Making Your Film
This is important: we want mini-movies rather than dry Public Service Announcements. We encourage narrative — meaning a storyline. We’re not looking for lots of talking heads and scrolling text of facts and stats to tell the story. Show us dramatically rather than telling us.
Make us laugh, weep, gasp, grin.
And: Be Yourself. Share your issue. Be passionate. Be original. If it looks and sounds like something we've all seen for years, our eyes glaze over. Originality excites us more than whether it looks like prime-time.
Film entries will be accepted after February 25, 2008. The sooner you create and upload your film, the sooner your film will get promotion and international visibility: Following February 25, the Associated Press will pick entries over the next six weeks to distribute to its 1,800 Online Video media outlets.
To be eligible for the competition, you must register at www.myspace.com/filmyourissue. Your film entries should also be uploaded at www.myspace.com/filmyourissue. You will also be given the option to have your film posted on Think MTV.
We also encourage you to post your film on your own on as many sites as possible, both for your own visibility and to promote the FYI competition. Use tags pertaining to the film's issue(s), as well as "Film Your Issue," "FYI" and so forth.
Filmmaking Resources from AFI
American Film Institute's Screen Education Center is proud to partner with Film Your Issue 2008 in offering segments of AFI's ground-breaking filmmaking series, LIGHTS, CAMERA, EDUCATION! as part of FYI's online resources for filmmakers.
The series, hosted by actor and director Sean Astin, features a step by step process for planning, shooting and editing your video project, tips & tricks for a smooth production and practical advice from working filmmaking professionals. Click below for eleven of the how-to segments of the LIGHTS, CAMERA, EDUCATION! video series:
We welcome all entrants of Film Your Issue 2008 to join AFI ScreenNation, AFI's online community for teen filmmakers. Upload and share your videos to a global online audience and compete for prizes and recognition from the American Film Institute.
It's free to join AFI ScreenNation, FYI's preferred video upload partner for filmmakers 13-18years of age.
Visit screennation.afi.com for more details.
Copyright
Get the facts on usage of copyrighted content, including footage and music, on our Copyright page.
