Live Theatre has teamed up with Magic If, and we’re on the look out for seven teams of young film makers who are up for a challenge this summer.
On Friday 12 August at high noon each team will be given a pair of experienced actors from Live Theatre’s 17 to 25 year old youth theatre group and set the challenge to devise, shoot and edit a short film, using top secret suggestions and film locations on the Quayside, all in 24 hours.

We are looking for seven teams of young film makers to take part.

We will provide you with 2 young actors who will meet on the day, a suggestion to inspire your movie, access to several handy locations, and a survival kit of snacks and drinks to keep your energy levels up. The challenge begins and ends at Live Theatre, on Newcastle’s quayside.

You need to provide your own kit. Whether it’s a flashy HD camera edited on Final Cut, or a basic camera phone and Windows Movie Maker, doesn’t matter. The films won’t be judged on who’s got the best equipment! But on which entertain the audience the most, tells a good story, has great direction and performances, and of course has that killer idea that just springs from nowhere. It’s amazing how creative you can be with adrenaline coursing through your veins!

The 24 Hour Digital Shootout will be like our own mini-Oscars, with prizes not just for best film, but for best director, actor, screenplay and many more thrown in for good measure. The industry panel will include well known actor and director Daymon Britton – co-owner of Pyramid Media, and actors’ agent Janet Plater.
On the day each group will be provided with a suggestion to inspire the films that are being created. Film makers will be kitted out with a survival kit of snacks and drinks to keep their energy levels up.
We recommend team sizes of 3 and roles can be combined. Teams who show enough know how to produce a film in 24 hours will be selected on a first come first served basis and we’ll make sure we get back to applicants within 7 days. Entries are open now.

INTERESTED DIRECTORS SHOULD APPLY ASAP

Send an email to: bevfox@magicif.com with the following information:

a) Your name, age and contact details
b) The roles of your team mates
c) Any relative experience (it’s important you get across that you and your team have enough digital film-making know-how to complete it!)

Teams who show enough know how to produce a film in 24 hours will be selected on a first come first served basis. We’ll get back to you within 7 days!
The finished films must be no longer than 10 minutes. But less is most definitely more! Think of your audience. Do they want to watch a film that’s self-indulgent and drags or a movie that hits them quick and leaves them wanting more? In our experience 3 to 6 minutes is long enough to tell a good story that holds their attention.
This exciting event is also part of NewcastleGateshead’s Bridges Festival which takes place on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 August. For more information visit www.bridgesfestival.co.uk

Right now Seven Stories are looking for Jackie Wilson fans aged between 12 and 16, who enjoy drama and creative writing, to take part in the project. It will involve a fun packed August and culminate in the first screening of the film in the ‘Daydreams and Diaries, the story of Jacqueline Wilson exhibition’ opening at Seven Stories in October 2011.

To apply click here: SEVEN STORIES CALL FOR JACKIE WILSON FANS

Keep up to date with daily news on the Facebook Shorted Page.

THE CHALLENGE
On the morning of Sunday 3rd April up to 20 shortlisted film-making teams will descend upon Live Theatre in Newcastle to make a ‘taster’ of their short film idea in just 6 hours, with the aim of winning £10,000 to produce it properly this summer. That same evening the tasters will be screened to industry panel of judges (and fellow competitors) in a series of 6 minute pitches, and the winning team/s announced.

FILM MAKERS
The submission process is simple. Film makers/creatives (newcomers and experieced welcome) need a great short film idea, and the ability to put a good team together to compete in the challenge – cos you’ll have just 6 hours to make a ‘taster’ to go with your promo poster and verbal pitch. Gulp!

You have until noon 16th March to apply for the challenge to roxy@northernmedia.org and will be notified by 21st March of you are successful.

Visit NFM’s website for more info and to download the Film-maker Submission Form.

ACTORS
Actors need to send their headshots and completed Actor Submission Form to actors@magicif.com as soon as possible, but no later than 20th March, to be considered for the casting pool.

We won’t know who will be cast until all the film makers’ submissions are in, so please make sure you get across to us as much about your experience and ‘type’ as possible. We suspect film makers’ will find inspiration from the actors’ pool which is published on the Shorted Facebook page – so the sooner you get your submission in the better!

If you are accepted for the casting pool your headshot and biog will be published to “ the Facebook Shorted Page.” for all to see.

Actors will be notified if there is a suitable part for you as soon as possible between 16th and 21st March. Actors chosen to take part in the challenge will be paid £75 inclusive of any expenses on the day. So, this could simply be a great networking event and addition to your show reel, or a bigger opportunity altogether! We cannot however guarantee that if you’re on the winning team you will play your part again when the film is made this summer.

The Challenge will no doubt be more exciting than ever. This time the prize is big so you’ll no doubt be under more pressure anyway – but we are there to keep it fun, help where we can, plus you’ve got advance warning, a bit longer, and it’s presented from the glorious Live Theatre, so you’ll be in fantastic surroundings and close to amazing locations!

But remember – it’s not about perfection – it’s about creativity under pressure (like the general film world). So come prepared, and don’t forget: ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men oft go awry’

See a short behind the scenes docu of last year’s (tri-region) challenge to get an idea of how the day unfolds. But this time you have your own idea in advance and a little bit longer!

Shorted is a Northern Film & Media initiative funded by European Regional Development Fund, One North East , UK Film Council and Solutions for Business.

The Shorted Film Challenge is designed and delivered by Magic If (creators of the 4 Hour Film Challenge)

In September The Mixer launches proper. Back in July we presented a benefit weekend to kit out    this   new venue in West Jesmond, where the Suggestibles will play every month as well as our regular Cumberland shows. We’ve been filling in a programme of events which will see regular stand-up, murder mystery, music, LiveOke and theatre events – with the Ink Festival running there in November, plus a new outdoor Sunday Mixer Market opening September 26th. If you want to promote a night or run a groovy stall at the Mixer get in touch.

Since July we’ve been making several shorts for one of our favourite partners, Seven Stories. Currently we’re in production on a lovely film screening continuously early next year as part of their three month long Anthony Brown (Children’s Laureate) exhibition. In October we’ll be popping down to Canterbury to film the artist at work, then skipping over to Bristol with the Suggestibles, returning to the Old Vic after a great success last year in the Bristol Jam, then back to Newcastle for the  Suggestibles part in the Juice Festival.

November will be edit, edit and edit, before December hurtles towards us with three Suggestibles Xmas Pantsos at Northern Stage, The Cumberland and the Mixer.

So if you see us and we look a bit knackered, you don’t need to tell us – we know!

Most films we make have a long shelf life but this one is only gonna last as long as England stay in. Let’s hope the real Mr Capello can keep us in the competition!

The video features a double-take Capello look-a-like and follows the story of a young football fan trying to get a message to the England manager. In the making of the film we invited fans to upload a webcam or mobile phone clip of themselves singing along to the song to the Mr Capello Facebook group. Grown ups, kids, pets and even puppets got involved and play their part in the video. We couldn’t have made it without them and are grateful for their invaluable support in spreading the word.

Credits:

Tom Champion played by Jordan Skeels
Fabio Capello played by Michael McElhinney

Written and Directed by Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin
Director of Photography James McAleer (Steadi-Red)
DP Assistant Rich Scott
2nd Camera Ian McLaughlin
3rd Camera Phillip Shotton
Edited by Nick Light, Bev Fox and Ian McLaughlin
SFX Ian McLaughlin
Lighting Davey Morgan
Runner Bradley Atwill
Produced by Bev Fox
Production Manager Frankie Aitchison

Mr Capello song written by Chris Charlton
Performed by The Defenders c/o Leeds Music Trust
Track produced by Jam Sponge at Cottage Road Studios Leeds
Engineered by Matt Peel

Shot on location at the Hotel Du Vin, Mal Maison and Quayside in Newcastle, The Sage Gateshead and the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds.

The Northern Anthem collaboration project was initiated and funded by Northernnet