Sherman Arts Festival 48-Hour Script to Screen Contest:
 
Official Filmmaking Rules 2011


The following rules apply to each participating production team:

1. Times:

·      The 48-Hour Script to Screen will occur between Friday, September 16, 2010, at 6:00pm and Sunday, September 18, 2010 at 8:00pm. 

·      The participating group/team must complete its film/video work and deliver it to the Hastings Store (2114 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX) by 8:00PM on Sunday, September 18; or, the completed film entry must be uploaded to Youtube by that time, the Youtube version being the contest submission form. In the latter case, you will need to notify the committee of your film's url by calling (903)816-2359 or emailing the information to thtooley@gmail.com by deadline.

·      Only works that meet the deadline will be officially part of the competition. All films received after the deadline will be screened, if possible, but will not be eligible for awards.

 

2. In that 48-hour period, all pre-production, production, and post-production will take place, including but not limited to:

·      Writing the script

·      Rehearsing

·      Costume/Set Design

·      Shooting

·      Editing

·      Sound Design

·      Rendering

·      Outputting to mini DV or Quicktime file.

·       And possibly uploading to Youtube.

 

3. The only work that may begin prior to the 24-hour period is:

·      Organizing Crew

·      Organizing Cast

·      Securing Equipment

·      Scouting/Securing Locations

     

4. All footage must be shot within the 48-hour time period of the project.

·      No stock footage or footage shot or created at another time may be used.

·      Animation and special effects are permitted, but must be created during the 48-hour time period.

·      Still photographs are permitted, provided that the team has the rights to them. The photos do not need to be created during the 48-hour time period.

 

5. Unless special permission has been secured from the S2S committee (email thtooley@gmail.com, each participating group must have a representative at the official Kick-Off Event of the 48-Hour Script to Screen.  Kickoff will be at Hastings, 2114 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX, at 8:00pm on Friday, September 3, 2010.

·      At the Kick-Off event, each group will submit a Participant's Agreement, signed by the team leader.

·      Each group will have revealed to them the required elements that must appear in every film, such as a specific character, prop and line of dialogue.

·      The required Character and Prop must be seen on-screen.

·      The required Line of Dialogue may be spoken, sung, or written. It may be in any language, though if it is unclear that it is the Line, there must be a translation.

 

6. All cast and crew must be volunteers.

7. The finished film must be a maximum of 7 minutes in duration. 

8. Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. The 60 seconds is considered additional to the length of the film (That is, a film may be 7 minutes long, with an additional 60 seconds of credits, for a total running time of 8 minutes.)

9. Sound recordings and sound effects: pre-recorded sound effects are allowed, but you must have rights to use them.  As for music  you must have the rights to all  music  on the film's soundtrack.  As with sound effects, there is much  public domain music available on the internet.  It is also easy and fun to make your own sound effects,  and in many cases your own music. 

10. The finished video must be NTSC, in a standard digital movie format, and submitted on one of the following:

·      USB drive

·      DVD

·      As a completed Youtube upload (and notification of the committee with the url.

 

11. Before the finished film begins, the tape should have:

·      5 seconds of black

·      A title card with: team name, date, title.

·      A title card with: "This film made for the 48-Hour Script to Screen 2009"

·      2 seconds of black

·      Your film

·      10 seconds of black following the credits.

 

12. If shot in a 16:9 ratio and/or anamorphic, the Entry must be letter-boxed. Projector capabilities vary from theater to theater. The projector will probably not be switched to stretch the picture.

13. The producer/team leader for each group must submit a complete and signed paper copy of the "Team Leader's Agreement" at the Kickoff Event prior to beginning.

14. To be eligible for the Project, Entries must be the original work of the Entrant; must not infringe third-party's rights; must be FAMILY-FRIENDLY and suitable for publication (i.e., may not be obscene or indecent); must not contain obscene or pornographic material; may not contain defamatory statements about any person, company, organization or entity; may not invade privacy or other rights of any person, company or entity; may not in any other way violate applicable laws and regulations; and may not contain any copyrighted elements (other than as owned by the Entrant and/or 48-Hour Script to Screen). Entries containing prohibited or inappropriate content as determined by the 48HS2S, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. 48-Hour Script to Screen reserves the right to make the final determination as to which Entries are eligible.

15. No Entries (media or documents) will be returned.

16. Panels of independent judges will determine the winners.  

17. The 48-Hour Script to Screen Organizers may add to or amend these rules at any time prior to the beginning of the 48-hour time period.

18. Teams will choose to compete in one of 2 categories.

19. The best film in each category will receive a cash prize of $50.00.   Other prizes will go to runners-up and  participants at various levels.

 

 

Please  feel free to ask for clarification about any of these questions by emailing Hunt Tooley at  thtooley@gmail.com or calling  903 816 2359.