It’s time to bring out your ghoulish side and think of chilling ways you can put together a short film in 48 hours for this year’s Halloween Film Festival challenge.
College of the North Atlantic’s Digital Filmmaking program is issuing a provincial challenge, beginning Oct. 25, for participants to create short Halloween films over a 48-hour period.
This timed filmmaking competition dares individuals and teams to showcase their spooky story idea, shoot the film and edit the footage into a short horror film.
“With no experience required, this challenge welcomes anybody interested in filmmaking and the process of filmmaking,” Peter Buckle, an instructor of the program, said in a prepared release.
He said Halloween is an opportunity to let loose, telling spooky stories and being able to dress up and be someone else for a day.
Students in the program wanted to do something that would show Halloween spirit, so they conjured up the Halloween Film Festival as a way for people to express themselves creatively a couple of years ago.
In the last two years, noted Buckle, there have been some amazing entries.
Once the competition gets under way, participants will be given mysterious clues — lines of dialogue, props, costumes, themes, etc. — that must be used in the final version of the film.
Timeline for Halloween competition:
• On Oct. 25 at 6 p.m., participants must tune in online via Facebook (www.facebook.com/CNAfilm), where the opening ceremony will be live-streamed.
• Instructors Peter Buckle and Keith Bonnell will explain how film enthusiasts can tell their bone-chilling stories.
• People can use any equipment they have at their disposal to make their films.
• It’s not just about creating the most professional-looking film as there are many categories up for awards, and they want people to have fun with it.
• To register, simply fill out and submit the application form by 5 p.m. on Oct. 25. For the registration form, or for more information on the rules and prizes available to be won, visit www.cna.nl.ca/halloween.
• All films must be submitted via YouTube by Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. They will then be reviewed by a third-party panel comprised of College of the North Atlantic staff.
• The screening of the final cuts and announcement of winners will be shown during the 48-Hour Halloween Film Festival Facebook live-stream at 7 p.m. on Oct. 28.
Source: College of the North Atlantic’s Digital Filmmaking program
