Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists.

Logline

Blank Verse Films is an upstart film studio that produces poetry videos. All our videos are online for free on our Youtube channel.

Synopsis

Blank Verse Films is a small film studio that produces poetry-related films. Our mission is to broaden the reach of poetry and literature in digital culture. We experiment with new, ambitious ways to bring poetry to audiences by adapting the work of poets and writers into original films. We aim to spark innovation in literature and cinema by filming poetry and creating new video-focused formats for verse.
 

Meet the Filmmakers

Mike Gioia — Founder/Artistic Director
Mike Gioia is a director/editor and the founder of Blank Verse Films. Mike directs music videos and commercials in addition to poetry films. He studied English Literature in college and has a lifelong interest in poetry. Mike has produced every Blank Verse video to date, in addition to directing and editing most of them. Mike runs the day-to-day operations of Blank Verse Films, and has recruited a wide cast of collaborators.

Ted Gioia — Co-Founder/Development Director
Ted Gioia is a writer, literary organizer, and fundraising professional. Ted was the Partnerships & Cultivation Director at McSweeney’s designing strategies to bring in major donors and brand partnerships and currently works at La Casa de las Madres in charge of grants and building the major donors program. Ted has experience with literary marketing, arts fundraising, editorial partnerships, and grant writing.

Jordan Potter — Producer/Marketing Director
Jordan is a poet, actor, and award-winning screenwriter from Huntington Beach. He’s published poetry in multiple journals and has written several features.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.