Shoot Out Boulder Brings Filmmakers Together
Annual Event Takes Place September 25-27, 2009 in Boulder, Colorado
Sep 21, 2009
The 2009 Shoot Out 24-hour Filmmaking Festival Boulder website declares that, “by creating limitations, The Shoot Out Boulder asks filmmakers to trust their courage, imagination and determination by making a 7-minute film in just 24 hours.” The idea is that limitations can enhance creativity by channeling the artists’ energies into a strict form.
Under the banner of his company, A Michael Conti Video Production, Conti focuses on "fast films," and produces budget conscious work with professional results, delivered directly to the web.He is an advocate of creating under the kinds of limitations which bring out the unexpected. As he writes, “fast filmmaking is an entirely new category of filmmaking, and is not just limited to professionals, but open to everyone, from families to college students to middle schoolers…This event is the real thing, in your own backyard, you can actually participate yourself, and walk home with the main prize.”
2009 Shoot Out 24-hour Filmmaking Festival Boulder
Such a feat would be impossible if the festival weren’t extremely well organized. Participants are given extensive instructions prior to the start of the Shoot Out. The teams, made up of writers, actors and directors, prepare as much as possible, with a basic story scripted, and a general plan for action, dialogue, and music. During the Shoot Out, they cannot do any editing of the film other than in-camera editing.
But the preparation ends there, because part of the mystique lies in those vital instructions which are not given out until everyone is at the proverbial starting gate. It is then that a document entitled “The Brief” is handed out to the teams. The Brief lists 11 props and/or locations in and around central Boulder, five of which must be used in the film. Any missing items will disqualify a team.
After the entries are turned in, the judges meet and decide on the winners in time for an awards ceremony Sunday. The judges are all industry professionals who specialize in the area they are judging. The top ten winners are then produced on DVD and distributed to industry talent here and abroad. In this way, the award enables the winners to continue their filmmaking pursuits.
Who Will be Boulder's Shooting Star?
Adding to the thrill is The Shooting Star, which runs in conjunction with the main festival. This is a competition for actors to see how many films they can act in within 24 hours.
The Shoot Out Boulder makes it possible for amateurs and professionals alike to achieve their goals, and experience a level of success quickly. It also creates a unique setting for the community to see the filmmakers’ work, and to share in the excitement of filmmaking first hand. Look for information on this year’s winners, and advance notice of next year’s festival, on their website.
The festival is currently the only event of its kind in the U.S., but not for long. The Shootout Cheyenne is about to be launched in Cheyenne, October 23-25, 2009.
Conti adds that the festival has seen a dramatic growth in the 17 & under age category. “Clearly, the young set is engaged with digital filmmaking and the numerous avenues available to them over the Internet for sharing their work. It is only a matter of time until we see the moment when commerce and short films will find each other in a local manner.”
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