Project Overview and Purpose: MICHIGAN INDIAN LEGAL SERVICES is dedicated to addressing the crisis of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP). We seek proposals from video production teams to create a powerful short documentary-style video that centers family voices — victims, surviving family members, and community advocates — to raise awareness, honor those lost, and advance advocacy and prevention efforts.
Project Goals
- Center family perspectives: give victims’ families a respectful, prominent voice to tell their stories.
- Document and humanize the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous people, emphasizing both “Murdered” and “Missing.”
- Raise public awareness and build empathy among policymakers, service providers, funders, and the broader public.
- Support advocacy efforts by providing a sharable, high-quality video suitable for outreach, and social media.
- Maintain cultural sensitivity, trauma-informed practices, and survivor-centered ethics throughout production.
Scope of Work The selected team will be responsible for:
- Pre-production: research, project planning, cultural consultation with subject experts, subject recruitment, creating interview guides and consent procedures that are trauma-informed and culturally respectful, and developing a production schedule and shot list.
- Production: on-location interviews with victims’ family members, community advocates, and select experts; B-roll capturing community, memorials, family settings, and relevant contextual footage; audio recording and lighting suitable for broadcast-quality results.
Audience Primary: families of victims, tribal communities, policymakers, justice system stakeholders, funders, and advocacy organizations. Secondary: the general public, media, and social platforms.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS
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Demonstrated experience producing documentary or advocacy videos, preferably with Indigenous communities or sensitive/trauma-informed topics.
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Evidence of culturally competent and trauma-informed interviewing techniques and consent processes.
Proposal Content and Submission Requirements Proposals should include:
- Cover letter: brief statement of interest and understanding of project goals.
- Company/team background: qualifications, relevant experience, and team bios.
- Relevant work samples: links to 2–3 past projects.
- Project approach and methodology: how you will center family voices, ensure cultural safety, and handle sensitive interviews.
- Project timeline: milestones from contract signing to final deliverables.
- Budget: detailed cost estimate and payment schedule.