What is the Corpus Christi 7 Day Film Project? (CC7D)
CC7D is an annual event put on by the Corpus Christi Film Society designed to encourage and facilitate more filmmaking in our area, boost amateur filmmakers' skills, boost the skill set and create resume experience for local casts and crew, and celebrate area filmmakers--both veterans and amateurs. Filmmaking teams have one week to make a short film from start to finish. The entire process must occur in seven days. In 2008 that time period began on Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 6:30 PM and ended the following Thursday, July 31, 2008. The completed films are screened on a date a few weeks after the Turn In. For CC7D 2008 that screening will be at Harbor Playhouse on Saturday, August 23, 2008, followed by an Awards presentation for the best films and performances.
I've never made a film before and I'm scared to death that people will think that anything I make will suck and laugh at me and throw rotten fruit at me. Should I enter anyway?
Yes. Over 50% of this year's films were made by first time participants. Use this opportunity to MAKE YOUR SHORT FILM. Use whatever camera have, whatever editing software you have, whatever friends you have, whatever sound equipment you have...and SIMPLY DO IT! Use any time between now and the 2009 Kickoff Party to practice. Borrow or beg some kind of sound equipment and practice using it. Practice loading your sound and video into a computer. Practice editing. THEN MAKE YOUR MOVIE!!! Then NEXT YEAR your 2nd entry will be better...then year three...then year four......
What are the films about?
That is completely up to the filmmaker. The filmmaking team picks the genre and writes the script.
What keeps people from cheating and starting their films prior to the official 7 day time period?
To prevent work from being done before the official 7 day time period, teams are given a character, a prop and a line of dialogue at the Kickoff Party that must appear in their film.
Finally, we are banking on a little honor from the participants as well. Teams should not begin doing ANYTHING creative prior to the 7-day filming period.
Who will see the films?
The films will be screened at Harbor Playhouse on Saturday, August 23, 2008, at a screening open to the general public. This event will sell out. Team Leaders will recieve two passes to the screening.
Who may participate?
CC7D is open to anyone.
How long are the films?
These are short films; they must be a minimum of 4 minutes and a maximum of 8 minutes long. Short films force emerging filmmakers to consider editing choices they might not otherwise and are designed, also, to keep your shooting time down.
What are the prizes?
Here are the categories where a team can potentially receive an award when they enter their films in the "In Competition" Category:
Grand Jury Award (1st Place Film) - Determined by jury
Jury Honorable Mention (2nd Place Film) - Determined by jury
Filmmaker's Award - Determined by Team Leaders present at public screening via ballot
Audience Award - Determined by public screening audience via ballot
All of the above will receive a CC7D Plaque to display and use forever as bragging rights. In addition there will be a cash award for at least the 1st place jury awards in each category. We work every year to raise enough funds to give cash to all of the above winners. These amounts are not currently known.
In addition to the above awards the jury will also pick several individual awards (Best Actor, Actress, etc.). A full list of these jury awards will be posted here soon.
How will the winners be selected?
A jury panel is assembled to select the winners. Jury tabulations are handled by Audit Masters Accounting and Tax Professionals. There will also be an audience award given determined by audience ballot so, yes filmmakers, pack the house with your friends and family.
Does the maximum length of the film include credits?
No. Your film may be 8 minutes long plus 1 minute of credits. In 2008, the 'rule' was that action can occur in the credits that does not advance the story (bloopers, etc). This may change in 2009.
Are credits in the beginning permissible and do they count against the credit time limit?
Opening credits are allowed but they DO count against the film's time limit. The audience is here to watch, not read. Judges will be given the directive to judge films based on start to end, including opening credits. An 8 minute film with a 4 minute opening credit sequence may be unfavorably judged.
We're limited to using two cameras. Does a still camera count? And what about having a back-up camera?
The two camera rule is an equalizer between novices and pros. A still camera does not count against the two camera limit. You may have a third camera on standby in the event that one of your cameras goes down. However, you MAY NOT have more than two shooting cameras. (i.e., Two are shooting and a third is set up and ready to go awaiting word that one of the first cameras is finished—this is NOT allowed.) Many of you barely have one camera. Don't sweat all these details. Have fun and make a movie!
I know that stock film and video footage is not permitted. What about stock photos? If you have the rights to the photos then use them.
Should we shoot in HD? Should we shoot in widescreen? Should we use surround sound?
Your film will be shown in Standard Definition in stereo or mono with an aspect ratio of 4:3. You may shoot in HD, in widescreen, or in surround sound, but the film will not be projected that way. We highly recommend that you submit a Standard Definition, letterboxed, stereo or mono version of your film. Anything else can lead to problems during our mastering process. New filmmakers, don't get discouraged with all this mumbo jumbo...make your movie however you can.
If the "required character" is audible off screen—-like on the other end of a phone conversation—-does that count?
No, we must actually see the required character in some way on the screen. Remember, he/she need not be the star of the film, just make an appearance.
Does the required character have to say his name or wear a name tag?
As long as the audience can infer who the character is, he/she doesn't need to be further identified.
Does the required character have to be human? Can the required character be an inanimate object?
Of all the required character questions this is the trickiest. The required character can be inanimate IF it is truly a character. The filmmaker must present the inanimate object in a way that elevates it to a character. This usually involves giving the inanimate object human characteristics (Wilson the volleyball, for example). THis is
Who 'owns' the films once they are submitted?
The filmmakers will share ownership of the film with CCFS in one respect: the filmmaking team/team leader grants CCFS the right to use the film and still images of the film to promote CC7D in the future. CCFS may show the film in future screenings, future CC7Ds, etc. Other than that, the filmmaker/filmmaking team owns the film and can do whatever they want with it including taking off the required title cards relating to CC7D, re-editing the film without the elements, etc. In the past, filmmakers have reedited their films and submitted them into other projects/festivals. More power to you.
How solidified do teams need to be at the Kickoff Event? Do I need to know who my entire team is before the Kickoff date, or can I assemble my team once I'm ready to shoot? Do you need a list of everyone on my team at some time?
The only information needed at the Kickoff Event is the Team's name, the Team Leader's name and whether or not your film will be "In Competition". At the Kickoff Event, you will get a packet with all your paperwork including a team list that needs to be turned in with your film at the end of the official 7 Day Time Period.
Can CC7D Jury Members or Sponsors make films for CC7D?
Anyone can make a film. Films made by sponsors, steering committee or jury members will not be eligible for ANY jury-picked awards.
Who will know the essential elements before they are given to the filmmakers at the Kickoff Party?
The CC7D Steering Committee is responsible for creating the essential elements. Historically, they are chosen a few days before the Official 7-Day Filming Period. Once they are chosen they will be guarded like the Academy Award winners until revealed at the Kickoff.
Can a team or person make more than one CC7D film for competition?
Yes. It has been attempted but never accomplished. Maybe this is the year.
If Art, Betty, Cathy and David are on a team together and want to make 4 films and enter them into CC7D, here are the rules. Each film entered must have a different team captain. Each film will pay a separate entry fee. Team leaders should lead the team (think the director of a film). All four films should be completely original. One team cannot shoot their raw footage and then use it over and over for different films. In other words, there should be no identical shots from film to film. You can't reedit a film and submit it twice. The filmmaking process should be original for each film made.
Can actors be on different teams, and in multiple films?
Yes, as long as duplicate footage is not used in multiple films. All content for each film must be original. As stated in a question above, you can't shoot a bunch of footage at the same time to re-edit into more than one film. The process and content must be original for each individual film submitted.
