This isn't exactly book related, but I think it's a great opportunity for teens, so I had to help spread the word. Plus, I like to think of movies as the visual cousins of books! (Not to mention there are some prizes up for grabs as well.) So, check this out:
Fresh Films is the largest teen filmmaking program in the United States, and it's now taking applications for the 2009 season! They provide instruction, the film equipment and the funding teens to each make a real short film (each one is about 10 minutes long.)
Once those films are finished, they premiere at an online film festival, and the winners of an audience vote go on to be a part of AFI Fest in Los Angeles, which is one of the biggest International film festivals in the world.
Every movie they make is made by teens, from beginning to end. And after more than 300 productions, more than half of these films have gone on to compete at national and international film festivals. TEN of them have earned Academy Award eligibility! That's right- you could make a movie this summer that could win an Oscar!
For filmmakers, if you're selected, you will spend a week in one of six production cities with 9 other teens on their crew. You will storyboard, scout, cast, direct, shoot, and edit each film from beginning to end. Not only is there a small prize pack for winning the online film festival, winners will be flown out to Los Angeles for the premiere of their film at AFI Fest.
They'll enjoy a full day of filmmaking workshops and instruction from film industry professionals. In previous years, they've worked with or had workshops featuring the casts and crew of Napoleon Dynamite, director Elizabeth Allen, actors Laura Prepon and Rachael Leigh Cook, Sean Astin and many others.
For screenwriters, if your script is selected, you will get screenwriting instruction from screenwriter and Shadowed Summer author Saundra Mitchell! We'll revise your script to get it ready for production, and then hand it off to our teen crews. Your movie WILL be produced! The screenwriter who wrote the winning movie's script will ALSO be flown out to LA to participate in AFI Fest.
There is NO experience necessary for EITHER program, and it costs NOTHING to participate. Screenwriters will actually complete all their work from home! Teen producers must be available for a full week in one of six production cities in the US, with transportation to and from the office and set.
For crew members (production, ages 14 - 19), you can get the deets and apply here:
http://www.fresh-films.com/filmmakers.php
For screenwriters (screenwriting, ages 14 - 24), you can get those deets here:
http://www.fresh-films.com/writers.htm
And just for readers of The Story, if you post this Call to Entries badge on your online space with a link to Fresh Films (and leave a note here with a link,) Saundra will put your name in a random drawing to win a prize pack that includes a signed copy of her book, Shadowed Summer, a leather hand-bound journal, a totally playable Ouija board keychain, hot Tobasco candies, a vial of Haunted perfume oil from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and a DVD of the Best of Fresh Films.
You have from now until April 30th- the winner will be announced on May 1st, 2009!
It's easy, just grab this code:
When somebody asks what you did this summer, tell them you made a movie!