Rules

The Goal: Write, shoot and edit a short film in a weekend. With teamwork and complete focus you can make a cohesive and entertaining movie in an exceptionally short time frame.

The following rules apply to each participating production team:

1.Times:

Registration: Registration is open until the Sunday of the contest

The registration fee is $10 per film this year. Payment information will be sent out in the kick off email. This fee covers the cost of trophies and a compilation dvd sent to each team containing all the films from the current contest. This fee can be waived if there are financial concerns.

Contest: The 50 Hour Film Contest will occur between Friday, March 7th, 2008 at 3 p.m. and Sunday, March 9th 2008.

2. The participating group must complete its film/video work in time to ship a mini DV or equivalent TAPE via Mail, with the mailing date documented, on Monday March 10th 2008. Only works that meet the deadline will be eligible for awards. Films postmarked after Monday, are not eligible.

3. The 50 Hour Film Contest is open to filmmakers enrolled in any Public or Private Vermont High or Middle School.

4."The 50" entrants are accepted on a first come, first served basis. "The 50" organizers reserve the right to limit the total number of teams. You should register your group before March 9th on the online registration form here.

5. During the official competition period, all creation will take place, including but not limited to:

6. The only work to begin prior to the official competition period is:

7. To further clarify the roles of adults with regards to the creation of a 50 hour film:

An Adult Supervisor/Teacher May: An Adult Supervisor/Teacher MAY NOT: This is a contest for high school students please respect the rules above. If your team is found to have been unfairly helped your film will be disqualified.

8. All footage must be shot within the weekend time period of the project- March 7th at 3 p.m. local time and ending March 9th, 2008. No stock footage or footage shot or created at another time may be used. Animation and special effects are permitted, but must be created during the weekend time period.

9. Each participating group must provide the "the 50" organizers with at least two e-mail addresses. On Friday, March 9th, just prior to 3 p.m. local time, a Kickoff E-mail will be sent to the two addresses. The Kickoff E-mail will contain a genre, as well as a list of required elements: a character, prop and dialogue that must appear in the film. To qualify as an official "50 Hour Film Contest Film," each group's film must be in the genre it receives and must contain all required elements.

10. All cast and crew must be volunteers. Adults can be used in the films but not paid actors or actresses.

11. The finished film must be a minimum of four (4) minutes in duration, and a maximum of eight (8) minutes in duration.

12. The finished project must be submitted on a fresh cued up mini DV tape. 8mm is also acceptable but not preferred.

13. Tape preparation: Finished film should have a minimum of 5 seconds of bars and tone and 5 seconds of black, then the following identifying title slate- Team Name, Genre, Film Title--before the film begins.

14. The Film cannot be shot letterbox or 16:9 it should be full frame DV or 4:3.

15. Each team must secure talent releases and location releases, which must be mailed to the project organizers with the finished film. The film will not be eligible for awards until the organizers receive the signed releases.

16. Content of the movie/film/video has to be school appropriate. Excessive graphic violence, nudity, racism and/or obscenities will disqualify your film. If your film is ruled to be obscene or indecent it will not be shown on awards night.

17. Music: Participating group must have the rights to any music used in its film. Groups are encouraged to work with local composer and/or musicians to write and record music for the films. It is permissible for a participating group to use pre-recorded music (e.g., royalty-free music, a friend's band's music) but the group must have a signed release. Films will be disqualified for using copyrighted music with out permission of the owners. Please include the source of the music in the final credits.

18. Credits at the end of each film are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds. This is in addition to the 8 minute maximum time limit. The bars and tone and slate at the beginning should take at most 20 sec. (For example, you may have an 8 minute film plus 1 minute of credits and 20 sec of pre-roll for a total running time of 9:20:00.) Films longer than 9:20:00 are not eligible.

19. Films must include the following credit: "This film made as part of the 50 Hour Film Contest 2008. www.fiftyhourfilm.com"

20. To be certified as a "50 Hour Film", each participating group's film/video production must follow all rules herein. The 50 Hour Film Contest Organizers reserve the right to judge only certified "50 Hour Films."

21. All certified "50 Hour Films" are eligible for judging. A panel of independent industry judges will rate the films based on their merits in screenplay, cinematography, sound and editing. One film will be chosen as the best film of the contest. There will also be awards for best screenplay, best cinematography, best sound and best editing. The top film is not eligible to win multiple awards.

22. Team will submit the following documents with its completed film: Talent, Location Music and Adult Supervisor Releases.

23. The Organizers reserve the right to amend the rules of the contest.