Open Frame Scholarships For New Students!

Great news!

The Communication Arts Department has just been notified that we can award several $1000 scholarships to incoming new students next year. This $1000 will be awarded based on merit and participation in the Open Frame.

The deadline for applications is this coming weekend! (December 10th) Because of financial aid awards and the nature of the academic year, the turnaround time is really fast, but hopefully, if you know possible interested candidates, you can pass this information on.

** this just in: we can accept applications for one week after the deadline! **

Applicants will be invited to come to a scholarship day for interviews and screenings in January.

Please email arudd at malone dot edu for more information *or* the.open.frame at gmail dot com.

Grant Winners Announced

This year, we asked students to put together a proposal advocating for funding for their various projects. We received a number of proposals, and while the department will continue to support and develop any interested students and their projects, a jury consisting of faculty, staff and a filmmaker outside of Malone have voted on the proposals, and the following winners are the outcome.

Congratulations to

HIDDEN LIABILITIES (Dusty Jenkins and Michael Popp)

and

HATCHETMEN (David Garwood)

Each of these projects have been awarded $200 for production expenses.

Congratulations to Corinne Abbiss who wins the runner-up grant of $500 for her project, THE MEMORIES WITHIN. This script won this year’s script contest.

The winner of the $1000 grant is Taylor Hazlett for CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.

These projects along with many other student projects will be entering the production cycle shortly. Please get involved volunteering, crewing and collaborating with these students.

Announcing the 2010 OPEN FRAME SCRIPT CONTEST

This year the Communication Arts Department will sponsor a script writing contest to find one script that might be developed into a festival-ready short film of the highest caliber. All scripts submitted to the contest will be reviewed by five qualified judges. Writers will receive feedback both in the form of narrative comments and rankings based on the various criteria. The top three scripts will be eligible for the departmentally sponsored film. The top script (regardless of whether it is chosen to be produced) will receive an OPEN FRAME AWARD at this year’s festival event.

Scripts may be in any genre. Fresh innovative stories told in a cinematic way are best. Scripts may range from one minute to sixteen minutes (one minute = on page in screenplay format). Scripts must be submitted in standard screenplay format. Scripts MUST include a title page, but may NOT include the authors name.

You should submit your script by email. You should send the email to Andrew Rudd and your script should be in PDF format, with a title, but NO authorial name. In the email you attach your script to, you should list your name, major, script name, and indicate whether you would:

a. prefer to direct your script, but would allow someone else to direct it,
b. prefer NOT to direct your script, and desire another director for it,
c. be ambivalent about whether you direct your script,
d. prefer to direct your script, and would not want your script to be directed by anyone else.

Scripts open to other directors will have a slight edge in the competition.

Scripts are due on September 13th, 2010 at 8 am. Contest winners will be announced on September 20th at 5 pm on the Open Frame Blog.

Congratulations!

This year marked a new record in that eleven scripts were submitted for the Open Frame.

A panel of 18 alumni carefully poured over these submissions. Using a standardized ranking system, each writer will have the opportunity to receive feedback about their script this year. Due to the generosity of our alumni judges, Malone students will be able to read open-ended feedback and statistical responses -- an unusual privilege for beginning writers. (THANKS, alumni!)

Four scripts have been selected as winners this year (though only two will proceed to department-sponsored production); it is my sincere hope that each of these scripts will be developed into short films, regardless of the department sponsorship.

The next two weeks of our contest will provide directors the opportunity to apply for the department-sponsored film. You can read more about the director's contest here.

The winning scripts this year include:

THAT KIND OF AFFECTION by Erin Chilensky

BENEDICT SEXTON by Dusty Jenkins

KEEPSAKES by Alyssa Pearson

(W)HOLE by Taylor Hazlett

Congratulations to all four writers and to the rest of the writers who submitted their work to the Open Frame Script Contest. Thanks for your hard work, developing craft and your commitment to creativity, vision and beauty!

Director's Contest

This year, the directors contest will build on the Open Frame Writing Contest in a new way.

Each director applicant must turn in the following materials by November 12th at midnight:

1. A director's vision statement of one of this year's winning scripts.

2. A list of (1 - 3) producers or *key players* (editor, cinematographer, art director, lead actor) they have (tentatively) recruited for the project.

3. A 30 second - 2 minute reel, posted on youtube or vimeo, demonstrating their abilities as a director.

*please email Andrew Rudd for copies of this year's winning scripts.

Your Director's Reel

A director's reel may be comprised of previous projects you've completed. These projects may vary from newsreel footage to photography to other short films.

You will probably want to demonstrate some ability to use visual storytelling for dramatic development during at least one portion of the reel. The reel does not need to include sync sound, but it may.

You may collaborate others to help you create the reel -- a Director of Photography, an editor, and actors. You may also use footage from earlier projects that you participated in as a DP, editor or director.

Please only use music legally for your reel.

You may want to even shoot something as simple as dialogue from one of the winning scripts, using a flip cam and some good light.

A Director's Vision Statement

Should include a re-telling and analysis of the script they are proposing to direct.

(Directors may create vision statements for as many of the scripts as they would be willing to direct.)

A director's vision statement should highlight the key emotional highlights of the script and explain some ideas for executing the more challenging technical dimensions of the script. The director should include a statement about why this project works for them personally.

A directors vision statement should be no more than one typed page.

2009 - 2010 Open Frame Film Fest Schedule

This year's Open Frame Schedule returns with many familiar and memorable features and a few new features. Stay tuned to be updated about what's new and what's now.

Go ahead and join our facebook group, too, for up to the minute info -- and a way to communicate with other Open Framers.

Here's this year's big dates -- more details about all of the below will follow:

Rush - August 31, 2009 4-7pm - Alumni, New Students & Old Students Welcome!

Informational Meeting - September 1st 7 pm - New information for New and Current Students.

Filmmaker Lunches - September 9 - 15 - Last year's filmmakers screen and discuss their films.

Indy Filmmakers Training Session: Screenwriting - September 15 7:30 pm - Open to the public.

Scripts & Directors Contest Deadline - October 26th, 5 pm

Indy Filmmakers Training Session: Preproduction - DATE TBA 7:30 - Open to the public.

Indy Filmmakers Training Session: A Successful Shoot - DATE TBA 7:30 pm - Open to the public.

Filmmaker Lunches - March 1 - 4

Film Submission Deadline - April 13th, 9 am

Filmmaker Lunches - April 19 - 22




The Open Frame Film Fest - April 23rd 10 pm. - Johnson Center Chapel




Filmmaker Lunches - April 26th & 27th - This year's filmmaker screen their films and entertain audience Q & A

Open Frame Dates Announced

This year the Communication Arts Department at Malone College will again host the Open Frame Student Film Fest in the Spring, and in the meantime, help develop student filmmakers and films for exhibition at that event.

The following dates are all geared to help you (students!) participate.

RUSH! Monday, August 25th at 4 p.m.

information and contests. win big prizes. don't miss it.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING Thursday, August 28th at 8 p.m.

information about the contests, opportunities to connect to other student filmmakers & ice cream!

STORY SEMINAR Thursday, September 4th at noon

(& again -- only come to one)

STORY SEMINAR Thursday, September 4th at 8 p.m.


FILM CONTEST DEADLINE Wednesday, October 22nd at 5 p.m.

FILM CONTEST WINNERS Friday, October 24th at 5 p.m.

the outcomes will be posted here! Don't miss them!

Important Dates!

Submission Date is Looming! So here are the basics:

We encourage all genres of: documentaries, journalistic expose, fictional narrative, stop action, animation, experimental, music videos, etc…
student produced films may be submitted by April 10th at 5 p.m..

films may be submitted on VHS-C or Hi-8 or on a hard disc drive in Quicktime Format. (no DVD submissions)

films must be fifteen minutes or under to be considered.

films may only include actors who do not appear in any other film festival submissions.

filmmakers must obtain rights to any music used in their films.

accepted filmmakers must volunteer a minumum of four hours during the final week of the festival.

to be eligible for awards, the film must be created by Malone students (for more information on this standard click here.)

Films will be accepted based upon quality of form and content, and restricted based on the limited timeframe of the festival.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT -- the Open Frame Student Film Contest event will be held on April 18th in the Johnson Center at NINE p.m.. Seating is open & on the floor; doors will open at 8:15. We will screen 2 hours of films followed by a brief awards ceremony.

Questionable Behavior

Pre-production has started on the department-sponsored film, Questionable Behavior.

Written by Dan Walton, directed by Stephen Thomas & produced by Audrey Sackman, Alyssa Pearson, Alyssa Salsburey and Aaron Freeman, this 8 minute short comedy will be filmed in mid-march in order to be ready for the April 18th Festival.

Open Auditions for the film will be THIS SATURDAY, February 23rd in the Johnson Center Chapel from 3 - 5. You can read the press release here.

Keep up to date on the production at the production blog here.

Add as us a friend on Myspace if you want to be really supportive!

What Qualifies a Film as Malone-Student-Made

A few criteria have grown up around the fest and been passed around in the oral tradition. Here are the standards which have a little bit of elasticity to them:

- A film made by all Malone students obviously counts,

- If some of the "major players" (writer, director, actors, producers, composers) are not students, then a film must include THREE Malone students in these roles in order to be eligible for awards.

- A film made by one Malone student in collaboration with only non-Malone students WILL still be eligible to screen at the festival as long as that student played a significant role in the production of the film.

The Contest

The Contest:

2 – 5 students will be selected as producers, 2 students will be selected as directors and four scripts will be named as “top scripts” (only two will be produced). Directors and producers will select two of the scripts to be produced for the film festival; all four scripts will be announced and awarded at the Open Frame Film Festival event in the spring. Casting will take place later in the semester, but actors are encouraged to turn in headshots and resumes as soon as possible.

Winning directors and producers will have access to the best cameras available in Media Services, will have access to editing on FINAL CUT PRO, and will have other filmmaking equipment available to them. Winning producers and directors will also be mentored by faculty members in the Communication Arts Department and by Media Services.

Materials for directors, writers and producers will be due October 22, 2007 at noon. Winners will be announced on October 29 at 5 p.m. on the Open Frame Blog.
More information about the application process can be found on the Open Frame Blog. Please turn in all materials to Kerrie Fisher, administrative assistant in the Communication Arts Office.

Purpose of Film Festival

Our contest grows out of the Communication Arts Mission Statement

We, the Communication Arts Department, purpose to develop communicators rooted in communities, acting as agents of truth, reflection, transformation and reconciliation in a way that celebrates God's grace and faithfulness.

Since making films is always collaborative -- the process of producing these films will invite students to create community with one another around this creative expression.

The film contest supplements Communication Arts Department curriculum by giving students an opportunity to enact skills taught in a broad range of courses and to develop qualities essential to personal and professional success.

Student films provide important portfolio material for students interested in careers in media production.

Creating films allows students an important opportunity to develop their “voice.” The ability to tell a coherent story in an engaging way is a skill that will be key in a broad range of contexts and careers.

Filmmaking demands that students develop many key qualities:
· the ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously,
· the ability to work with a group of people to achieve individual and group
goals,
· the ability to work in stressful and sensitive environments,
· the ability to complete a task within a given time,
· the ability to make important judgments in high-pressure situations, and
· the ability to follow through on promises made

Contact Information

Email Andrew Rudd - arudd@malone.edu
Or
openframefilmfest@yahoo.com

call Andrew Rudd: 330.471.8523

Submission Rules

1. we encourage all genres of film: documentaries, journalistic expose,
fictional narrative, stop action, animation, experimental, music videos, etc…
2. student produced films must be submitted by April 9th at 8 a.m.
3. films may be submitted VHS-C, Hi-8, or in digitally in a Quicktime format;
No DVDs please.
4. films must be fifteen minutes or under to be considered.
5. films may only include actors who do not appear in any other film festival
submissions.
6. filmmakers must obtain rights to any music used in their films.
7. accepted filmmakers must volunteer a minimum of five hours during the final
week of the festival.

Festival Submissions

Any Malone Students! The film festival is open to films produced by the Communication Department and any other films created by Malone College students. If accepted to the festival, your film will be eligible for awards, regardless of how the film got made. For more details about festival submissions see the Open Frame Blog.

This year, the Open Frame will be juried by a special panel of invited jurors uniquely qualified to recognize the merits of student films. In the past our jury has included independent filmmakers, film educators, writers, actors and film insiders working in Hollywood Studios. Ten awards will be given this year, based on the unique merits of this year’s films. Previous awards have included: Best Cinematographer, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Sound, Best Original Score, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Film, and Best Alternative Film. Films will also be eligible for the Audience Award.

Announcing: The Open Frame Student Film Festival

On April 19, 2008, an audience of over 300 excited students and community members will screen short films produced by Malone College Students. Will your film be shown that night?

Over the past five years, almost 50 short films have been screened at the Open Frame. Students write, direct, act, produce, edit & score these films.
Our purpose? Students work together and develop their vision, craft and voice.
The film festival is an event co-sponsored by the Communication Arts Department, Media Services and the Student Activities Committee.

The Communication Arts Department and Media Services will jointly produce two student films this year. Students are invited to submit scripts (for writers), headshots & resumes (for actors), applications or resumes (for producers) and reels (for directors).

That Time of Year!

It's the time of year to say (once again) THANK YOU! to all those alumni, faculty & staff who have, for so many years supported the OPEN FRAME.

We'll be sending out the jury disc a week from this Friday (on April 13th) and would love to have you in on the voting.

All ballots have to be received (by email) by Friday, April 20th. If you think you'd have time in your schedule to watch and vote (and we always appreciate feedback!) that would be great.

Please email me (Andrew) at my Malone address which is, as always, arudd at malone dot edu.

Thanks again for your support!

LFO: bald actors needed

Independent filmmaker seeks as many actors (men and women) as possible, ages 18-88, who are bald or who have a shaved head to appear as extras in a comedy short motion picture to be shot in the Cleveland, Ohio area in late February. Filming will take place in one afternoon and take two hours or less. Must wear dress pants, dress shirt and dress shoes. Must provide own transportation to movie set. Movie will be entered in film festivals across the country. E-mail brodyquint@yahoo.com if interested with a bald head shot attached. Thanks.