Entry requirements
To be eligible for the ONE80PROJECT competition you must complete your online profile and upload your pilot and cover image (read the FAQ here).
You must also download and complete the entry form and send it together with a hi-res DVD of your pilot to MTV Australia.
Entries (DVD & Completed entry form) should be posted on Monday 10/11/08 and are fine to arrive on Tuesday 11/11/08.
For more information about your entry please read the terms & conditions.
Please clearly label your package/letter, DVD and entry form and address to:
MTV Networks Australia
c/o Optus ONE80PROJECT
Ground Floor
4-16 Yurong Street
East Sydney, NSW 2010
Having difficulties posting your film? Email info@one80project.com.au for help... but remember to read the Technical Q and A through first!
PRODUCTION TIPS
Your 180 second pilot
Like a trailer, your pilot should give us a really good understanding of your plan for an hour of drama. Your pilot can be no shorter than 1 minute and no longer than 3 minutes – this may not seem like much time, but keep in mind that feature films can get the plot and theme across in a 30 second trailer - So keep it up beat and punchy to hold people's attention and to stand out!
PRODUCTION TIPS: PRODUCING/DIRECTING
- Produce a Call-Sheet, this details who will be responsible for what, contact numbers and at what time your crew and talent are required on set/location.
- Always feed your crew, a fed crew is a happy crew. If you cannot pay your crew, make sure you feed them.
- Only ever use original music/effects in your film, unlicensed music/effects could hamper your distribution to Mobile, Television, Internet or theatrical distribution companies.
- Release Forms. Make sure all your talent, writers, composers etc. sign a release form, giving you complete rights.
- Budget your drama, no matter how small.
- Your pilot needs to be suitable for watching on mobiles, online and TV. Make sure you shoot it in daylight or with additional lighting if you shoot at night. This is because when the film is compressed and saved as a .mov file, playback will be darker. Try to shoot more close-up and medium shots and not so many wide shots.
- Avoid over complicating your story. The best are always the simplest.
- Have a clear idea of the story you want to tell and stick to it. Try to avoid the temptation to change the story too much as you go.
- Storyboard your drama. Don't worry about them being works of art, they are for your use only and will help you envisage your story as a sequence of shots. Also you do not need to shoot your drama/pilot in story sequence, it is often more cost effective to shoot out of sequence.
- Rehearse and support your actors. Your job is to help them give the best performance they possibly can.
PRODUCTION TIPS: EDITING
- There are many edit packages out on the market. Start with a simple system like iMovie then when you are confident, move up to a more professional system like Final Cut Pro.
- Consider planning your edit first on paper. This will make you think about the structure you want when you start to edit.
- Go through your rushes (footage), select the best takes and put them in a separate bin. This will allow you to work from only the best footage without confusion.
- Create a rough assembly first. Once you have the structure laid out go through your rough assembly and start to fine tune the edit.
- Don't get bogged down trimming little bits here and there. Get the structure right first then trim and experiment.
- Try having a friend act as an editor with you being the director. This frees you up to make creative decisions without having to worry about pressing the right buttons.
- Don't get too attached to a shot that you spent ages filming. If it isn't right for the drama then drop it.
- It is worth remembering that what an audience doesn't see, it will not miss.
- Don't spend too long editing. If you're tired take a break and come back fresh.
