April Short Film Fest Contest!

[J.R. Hudson]

What: The first DVXuser.com online short film festival. *I'm going to call it:

X Fest

Who: DVXuser.com Members of course

Why: To stay sharp and creative and work within a time constraint. *To practice new ideas and see different interpetations on the same and most important, to share and learn from the community.

When: Finished short films will be judged on April 15th with Submissions due on Sunday, April 11th Midnight (Pacific Standard Time).

Shorts must be at least 1 minute long and no longer than 2 minutes. *

The rules are simple. *You film(s) shall be based around the following structural idea:

Have you ever gotten the feeling you were being watched?

The rest is up to you. *You must not use any UNLICENSED MUSIC. *I repeat, *NO UNLICENSED MUSIC. *

There are PRIZES that will go the BEST FILM as voted by the community. *A New Battery for your DVX100 courtesy of DVXUSER.COM and a pair of killer Polarized shades of your choice by www.somaticoptics.com along with a Somatic Optics T-shirt. *

Well? *Any questions? *Start planning and get out there and shoot!

[PurposeDriven]

What would you like the final submission to be ecoded in? .mov or .wmv?

[Monglane]

John said "The rest is up to you," so anything goes... ;D

What is missing, though, is the procedure and place to upload and view finished films... The instructions in "How to post your frame grabs" is for stills only, I think... But we're not there yet, anyway !

[J.R. Hudson]

Yes, the dilemma for those who do not have a place to host thier work. Its an easy solution for those of us that do but as far as those who do not...

I dont know what to tell you. There are many websites that are free or cheap to use for a small 1 to 2 minute film.

[Elvis]

I'll be watching you!!! Always watching you!! ;D

[Dan_Lahav]

just wondering if anyone has started working on the contest... I've got a couple ideas. Looking into shooting real soon ;D

[PurposeDriven]

Preliminary planning, nothing shot yet.

[J.R. Hudson]

Same here. Prelimainary at best. I smell something Zombie like though. I need to get busy!

[Dan_Lahav]

Right on guys.

Yeah John, lets see some zombie action! ;D

[J.R. Hudson]

I told you Ill be calling you! :P :D

[Guest]

I did a film called: 'Tikanga Amerikana' in New Zealand on the DVX100 last year and the film has received great reviews from both sides of the planet. I have a two minute preview which is kind of tense. But not sure how to get it to this contest?

Tikanga Amerikana meaning in Maori the American way is about the American realtiy of Kids killing Kids. The film Stars Jennifer Faulkner from United States and New Zealand Actress Gemma Burrows and KKyoko Pohe-Lomax. Actor Tom Cruise special effects personal worked on our film teaching the girls how to handle a gun and also help set up the gun shooting scenes.

Fred

[J.R. Hudson]

I'd love to see the preview! Why dont you post it in the FRAME GRABS - FOOTAGE section?

This contest is for films that fall uner "Ever get the feeling your being watched?" category (which is broad of course; Zombies anyone?). But it was also designed for projects that havent been shot yet as in "Hey! April! 2 Minutes! Go!". Its the first one we have tried and if it comes to fruition Id love to see a monthly contest!

[Guest]

In that case my three other films would fit nicely: 'Karl', 'Ghost Town' and 'Aliens'. These are films that are under fifteen minutes.

'Karl' has been shown both in New Zealand and USA. It is a take off from 'Slingblade' but unlike slingblade, Karl is scary. We have had great fun watching people jump out of their seats in the theater due to this film.

'Ghost Town' has only been shown twice in the USA and it is part one of 'Karl' and this film had everyone jumping out of their seats in the theater.

As for 'Aliens', only the ending had people jump which made us happy and it had it's first showing last night.

One thing that these films have in commen is that someone or something is following and watching the main talent.

I have no clue on how to Frame Grabs? I work on a Mac Powerbook G4.


Fred

[J.R. Hudson]

Sounds good. Put something together for this month! Check out the rules:

It has to be under 2 minutes and shot THIS MONTH for APRIL.

[Beat Takeshi]

dang, i just saw this post. I have 11 days to think up something and shoot... can we push it to the 20th for submissions?

[J.R. Hudson]

Im actually seeing if we can push it until the end of the month! :)

[Guest]

I'm done with my two minute piece. Is there someplace I can send the tape to?

Thanks

[J.R. Hudson]

Done? Nice. Why don't you register Fred?

No tape needed. Send a link! :)

[Elvis]

John. Has the date changed? ???

[J.R. Hudson]

Jarred has the final word...

Jarred?

[New_Zealand]

Just joined.

Not sure how to send a link?

Fred Potts

[PurposeDriven]

When you hit reply there is a collection of tools at your disposable. One of them is for linking. But I think off memory (since I like Quick reply) you surround the link like so: " [ url]www.yourlink.com[/url ]" dont put the spaces inside the url boxes, just there so you can see them.

[Phil]

I want to be in this contest! This is a great idea!

On another set of forums, the owner let us upload video right from our comps to the forums...I'm not horrifically skilled with forums, i.e. how much space that takes up, so this might sound like a stupid question...but can we do this here for these little 2 minute films?

[Beat Takeshi]

ok I have my idea and i think i can get it done in the original time frame even though its going to require a small amount of compositing. What are we being judged on? Should we take time and light this biotch or use available?

[Neil Rowe]

..would be great if we could wait till months end. i got some stuffs on the way to my place of residence which i could really use during the production of my contest entry.

[Zoomforce]

yes thats fine, end of april it is :)_

[New_Zealand]

I have no idea how to send or down load the film clip.

[Zoomforce]

how big is your file new zealand? 2 minutes should be less than 10mb. I need to give you a private link as for now I will just host them as i get em.

[Neil Rowe]

..awsome!! you da man jarred! now i will have no excuse when my thing bites, cause i cant say "well ..i didn't have my equipment".. and i'll have to make it a bit gooder now.

[New_Zealand]

John,

I noticed that some of the members have photos under their name, how can add one on mine?

[J.R. Hudson]

At the very top of the screen select your profile.
http://www3.telus.net/public/a4a20294/YaBBImages/profile.gif

Scroll down and you will see an option that lets you "Upload" and Avatar...

Do you know how to UPLOAD one?

[New_Zealand]

Not sure on the upload? I have a browser when

[New_Zealand]

Hit the button too soon! I have a browser when I'm in email that will send a jpg.

I'm working off a Mac Powerbook G4

[J.R. Hudson]

Just paste in the URL of your image! For example, mine is from:

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/ESC/NH1026_a.jpg

[Beat Takeshi]

Shhhweeeeeeet! I was hoping it was moved to the end of the month. I dont have my daughters this weekend and I was calling everyone to see if I can grab a kid for this but with no luck. Thanks
Jarred.

[Trent_Lucid]

I am new to this site and I am excited to participate in these contests though I don’t know how to post any of my contest entries… There was mention before about sites one can stream stuff on…. Is there any suggestions? I am by far the most computer illiterate person I know…

Thanks

[Elvis]

Are we still doing this on top of the DVXuser Movie?

[J.R. Hudson]

LOL

Yes it is on! I have a pair of shades to give away and Jarred has a battery!

At this moment I am writing my version of the backstory leading up to the OTHER DVX MOVIE as well as planning to do a 2 minute short for end of this month as well as doing a treatment for my 10 minute vovie within THE movie.

Sigh..........................

[David Jimerson]

I suppose I should read the Contests page more often!

[Beat Takeshi]

WOOOOOHOOOOO!!! I finished my short for this... I just have to put some credits at the end and ill post it. errr.... or are we waiting for the end of the month to post?

[goober542]

how should I compress my movie? and how do I get it to an acceptable size, its clocks in just over 18 minutes. Does anyone have any space that could host it for me?

[J.R. Hudson]

Its a 2 minute fest!

[BLWolf]

18 mins? Whoa, it sounds like some fancy editing is in order.

[Beat Takeshi]

Hey, we can submit more than one right? I have a great idea for the same subject. ???

[J.R. Hudson]

Of course! :)

[Beat Takeshi]

SHHHWEEEEEEEET!! I will start this one saturday. This will take much more than just one day.

[Terry_Lasater]

Hey Oppressor,

I liked the short you entered in the contest. Nice job. ;)

TL

[Beat Takeshi]

Thank you very much! I cant wait to see everyones shorts. Im so excited I want to make another. I am working over at my day job this weekend to finish a demo DVD that needs to be completed by monday. :( I am in the process of doing voice overs and matching them to the software demo my partner is doing. I hope I get a chance to work on something this weekend besides this DVD.

[speedbump]

Where do we go to see the entries?

[J.R. Hudson]

Contest thread but I think more will be submitted as the deadline draws near (end of the month)

J-

[Monglane]

Here is my first little fiction film for the April contest :P

Right-click on this link to download it : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/cinedv/being_watched.wmv

I hope you'll like it ! :)

[J.R. Hudson]

I know Im supposed to wait for the OFFICIAL REVIEW PERIOD but I will say this:

I loved it! Very Depalma'ish

Remember to please post this in the OFFICIAL THREAD for the APRIL @ MINUTE CONTEST!

[Monglane]

Oops... And to think that I advocate stricter posting rules... :-X

I'll do that right away.

Thanks John :-*

[Dan_Lahav]

My short is done! Is anyone here willing to host my video just this one time? Pretty pretty please! ;D

[ExFilms]

I would be happy to host your film Dan...just give me a call.

619-501-7789

I'm shooting in LA Sat-Sun...I could upload it Sunday night if you dont get any takers by then.

[Neil Rowe]

when is the official review period?

[Zoomforce]

Me and John will pow wow and decide whats the verdict :)

[Dan_Lahav]

Shouldnt it be a populus vote? I think we should set up a little "Poll" thingy

;D

[Zoomforce]

yes sorry I said that wrong, me and John wont decide the winner, just the poll.

[Dan_Lahav]

no problem. Not that I dont trust your and John's expert opinions


;D

[Barry_Green]

After viewing the entries, I gotta say that a LOT of work went into these! Well done, to all entrants!

I might suggest that you not allow viewings until all the entries are in. Seeing a film early may bias one towards or against it, and may discourage other entries.

[J.R. Hudson]

Interesting point Barry. Perhaps for May (Which I swear I'm doing!) that should be the protocol.

[Gregi_23]

Barry I agree with you with not been able to see the films until the cut off day. For me as a complete beginner I had my film ready but did not summit it because of what I saw from the others. I know I should show it no matter how bad it might be or I never will learn anything. Like John always says: Get out and shoot. That’s how you learn.
Just my 2 cent opinion.

[J.R. Hudson]

Will do for May. Greg! At least you made something! Damn it! :'(