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Hey Everyone! Does anyone read the filmmaking magazine, StudentFilmmakers Magazine? I get the mag, and have just noticed that they've started posting some of the magazine articles up on their website (www.studentfilmmakers.com). Check it out - these are really creative, practical articles (with real-world applications). I consider these articles to be a great help to "anyone wanting to learn" how to make films. So I suggest you guys check them out here: www.studentfilmmaker.com.

Hey there! I thought you might want to know - if you're looking for a
prestigious short film contest that is "free to enter," and open to all
filmmakers - there's a new, cool contest sponsored by Edgewise Media and
Panasonic that I highly recommend you check out.http://www.studentfilmmakers.com/edgewise-media/ 
 
There's no entry fee, it's open to all level independents, and you can enter
as many short films and videos as you'd like. 
 
First prize includes a $5000 cash prize. Deadline is Febuary 29, 2008.
 
If you have cool films to submit, anything in your archives, or something
new to enter - this contest looks like it will be a lot of fun to be a part
of. Hope to see you there! 
 
Go here - http://www.studentfilmmakers.com/edgewise-media/ or
http://www.studentfilmmakers.com/videos/channel_detail.php?chid=2

What are the dates for fall 2008?  The sooner everyone knows these dates the more likely that there will be more teams interested in participating and more people likely to attend the premier too.

Similar to the other person that posted: "    
Re: JUDGES - How they Judge.
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2007, 01:15:56 PM »" that note; I saw some of the top six films that failed to adhere to the supposely strict required elements.  There were other films that did a far better job at including those elements and still failed to appear in the top six.  A serious review of the films would illustrate my point.  It was very surprising to see how it all turned out.

While I have no idea about statements made by one team or another or any affiliations between alumni and current students; the larger issue was that there were five elements and if those were reviewed strickly, several of the top six films should have been eliminated as they did not fully embrace all of those elements.

Many teams invested a wealth of money into their equipment, programs, and time to do a good job on their films and do not mind if someone else wins the top three prizes.  That said, if any of those top three failed to completely include the absolutely required elements, then they must be disqualified as it was stipulated in the rules.

Were any of the teams eliminated due to failure to complete their paperwork?  If so, no one mentioned it.

Were any teams disqualified for failure to include all of the five elements?  That would help to know if they did. 

There were four teams that failed to turn in a film on time; so we all know that status.  It is always helpful to compare our own films to fellow filmmakers so we can all benefit from the learning process.  That said; every attempt at fairness must be used for there to be credibility and a return of teams on an annual basis.  As the university benefits from this festival and the participation from on campus and throughout the Commonwealth; every participant should feel that all aspects flourish with equality and fairness.  It is a shame to hear any rumor about a lack of legimacy to the judging process.  It would seem that getting older alumni without any connections to the current study body is essential for the judge panel to convey a level of fairness.

Ben Franklin said, "Reputations are like china; easily broken and not well minded."

 

Yeah...that would be a powerful and bold statement if it came from Francis Ford Copolla or Stephen Speilberg.

What the?  It's called "vernacular."  AND writing the way you speak.  AND also  - those in glass houses - I don't have time to read your whole post but - some choice nuggets from your post: "more worth wild."  "effort that I propose to into the future festivals."  AND that's just at first glance.  Sometime when I no longer have a life I'll go back and send you an itemized list.
Cheers!

"the categories are equally weighted except for one - OVERALL IMPRESSION"

I'm sorry that the above statement was misunderstood and we still have film makers thinking that:
"far to much emphasis was put on the variable location of "outer space."

There was no EMPHASIS put on any variable.  If you chose to make a variable a small part of your movie you got a
low score  for that category.  The teams that showcase all variables will get higher scores.  It's pretty simple.

If you made a horror movie where Jose was flying a F-4 in outer space you would have done really well in the variable categories.  But as a producer you have to make the call on how well you want to integrate the variables and be judged accordingly.

Also remember that it is the judges OVERALL IMPRESSION that is the "weighted" category and the one that made the biggest difference in the ties and overall placement.

I hate to be a sore loser, but I believe far to much emphasis was put on the variable location of "outer space." If the judges had wanted a sci-fi film, then why was the genre horror?