 proposals for follow-up interviews in person or by zoom in early May 2024.
Please note that the services performed by the selected production company in regard to the new Heritage Minute shall
be for the exclusive benefit of Historica Canada. All work products generated as well as copyright for the Heritage
Minutes shall belong to Historica Canada.
