Due to popular demand we're going to have the contest again this year.

The theme of this year's contest is:

"How Bob and Nancy got together."

The only requirement is that the film can be no longer than 5 minutes in length.

The deadline for the contest will be in September - we'll vote on the date.

The submission fee for the contest is $20 which is a $10 normal hosting fee and a $10 contest fee.

As for the prize, since I lost money on the contest last year let's do it this way - the contest fee paid by everyone will go to the winner of the contest. So...if there are 10 films submitted for the contest the prize is $100, 15 films $150, etc, etc...

I'll post an official contest announcement and post the submission form for the contest when I get back from vacation the week of July 9th.

Also, since this is a special thing we do on the site - who's open to opening this contest to everyone and not just current students?

Until then - let your ideas percolate.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

oh how exciting.
I think I'll try to submit something this year(!)

i definetely like the idea of letting anyone enter

Yeah, open the floor to everyone. Might as well. I'm excited about this!

I cant think of any reason why this year's contest shouldn't be open to everyone. Plus, if everyone joins it makes the prize larger also. Is there only a prize for 1st place?

Perhaps you could through a studentfilms.com t-shirt into the winners package?

Possibly another prize could be something like a free year of hosting for one film submitted in the future. This way we could have like a first, second and third overall best film. Just a thought I'd like to throw out there.

What do people think of doing this more often and just calling it "Homework"?

There wouldn't be a prize involved (except for maybe free T-shirts or something) but each month or two there would be a new theme to make a film on that everyone can submit for.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

i really like the idea Chris. often times i doze off and forget im a filmmaker. little reminders like this can keep everyone fresh

ive actually thought about diff ways to go about this over the year. I was thinking of trying to make it more of a puzzle. we could try picking ideas from hats...we all put down on a little paper something we want to see in another film...just a sentence or so...and then whomever picksit has to think of how to incoprate that into their own work

Cool. I'm glad you like it. This will make it more of a constant thing for people to work on.

Every month or two there will be a new "Assignment". I think it could be a lot of fun.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

Oh, why did the summer one have to start when my smmer's almost over. Damn. I'll try.

Well - we might be changing the format of the contest (now possibly called "Homework") so this might not be a problem.

What does everyone think of the new idea?

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

I think that's a great idea Chris. There's this one screenwriting site that has the same principle, and I think it would definately translate well over to this.

Cool - well we might just start doing it that way.

-Chris
Studentfilms.com

I think that this type of thing is just what I need to keep my focus.

I have wanted a project to work on as I often do, yet I am horrible at coming up with ideas out of the blue. I need this little bit of direction while still having the opportunity to be creative.

I just might have to finally get in on the action here...