Conucopia: Film and Video Contest Conucopia Film and Video Contest Rev. 23-Aug-1999 Previous: Films and Video (Table of Contents) Next: Anime - Japanese Animation _________________________________________________________________ Genny Dazzo, film.contest@99.nasfic.org _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release: NASFiC Film Contest Winners Announced Winners to Screen at Convention Final judging was held last weekend for the 1999 North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) Film Contest, a film competition that focused exclusively on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Entries were accepted in 16mm and on video tape and were judged by a panel of ten working TV and motion picture producers, writers, directors, editors, visual effects supervisors, post-production supervisors, etc. (some of whom have made their own award-winning short films) and whose work includes involvement with Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Splash, Stargate, What Dreams May Come, Supernova, Prince of Egypt, Armageddon, Lake Placid, The Hunger, Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space 9, etc. The First Place winner is The Rectory, written, photographed, edited and directed by Patrick Scanlan of Playa del Rey, California. The Rectory is the story of a young priest who must discover the mystery behind the haunting of his new parish's rectory in order to bring a tortured soul to rest. Two films tied for Second Place: The Census Taker, produced, written, and directed by Aaron Cohen of New York, New York; and Tennis Match, written, directed, and produced by Robert Ellmann of Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Census Taker is a Twilight Zone-ish tale of a down-on-his-luck census taker who gets more than he bargained for when he falsifies census questionnaires. Tennis Match is an almost-indescribable allegory that combines silent film era imagery with social commentary and a great deal of wit. The final judges panel also decided to award two Honorable Mentions. A Special Out of Category Award goes to Please Kill Mr. Kinski, a quasi-documentary produced, directed, and edited by David Schmoeller, in which the filmmaker gives a first hand account of what is was like directing actor Klaus Kinski in a movie. A Special Judges' Favorite Theme Song And All Around Silly Show Award goes to The El Gringo Bravo Show, written and directed by El Gringo Bravo (theme song written and performed by Eugene Webb). This is the story of a retired wrestler and part-time superhero who starts out crashing his car, gets hit by lightning, receives a phone call from the future, encounters vicious alien slugs, and several other kinds of silliness, but it's really the theme song that won the hearts of the judges. All five of the winners will screen at NASFiC on Saturday, August 28th, at noon. The NASFiC Film Contest's First Prize winner receives $150 and a copy of Graphics Studio Software Suite from NewTek . (Windows/Intel or DEC Alpha platform owner receives LightWave 3D 6.0, Aura 1.0, and the Film Grain and Motion Pack plug-ins for LightWave 3D. List Price: $2995. Substitute prize for Macintosh Owner: LightWave 3D 6.0, Film Grain, Motion Pack.) The two Second Prize winners each receive $75 and a copy of NewTek's Aura 1.0, List price $695. (Substitute prize for Macintosh Owners: Inspire 3D 1.0, $495). LightWave 3D: Powerful and easy to use 3D modeling, surfacing, animation, compositing, and rendering software. Used for CGI scenes in Babylon 5, Crusade, Hercules, Xena, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Titanic, the M & M's commercials, etc. Aura 2D: animation, compositing and paint program. Time-line based animation and video element assembly; unlimited layers for stills, animation or video; supports any frame rate or size for animation for film, video or web; full-color animated brushes; brush-stroke recording; macro language; Photoshop filter support; rotoscoping; light-table feature; tablet support; comprehensive drawing and painting tools. The North American Science Fiction Convention (NASFiC) is affiliated with the World Science Fiction Convention, NASFiC is held whenever the Worldcon is outside of North America (this year, Australia). The convention, which takes place at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel and Towers (700 Convention Way; Anaheim, California) from Thursday, August 26th, through Sunday, August 29th, 1999, will include over two hundred authors, artists, and filmmakers as speakers; an art show; a dealers room; films; costume competition; dances; parties and more. http://www.99.nasfic.org/ can provide additional details on the convention. _________________________________________________________________ Prizes for Film Contest NewTek, Inc. has agreed to donate the following CGI software as prizes for the winners of the NASFiC Film Contest. First Place: Graphics Studio Software Suite (Windows/Intel or DEC Alpha platforms) includes LightWave 3D 6.0, Aura 1.0, and the Film Grain and Motion Pack plug-ins for LightWave 3D. List Price: $2995. [Substitute prize for Macintosh Owner: LightWave 3D 6.0, Film Grain, Motion Pack.] 2nd and 3rd Place: Aura 1.0, List price $695. [Substitute prize for Macintosh Owners: Inspire 3D 1.0, $495. LightWave 3D: Powerful and easy to use 3D modelling, surfacing, animation, compositing, and rendering software. Used for CGI scenes in Babylon 5, Crusade, Hercules, Xena, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Titanic, the M & M's commercials, etc. Aura: 2D animation, compositing and paint program. Time-line based animation and video element assembly; unlimited layers for stills, animation or video; supports any frame rate or size for animation for film, video or web; full-color animated brushes; brush-stroke recording; macro language; Photoshop filter support; rotoscoping; light-table feature; tablet support; comprehensive drawing and painting tools. _________________________________________________________________ This close to Hollywood, how could we not want to see what's in the creative minds of fandom's budding filmmakers. George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and many other top directors, writers, and actors started out by making amateur and student films. Why shouldn't you? And the way a lot of aspiring directors, writers, and actors get noticed today is through short films entered into film contests and festivals. Starting on 15 April 1999, we'll be accepting films in 16mm and on VHS video tape (NTSC format only), to be judged by a panel of working television and motion picture producers, writers, and directors, with prizes and screenings at the convention for the winners. First prize is $150 and the software package described above. Names of the judges and other prizes to be announced. Rules: Films must arrive no earlier than 15 April and no later than 15 July 1999 to be eligible. Films must be no more than 30 minutes in length and, in keeping with the nature of Conucopia, either science fiction, fantasy, or horror in theme. Comedy or drama, it still must be of the appropriate genre. An entry fee of $15 must be included (make checks out to Conucopia), along with the filmmaker's name, address, and phone number. Please include a brief description of the film, its title, and main cast and crew credits. Films and related materials should be shipped to Conucopia Film Contest; c/o G.M. Dazzo; 9027 Larke Ellen Circle; Los Angeles CA 90035-4222. Write for information on entering 35mm films. Small Print: The decision of the Judges is final. Entrants agree to allow Conucopia to show entered films for purposes of judging and to exhibit them at the convention without additional approval or payment. Films cannot be returned unless Entrant provides entry fee and correct mailing information with entry. Contents may settle during shipping. _________________________________________________________________ Previous: Films and Video (Table of Contents) Next: Anime - Japanese Animation Top | Table of Contents | What's New | Register | Addresses | Help info@99.nasfic.org