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Guidelines For Students In the past three years, the LF industry has supported the production of three student short films: "The Princess and the Pea" (2001 in California) and "One Night In My Dreams..." (2002 in Ontario) and "Stage Fright!" (2003 in Ontario). In 2002, the LF Advisory Group solicited feedback from the LF industry partners who donated material goods and production services and other forms of support to these students.Everyone agrees on the following point: sponsoring LF student projects can be worthwhile if more effort is made to produce content that is actually useful to LF industry producers, distributors and the theatre chain. The LF Advisory Group is developing a set of guidelines that future film students can use to produce a LF short film or LF audio presentation that can run during intermissions, just prior to the feature presentation.IMPORTANT: These guidelines are supposed to provide practical advice on how students might become involved in the Large Format industry. That said, it should be noted these guidelines are a work-in-progress. With this in mind, here is what we have developed so far… Student Project Opportunity (SPO) Guidelines For Developing a Large Format Audio Presentation and/or Short Film |
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In the long life of a successful Large Format (LF) feature presentation, there appears to be 2-3 opportunities when students may become involved in a feature film production. A Student Producer can develop a stand-alone production with a theme that is related-to-or-compatible-with an existing LF feature film that is in production, or, already in distribution. This would allow the distributor to package the students work as a pre-show or "opening act" with a specific feature film.In rare cases, it may be possible for a student to contribute directly to a feature film; (1) during the earliest stages of pre-production and (2) about 10-25 years after a films last major release, or when the prints are worn and need to be replaced, or when it appears that the film is nearing the end of its run-life. This can be done by producing a stand-alone short film that is exhibited at a film festival, under the Student Producer's own name. Later, the short film, or it elements, are re-cycled for use in a Large Format feature film in production, or, cut into an older feature film that is being re-developed for a new release. A Student Producer can take advantage of these development periods by deciding to produce their short film project in a way that; (1) contributes to a LF feature film in pre-production or (2) adds value and run-life to a LF feature film that is being re-developed for a new release.This general approach is called a Student Project Opportunity, or, SPO. It is open to film students who are enrolled at film schools that offer a LF Media short course or module that is endorsed by the LF Advisory Group. Criteria for endorsement are under development.Developing A Proposal The LF Group can help the Student Producer develop a RFP that could lead to participation in a LF feature film production. If developed properly, a Student Producer should be able to use their SPO to gain a small, equity interest in a Large Format feature film. The Student Producer can enhance their potential equity position by enlisting the support of corporate, foundation and institutional sponsors who can underwrite the cost on integrating the students' material into the feature film. Emerging Trends Finally, there are emerging opportunities to develop commercial and Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that can run in LF theatres. The production of a LF commercial or PSA could share the set, location and some of the production elements with the television production of the same commercial. This arrangement is called a SPO Co-production.More to come… Updated on August 7, 2003 Largeformat_project@yahoo.ca
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