A good site to watch films by finalists and many other entries.
http://www.filmchallenge.org/
Monday 20 June 2011
Film Challenge - 48 hours
Back in May 2001, Mark Ruppert came up with a crazy idea: to try to make a film in 48 hours. He quickly enlisted his filmmaking partner, Liz Langston, and several other DC filmmakers to form their own teams and join him in this experiment.
The big question back then was: "Would films made in only 48 hours even be watchable?"The answer was a resounding yes, and now eight years later and with more than 150 competitions having taken place around the world, it is amazing to consider the success of the Project. 2009 marks the 8th time we've visited Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Austin, and the 10th time for DC.
Our smallest team has consisted of one person who sets up the camera then runs around to be "on-camera". Our largest team to date was a team from Albuquerque with 116 people and 30 horses! We've had about 9,000 teams in the Project over the years, and at 15 people per team, that translates to roughly 130,000 people who have answered the call to come on out and make a movie.
href="http://www.filmchallenge.org/About/history.html">Read more here
The big question back then was: "Would films made in only 48 hours even be watchable?"The answer was a resounding yes, and now eight years later and with more than 150 competitions having taken place around the world, it is amazing to consider the success of the Project. 2009 marks the 8th time we've visited Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Austin, and the 10th time for DC.
Our smallest team has consisted of one person who sets up the camera then runs around to be "on-camera". Our largest team to date was a team from Albuquerque with 116 people and 30 horses! We've had about 9,000 teams in the Project over the years, and at 15 people per team, that translates to roughly 130,000 people who have answered the call to come on out and make a movie.
href="http://www.filmchallenge.org/About/history.html">Read more here
DepicT
DepicT! challenges filmmakers on any budget from anywhere in the world to show their stuff in just a minute and a half. Find out about 2010’s competition winners here and the fantastic prizes that were offered. DepicT! ‘11 is now open for entries – start creating your super shorts and be in with a chance of winning priceless industry exposure and exclusive prizes.
Read more here and watch many more short films.
Read more here and watch many more short films.
40 sec film brief
The Brief
The 40 Seconds Straight film competition is giving you (and your friends if that makes it more straightforward!) the chance to try your hand at writing, producing and directing a short film.
Direct Line and Raindance are looking for short films that take one of life’s many overly-complicated situations and makes it straightforward.
We’re looking for original content that celebrates simplicity; depicting a life without the complications and confusion that most of us are only too familiar with.
Imagine that you could wave a magic wand and make complicated situations straightforward – what would you use it on and how would you do it?
Although it’s a straightforward film we’re after, this isn’t about taking the easy route - it’s all about delivering a great piece of entertainment that tells a story.
Whether you’re an experienced filmmaker or this is the first time you’ve picked up a video camera, this competition is open to everyone. We’ll be offering filmmaking tips from Raindance’s Elliot Grove throughout the competition to show just how straightforward filmmaking can be.
Each film must be no more than 40.0 seconds in length, to include an end frame supplied by Direct Line which you can download here.
Making life straightforwardFrom assembling flat-pack furniture to time travel, we have come up with the following examples to give you a headstart – but feel free to use your own ideas – you don’t have to stick to the list.
• Assembling flat pack furniture
• Programming a DVD recorder
• Booking a holiday
• Learning to ride a bicycle
• Splitting up with a partner
• Going for a job interview
Or you can go all out and think of some less everyday situations:
• Time travel
• Going to the moon
The 40 Seconds Straight film competition is giving you (and your friends if that makes it more straightforward!) the chance to try your hand at writing, producing and directing a short film.
Direct Line and Raindance are looking for short films that take one of life’s many overly-complicated situations and makes it straightforward.
We’re looking for original content that celebrates simplicity; depicting a life without the complications and confusion that most of us are only too familiar with.
Imagine that you could wave a magic wand and make complicated situations straightforward – what would you use it on and how would you do it?
Although it’s a straightforward film we’re after, this isn’t about taking the easy route - it’s all about delivering a great piece of entertainment that tells a story.
Whether you’re an experienced filmmaker or this is the first time you’ve picked up a video camera, this competition is open to everyone. We’ll be offering filmmaking tips from Raindance’s Elliot Grove throughout the competition to show just how straightforward filmmaking can be.
Each film must be no more than 40.0 seconds in length, to include an end frame supplied by Direct Line which you can download here.
Making life straightforwardFrom assembling flat-pack furniture to time travel, we have come up with the following examples to give you a headstart – but feel free to use your own ideas – you don’t have to stick to the list.
• Assembling flat pack furniture
• Programming a DVD recorder
• Booking a holiday
• Learning to ride a bicycle
• Splitting up with a partner
• Going for a job interview
Or you can go all out and think of some less everyday situations:
• Time travel
• Going to the moon
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Shot Planning
Part of your Planning marks are allocated to shot lists and shot planning. You will need to keep copies of early drafts as well as the final shot list.
'Good shot planning is the result of finding inspiration from others and the story you have to tell. It also requires you know what moves you visually when you watch a great movie.' - Chris Thomas.
Read the complete article and watch a video here for more tips on shot planning.
'Good shot planning is the result of finding inspiration from others and the story you have to tell. It also requires you know what moves you visually when you watch a great movie.' - Chris Thomas.
Read the complete article and watch a video here for more tips on shot planning.
Thursday 9 June 2011
The Shawshank Redemption
WATCH FROM 3:08
How is camera used to show the characters vulnerability?
Compare this characters rite of passage to that of the character from Ferris Buella's day off. How and why are they different?
Little Miss Sunshine
How is sound and camera being used to display each characters individual rite of passage?
Is Anyone There
Which rites of passage does this film address?
How are the characters linked emotional? Explain what the relationship is between the old and young character.
Monday 6 June 2011
Submarine
Compare this to 'first love' in 'Cinema Paradiso'.
look at locations and other mise en scene elements, music, dialogue, language, narrative, the actors etc.
Juno
How does this film deal with this particular 'rite of passage'? Does anything surprise you about the way the film deals with teenage pregnanacy? Why?
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
"In terms of plot, Day Off is pretty insubstantial - what makes the film are Broderick's post-modern asides to camera and the sheer sense of joy at running off the rails and 'seeing what's out there'. These aren't bad kids, and naughty Ferris is the most likeable of all, living out a day off-the-leash in style before doing the right thing with the rest of his life. Day Off is an escape-fantasy we can all remember, that moment when you sneak a quick peek at the freedom that won't mean quite as much to you by the time you earn it properly."
http://www.denofgeek.com
- Imagine what happens next.....where? when ? how?
Cinema Paradiso
Discuss the representation of 'first love' in this clip. Try to include all the technical terms in your discussion.
City Of God
- Listen closely to the dialogue and the soundtrack. What clues do these give about the narrative?
- What can you say about the characters? What dothey have in common?
- Write a character profile for one of the characters. Imagine their backstory.
- How effective is the camera work in the clip?
- What can you say about the narrative style used here?
Y tu mamá también
Who are these characters?
What is their story?
Why have these locations been chosen?
What could this film be saying about 'Rites of Passage'?
A selection of Shorts
Shorts often cross genres but on these pages I list the best from the main film genres with examples below, including a great short doc by Stanley Kubrick.
Ed @ filmsshort.com
Watch a selection of Shorts here
Ed @ filmsshort.com
Watch a selection of Shorts here
Short Films - An intro
Shorts & Genre
The great thing about shorts is that they can be anything – the only limit beyond the cost of production is that of your own imagination. So don't be hemmed in let your imagination fly. Play with your ideas. Play with the form. Every short can and should be a unique vision.
Read more here
The great thing about shorts is that they can be anything – the only limit beyond the cost of production is that of your own imagination. So don't be hemmed in let your imagination fly. Play with your ideas. Play with the form. Every short can and should be a unique vision.
Read more here
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