archived-videos ITOOFC #4 Rules, Details, and Knick Knacks

NicklausLouis

NicklausLouis

Indie Talk's Online Original Film Competition - Round 4

Important Dates:

Start of competition: Friday, September 16th 12 Midnight PDT
End of competition: Monday, October 31st 5 PM PDT

Start of voting: Monday, October 31st 5 PM PST
End of voting: Monday, November 14th 5 PM PST
Poll void and closed.

Category is the following: Horror In honor of Halloween dream up and shoot the best damn 5 minute Horror movie the net has ever seen!

Concept is the following: "A man/woman tries to communicate with the dead." This is the general theme your movie must have in order to compete in this competition. Head Judge Poke and the panel of judges will reserve the right to disquailfy any entry that they deem does not meet this qualification.

BONUS is the following: Prop - Knife It must appear prominently at some point in the film. Any type of knife will do, but here's the catch: the film that is judged to have the most horrific knife will be awarded 2 points, all other films utilizing knifes will be awarded 1 point. Head Judge Poke and the panel of judges will reserve the right to award or not award points based on their judgement.

Now before you go thinking this bonus is only a couple points, just remember that a few points can make the difference between winning and losing!

EARLY BIRD BONUS is the following: All entrants that PM Poke or Indie by 5 PM PDT on October 29th (the original deadline) will receive one point.
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Who, How Much, and Prizes:

Any registered member of IndieTalk can submit a film. (Prem, non-Prem, etc)

You do not need to "sign-up" in advance, though posting a reply with your intention to submit something would be handy. (So we can gossip about you)

There is no entry fee. Not a penny. Just your desire to be the best.

Important Requirement!!

Once you have uploaded your completed, qualifying entry you *must* PM IndieTalk or Poke with the URL of your online film.
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Note: There may be a few changes in the upcoming days... mostly clarifications.

Prizes!


Everyone that uploads a completed, qualifying entry will receive:

One Detonation Films Data-CD title of choice

and

"What They Don't Teach You At Film School : 161 Strategies to Making Your Own Movie No Matter What" by Tiara White & Camille Landau

_______

Awards By Merit:

"Judges' Choice" Award

This is the big one.

Head Judge Poke will be working with other selected judges, to determine which entry is simply... the best. The winner not only gets some well-deserved recognition on the boards, but also:

1) 1 Year IndieTalk Premiere Membership (if already Premiere, your membership will be extended one year, no matter what level you are).
2) A copy of Judith Weston's "Directing Actors: Creating Memorable Performances for Film & Television"
3) A copy of John Alton's "Painting With Light"

_______

"Peoples' Choice" Award
Category removed.


_______

"Best Score" Award

This Award is only available to entries that have 100% original scores. No royalty-free tunes, nothing left around from last year... simply a score generated for the film in question. Fot the boardmember musician in question:

1) 6 Month IndieTalk Premiere Membership (if already Premiere, your membership will be extended 6 months, no matter what level you are).
2) A copy of "Knowing The Score: Film Composers Talk About the Art, Craft, Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Writing for Cinema" by David Morgan

_______

New Category
"Best Acting Performance" Award

This Award goes to the best acting performance, male or female, as determined by the judges. Actors will be judged on a point system, much like the films.

1) 6 Month IndieTalk Premiere Membership (if already Premiere, your membership will be extended 6 months, no matter what level you are).
2) An actors' CD for dialect-training (pick one dialect) (Details TBA)

_______

What Topics Can I Submit?

You have 6 weeks (an astonishingly long time) to come up with an original story that is no longer than 5 minutes in length.

6 weeks is enough time for weekend-warriors to get something done, and should also be long enough for full-timers that want to join in to do something on a weekend.

(Note: 5 mins is the maximum allowed, not required. If you can get the job done in 30 or 60 seconds, go for it.)

I'll Just Submit Something I Made Last Year.

No, you won't. To make sure that it is a genuine new effort made, a "genre" and "general concept" has been assigned. Head Judge Poke and the panel of judges will reserve the right to disquailfy any entry that they deem does not meet these basic qualifications.

What Is The Appropriate Online Viewing Format?

For films shot on mini-dv (720x480), reduce to half size.

That means 360x240, for the math-impaired.

There is an allotted 25MB hosting per film. For a full 5-minute film, that is 5MB per minute. Here are some codec suggestions to make it fit.

VIDEO

Sorenson 3
MP4

AUDIO

Q-Design 2

Quality % can be set to 100 for both audio and video.
Setting the BPS between 60 to 80.
Setting a keyframe every 15 frames.

Depending on suggested video codec(s) (and BPS setting) you can compress as low as 1MB per minute, to as high as 5MB per minute.

Also, all the above codecs are included in the basic install of Quicktime for end-users... which means everyone will be able to see/hear them.

If your submission is an .swf or similar, please set the stage at 360x240. (And e-mail or PM IndieTalk or Poke any funky embedding options)

What Else Do I Need To Know?
  • Don't use unlicensed copyrighted material in your film. If you try to pull a fast one and use copyrighted music, you'd better be ready to provide documentation that you had permission.
  • You do not lose any "rights" to your film, by submitting. It remains yours, all yours.
  • This is not the mud-tossing thread. GO HERE if you want to do that. (Not too rowdy, though)



:director: Be creative and have fun, dammit!

Poke
 
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Upvote 0
IanH7976 said:
Does the concept limit the film to just a man/woman contacting the dead, or does the film just have to contain a man/woman contacing the dead?

Thanks,
IanH7976
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It has to be a BIG part of the story. We would like it to be the main plot, but will accept it as a subplot if it's a big part of the story. The idea behind this requirement is to get everyone shooting the same concept and seeing what different plots and styles the different filmmakers come up with.

Zensteve said:
...also...

If a main character is never seen, but has substantial v/o dialogue... could that quailify for "Best Actor"?
smiley_redghost.gif
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Since it is considered acting they would be eligible.

Poke
 
Sorry, I asked my question wrong, I was wondering if the concept allows for multiple people contacing the dead, or does it limit it to be only one person that the story focuses around?

-IanH7976
 
Well as Sir Poke stated:
It has to be a BIG part of the story. We would like it to be the main plot
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So if you have multiple people contacting the dead, then it's probably the main plot of the story or at least a BIG part, right?

Then it would be accepted. I'd say GO FORIT

But Poke is the know all.
 
WOW excellent prizes Indietalk... great job. Almost worth putting something together for the qualified entry prize.
 
CootDog said:
But Poke is the know all.
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Flattery will get you everywhere.

You can have multiple people contact the dead. That's an olay occurence.

Monkey maiming is okay unless it hurts a real monkey, but even that would be okay if PETA came on here and staged a nude protest...okay the new concept requirement in monkey maiming.

Poke
 
With such worthy competition, I have to create something, then if I lose (not bloody likely) it won't seem so bad.

I must say I do feel very much like a fish out of water as I'm currently in NE Ohio (a bit far from my normal filming habitat). I don't even know where to start...

I know Ohio has a great filming community, who's help I could certainly use (hint, HINT).

Where could I find some actors? Anyone have a greenscreen, boom, lights? Can anyone travel back in time?

I don't even have my tripod with me. But I do have a script and my camera! So, who's with me?
 
Ohio has a lot of film-action going on. :cool:

Looking forward to seeing what you come up, Flaviu.

(Wish you were back here in CA to help me... I need a good DP right about now) :blush:
 
I have to admit I am having quite a bit of trouble with this. This may be due to the fact that I am not very familiar with the genre - I watch very few horror films and it has definitely never crossed my mind to make one.

I am trying though! However, when I have an idea that I like (has some story and characters behind it), it does not seem much to qualify for 'horror.' Then, the more I alter it to make it 'horrific' the less interesting the story and characters become.

Now I have a script that I think would pass the horror requirements, but as a story, it doesn't do much for me.

Any tips? What's a really good horror film to check out?

Zensteve said:
Ohio has a lot of film-action going on. :cool:
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I know. Anyone that wants to collaborate, let me know.
Zensteve said:
Looking forward to seeing what you come up, Flaviu.
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Me too, because right now I have no idea!
Zensteve said:
(Wish you were back here in CA to help me... I need a good DP right about now) :blush:
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I'm sure you can film it with a camera phone and it will still kick ass! Send me some food though! [Steve feeds his crew very well :yes: ]
 
Missed this one...

DirectorX said:
Just for kicks, would a sword be acceptable?
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Since an argument could be made that a sword is simply a big knife, we will accept swords. But try to make it a smallish sword.

DirectorX said:
...when I have an idea that I like (has some story and characters behind it), it does not seem much to qualify for 'horror.'
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Remember, the genre "Horror" is broad. If it's supsense, a thriller, scary in any way, chances are it will be acceptable. PM the general premise and I can let you know if it's a qualifiable story.

Poke
 
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Boz Uriel said:
Is it the knife or the use of the knife that has to be horrific?
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Poke said:
Either, or. I think if the knife looks horrific it has a leg up, but you could blow the competition away by [making the use horrific].
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Wanted to give everyone a reminder that the use of the knife could be considered more horrific than some of the horrific looking knifes that have been popping up 'round here.

Poke
 
My two leads came over on Saturday to work on their characters. :cool:

Script still unfinished... but we'll be ready by the time we shoot on the 15th.
 
I just about made a film, but my fire breathing gypsys got drunk too fast. and now the renaissance festival is over, no more flaming gypsys :( Well, let me know poke if you need me to judge for ya.
 
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