The R-Squared Film Festival 2011 is underway, and a few talented filmmakers stand to win several great prizes for themselves and their schools! The competition is open to the following parishes: Ouachita, Lincoln, Richland, Union, Caldwell, Winn, Morehouse, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, Tensas, East Carroll and West Carroll. Films will be submitted by filmmakers in the following categories: Middle School, High School, Higher Education and Citizens. There will be a first and second place winner in each category along with a people’s choice award voted on by the audience and general public.
The deadline for the Middle and High School team entry forms to be turned in is Friday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. The deadline for the Higher Education and Citizens team entry forms to be turned in is Tuesday, March 1 at 5 p.m. To get the official rules, entry forms, and workshop information visit www.r2festival.com. Also, join the “R-Squared Productions” group on Facebook for updates.
The first place winning teams from the Middle and High School categories will win a $200 gift card and individual trophies. The team’s representative school will also win a display plaque and an Apple iMac desktop computer. The second place winning teams will win a $100 gift card and individual trophies. In addition, the team’s school will win a display plaque.
The first place winning teams from the Higher Education and Citizens categories will win a $500 gift card and individual trophies. The second place winning teams will receive a $200 gift card and individual trophies.
That is not all the amateur filmmakers stand to win… All films entered into the competition will have a chance to have their films showcased on KWMS TV 17 (Comcast 229) and/or CityWatch (Comcast 72). Also, KARD-TV (FOX 14) will air the winning films from the four categories on their network station!
“This is so exciting for me and the whole team at FOX 14. It has been a dream of mine, for some time, to take locally produced short films and movies and put them on a broadcast station.
Young people are so creative, and I truly believe that viewers will tune in and watch what they produce. We are honored to work with R-Squared Productions in this new venture,” said Jerry Jones, VP/General Manager KARD-TV (FOX 14).
The general public has the opportunity to watch all submitted Middle School films at the historic Masur Museum in Monroe or watch them on thenewsstar.com. Viewers can vote at both locations to determine the People’s Choice Award winner for this category. This early exhibition will be prior to the screening of other finalist films on Saturday, April 30 at the Monroe Civic Center’s Jack Howard Theater.
A great way to make submitted films TV ready is to attend the R-Squared Productions workshops in February. The R-Squared staff will be on hand to teach the following workshops on a beginning to intermediate level: Directing, Camera/Lighting, Sound, Acting, Production Design, Scoring and Writing. Participants will learn directly from the R-Squared staff on each subject and how to incorporate these skills into their projects!
In order to be eligible to attend workshops, win prizes and bragging rights, teams must adhere to all upcoming deadlines.