The ACU FilmFest organization will host a 24-Hour FilmFest for the first time Saturday. The rules for the competition will be posted on the organization’s blog, acufilmfest.tumblr.com, at midnight Saturday. All entries must be posted to the blog by 11:59 p.m. the same day.
The event encourages spontaneity, creativity and entries from students across campus. Co-chair Sandra Amstutz, senior electronic media major from La Feria, says the committee hopes to see lots of variety and creativity.
“We really just want people to be creative and see what they can do in 24 hours,” said Amstutz.
There is no entry fee for the event, no theme or time limit, no budget guidelines, and only a few control elements the video must include. Details on these instructions will be posted on the blog. The only rules for the videos state that films must not violate university rules.
Senior Rob Rogers, electronic media major from Houston, plans to enter the contest.
“I am excited about the event because I have no idea of what I’m going to do or how I’m going to do it, but within 24 hours I know my friends and I can piece together something,” Rogers said.
The films will be judged by the ACU community Nov. 8-12. Any student can go to the blog and vote on the best video during the week. The winner will receive $50 and a free entry to the ACU FilmFest event in the spring, worth $45.
The films do not have to be long or elaborate. Amstutz said they would rather see fun thirty-second entries with a message, than five minute-long films without direction. Her advice for students planning to enter is: work in a team; pick a storyline and stick with it; feel free to improvise and make the most of props and resources on hand.
Co-chairs have hosted two workshops already this semester, focused on directing and screenwriting. The organization normally hosts mini-events and workshops leading up to the highly-competitive FilmFest event in the spring, but it has increased its number of fall programs this year.
“I’m excited to see the variety of videos we’re going to get, commercials, music videos, satire, animation, parodies and more,” said Amstutz.
