2 MINUTE FILMMAKING CHALLENGE TOPICS

#1

I am posting this to test the waters.

Kinda like mini movies (1-2 minutes) that are used to explore one specific concept.
A fight, a conversation, a car chas etc?

What do you guys thinK?

-R

#2

Hi Roberto,
That would be a great concept. Yet, making this kind of stuff can be time consuming and I’m not sure there are gonna be a lot of entries in such a contest. I would give it a try as far as I am concerned.
It’s a bit off topic, but why not a script writing contest also. I mean something independant to the filmmaking contest. Like weekly or bi-monthly with an imposed theme. That’s just a thought.
Regards.
-IS-

#3

Yeah I’d definitely be down for monthly filmmaking challenges!

…and if they get a front page plug I’m sure they could enough entries/publicity.

#4

Sign me up…but it should most diff be under 2 min. I have been working on a 4 and half minute short now for over 3 months…straight video with no fancy fx’s. So any longer then 2 minutes might be really hard to complete in a months time.

Hope it happens,
bbkixx

#5

You’re kidding right?

we shot a 7.5 minute short last August that included more than a dozen locations along PCH on a Saturday afternoon.

Now we are talking a whole month here?? piece of cake.

#6

Depending on the time I’ve got, I would be in for one or another…

But, unlike a 2D oder 3D-Challenge, making a short requires a team. That would be the main reason to have few entries, I think. Having time and having the team having time at the same time… (wow, what a sentence…)

#7

Yea it only took a day to shoot…but editing and working in the audio, as well as working with a composer to write a score for it. Takes alot of time, and time is hard to come by when you work full time.

bbkixx

#8

Just as long as you include DV. I don’t have a film camera.

SB

#9

I am from the Robert Rogriguez school of tought.
Faster & cheaper.

The idea is to use cameras of all types,

from a Canon Powershot Elf [color=white]$319.88
[/color](I kid you not, you can make decent web movies with this camera).

to the Canon XL2 $6,000

Hell if you want to use film (and have the money) do it.

The idea is to learn the fundamentals for filmaking.

Setting up a scene, a shot & composition.

-R

#10

I guess that depends on how serious you are about filmmaking.

there are a number of local groups here in Los Angeles that have film competitions that are as short as 48 hours. and there are a few that are a month.

I mean lets get serious here, we are not talking about going to Cannes. it’s CGTalk. (sorry Robert no offense meant to CGTalk)

And unless you are a complete noob and don’t know your software, editing an hours worth of tape down to 2-7 minutes isn’t exactly a time consuming process.

Also short films are not exactly well know for having massive special effects shots, so for most that is not likely to be an issue either.

as for music, again, it’s CGTalk. There is no Oscar or Emmy for it. There are plenty of sources for free music.

Now if you plan to do something really intense like the Batman: Dead End film or one of the couple of Superman shorts that came out last year, yeah, you are going to take more than a month if you are splitting time with a day job.

there is no reason that 30 days isn’t a completely reasonable contest period.

#11

I would say don’t even make it a complicated full story film contest thing. Just have a short 2 minute film. Maybe even make it where for the contest you are given a short script (2-3 pages or something) and whoever makes the film in the best and most interesting way (lighting, acting, camera angles…etc.) wins?

Anyways, definitely interesting to me, I always drool over the 3d/2d challenges, but then thats not my area so I would never win (reality sucks), so this would be something I (and others like me) compete in and have a chance…

#12

why would you want to give everyone the same script??? how boring.

Specify a theme, great. Same script, ugh. Good luck finding people wanting to enter.

#13

I second that, Sorry Shadow_545. I also think the idea of a specific theme is better. And if you’re not self-confident when it comes to script writting (even for a 2 minutes long script), you still can find some writer to do it for you.
Bye.
-IS-

#14

Ahh well I thought the point of the contest was to see who could make a better 1-2 minute scene (I guess I was wrong), not contest on script writing… I would normally think having the same script was boring too, but if everyone did something completely different it would be hard to determine who made the film better. I do like the Idea of a theme (it was late last night and I didn’t think of that for some reason)

btw don’t worry Igor Sandman I can write my own scripts, however thanks for your concern :wink:

#15

why would you want to give everyone the same script??? how boring.

Specify a theme, great. Same script, ugh. Good luck finding people wanting to enter.

You’re kidding right?

I guess that depends on how serious you are about filmmaking.

Hey madmax why are you being so pushy. PPl are just trying to brainstorm this idea and talk things over. Why are you so threatend by other peoples ideas on this matter? Would you be happier if we said “hey madmax tell us exactly what you want, so we dont have to worry about upsetting your baby ass with our suggestions.”

bbkixx

#16

So far I have seen people go “a month is too long”, “keep it only two minutes”, “give everyone the same script”

EVERYTHING I have said so far tends to lean towards being open about any competition and not put limitations on it that would stifle interest or creativity.

The art challenges here provide a theme, not the specific content. They don’t tell you that everyone has to draw Spider-Man and we’ll see who draws it best. I wonder why?

What gives you the right to make unprovoked personal attacks on someone for not agreeing with your ideas or making suggestions based on proven methods used by real film contests?

Sounds to me like you are the one who feels threatened. And judging from your childish replies and name calling, I doubt you have much to offer anyway.

#17

It would be the film equivalent of “Draw the pirate” from those old Art Instruction school ads.

Do you really want to see 2 dozen people making the exact same short, same script over and over? You’d be bored before you got through them all.

At least with a theme, you can see people doing whatever they want within that theme, not just rehash after rehash.

#18

Hey guys,
I was glad to see that someone finally offered up a monthly short contest. Good idea! After reading the posts and responses I decided to put my two cents into the pile.
Putting a time limit on the short is a great idea. This creates time constraints for the shorts directors, and may cause them the grief of leaving descent shots on the floor of the editing room. The practice of balancing time and creativity is an art form that is overlooked by many of the newcomers. Also, adding a generic script is practice that will ultimately make perfect. In today’s world, Hollywood is looking for outrageous directors that can conform to a general idea. This contest would simulate the feel of bidding for a film. Many directors are contacted to possibly work on today’s films. The director with the most cunning of ideas, and artistic talent to complete a project is ultimately awarded the grand prize of work (remebering that some directors are not that artistically talented, i.e. Rob Riener) .
I feel that MadMax is wrong when he says that this contest would be boring if it were to be regulated to work on one script (atleast this is what I took from his responses). I feel that it would be exactly the opposite. I would very much be eager to see how so many diffrent minds interpet a single piece of work. The outcome would be many talented people, all diverse, with a general goal. Working to convey an idea. All of the entries would be unique, regardless of how repetitive.

#19

Hello, I’m a first timer. Infact this is my 1st post, very nice place you got here! I personally support this idea beyond imagination. My personal belief is that it would be a healthy and character building experience. Hold a challenge and they will come.

:thumbsup:

#20

I’d suggest looking at what real short film festivals are doing for an idea of general structure.

Or submission guidlines for iFilm, or Atomfilms and other online short film sources.

Also you might want to check out the 48 hour film challenge and LA101 to see what their criteria is for short film entries is before saying someone is wrong or resorting to personal attacks and name calling.

The suggestions being made so far sound more like film school assignments, not a short film competition. And just curious, since it was said here, of what positive benefit is this at all???

Putting a time limit on the short is a great idea. This creates time constraints for the shorts directors, and may cause them the grief of leaving descent shots on the floor of the editing room. The practice of balancing time and creativity is an art form that is overlooked by many of the newcomers.

Causing someone to have to leave out good material to fit a time restriction. Causing them grief you said. There is absolutely nothing productive in that at all. Again, I can see it if this were a film class assignment. If it were, then I would be in agreement that this teaches something of use. However the premise was a short film competition.

This contest would simulate the feel of bidding for a film.

Considering this is not the method directors are hired for a film, it serves no useful purpose. Again, this sounds more like Film school assignments than a short film contest.

You want to have a different opinion that’s fine. I made my coments based on how the majority of short competitions are done. That doesn’t make me wrong or you right.