Like movies? Make one in 24 hours and win $2000! This friday an estimated 150 or more filmmakers, actors and creative kamikazis will gather in downtown Boulder, CO to receive their first peek at “The Brief”, which is a top secret envelope containing approximately eleven items to choose from to be included in this year’s
Shoot Out 24 Hour Filmmaking Festival short film submissions. The Shoot Out Boulder asks filmmakers to trust their courage, imagination and determination by making a 7-minute film in just 24 hours. The challenge and skill involved becomes evident with the list of required technical, material, and timing ‘rules’ for creating the films. (ie: “a loaf of bread” must be included in the first 30 seconds of a film submission in order to qualify or one of the characters must use the phrase “What about them Rockies?” in the short film submission, etc).
Each film can be no longer than 7 minutes in length (including credits) and must be edited in-camera and returned to the event organizers no later than 24 hours after the start of the event. All films must include 5 of the eleven items announced at the start of the event in “The Brief.” All films are judged and the Top 10 Films will be selected for the Gala Screening Event happening on Sunday, September 26th at The Boulder Theater. The Gala Screening is open to the public, but tickets sell out fast.
Michael Conti answers his phone late Thursday afternoon and declares; “This is the last 2 hours of quiet before the storm.” This is Michael’s seventh year as executive director of The Shoot Out Boulder and he says he was originally drawn to the concept because he was “creatively constipated”. Conti says he feels he is taking entertainment out of the normal channels and giving creatives a new way to ignite or fuel their passions. “Here’s a new way to do this, a new container for it. It’s less threatening, less about the business, more creative, it’s about storytelling.”
Although Conti does not participate in the judging of the short films he likes to say that at the conclusion of the event he will have “executive produced 50 films in 24 hours”.
If you’d like to test your storytelling abilities or act in one of the many short films this weekend or just be there to cheer on the filmmakers, “The Brief” will be handed out beginning at 6pm at the Registration Table at 1801 13th Street, between Canyon and Walnut, where the ice rink is setup during the winter. Make sure to Download the Registration Form 2010 (PDF) which is needed with your registration fee and must be turned in at the start of the event when you receive your MiniDV tape for the contest. Additional forms will be available at the festival table on September 24 starting at 4 PM.
Conti encourages everyone to join in the fun; “Fast filmmaking is an entirely new category of filmmaking, and is not just limited to professionals, but open to everyone, from families to college students to middle schoolers…This event is the real thing, in your own backyard, you can actually participate yourself, and walk home with the main prize.”
Visit About The Shoot Out Boulder to learn more!
Sandy Grason is a Hot Mogul, International Speaker, Rock Star Author of the bestselling book, Journalution and host of “The Road to Fabulous” on LA Talk Radio. www.SandyGrason.com
A funny thing happen after sending out a Cyber Monday newsletter and tweet announcing the Top 10 DVD was available, I got a phone call within five minutes from our local business reporter. The following is the close of the article:
