They say making movies doesn’t put food on the table, but they’re naysayin’ pricks. (Apologies if, in your case, “they” = parents, loved ones, or respected confidantes. Didn’t mean to offend.) Anywho, the New Vistas Video Festival is looking for short-film submissions (fiction, nonfiction, animation), and will award six full-time Alamo Community College District scholarships for winning entries. So, short film = scholarship = education = padded résumé = better job = more money = food. In theory, at least. Hurry, though: the deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 13. No longer than 10 minutes, VHS or DVD format, use no unauthorized copyrighted material. Accd.edu/nvc/newvistas.htm. Mail or deliver entries: Dr. Bill Colangelo, Northwest Vista College, Rm. MLH 101, 3535 N. Ellison Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78251.
And while you’re burning DVD-Rs, go ahead and run one off for Steven Spielberg, whose upcoming reality-TV collaboration with FOX, On the Lot, is accepting submissions until February 16. Sixteen selected filmmakers will compete to win a $1-million DreamWorks development deal. Go to Thelot.com and click “Submit Film.” For more information, contact casting coordinator Jaye Willis: (310) 903-5509, [email protected].
Drop another in the mail to the Wisconsin Film Festival sometime before its December 29 deadline, and you might find yourself sharing a venue once occupied by Steve Buscemi, Andrew Bujalski, or Chan-Wook Park. Just remember to enclose $30 per feature (60 mins.+), $20 per short (< 60 mins.), or $10 and a photocopy of a valid student I.D. per student film (any length). Narrative, experimental, doc, animation, any length accepted. Wifilmfest.org.
The Southwest Alternate Media Project’s annual short-film showcase is also accepting entries; call Michelle Mower, (713) 522-8592 ext. 2. Ten-minute length limit applies. Swamp.org.
As always, check Sanantoniovisit.com/film or Filmsa.blogspot.com for more, and for late-breaking film news.
Happy stamp-lickin’.
— Brian Villalobos
