Village Weekend "Movie Challenge"
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Wyatt Johnson
Have you ever envisioned yourself in Hollywood directing the next blockbuster? Or maybe you have always had a love for the cinema? The Old Theater hosts the Village Weekend Movie Challenge, starting April 24th at 5 PM. The Old Theater released a statement, “The challenge gives participants one weekend to create a short film from start to finish. No prior filmmaking experience is required. The event begins with a kickoff meeting on Friday, April 24, at 5:00 PM at The Old Theater. At that time, participants will be assigned a film genre, a required prop, and a surprise element to include in their movie. From there, teams will have until 5:00 PM on Sunday, April 26, to write, film, edit, and submit a completed short film between four and seven minutes in length. Completed films will be screened at The Old Theater, May 1 - 3. Awards will be given for Best Picture, selected by a panel of judges, and an Audience Choice award selected by Attendees. The Village Weekend Movie Challenge is designed to bring everyone together through creativity, collaboration, and a shared enjoyment of storytelling.”
While the prospect of filmmaking may seem daunting, major contributor Lara Manetta encourages community members to participate regardless of experience."Anyone at all interested should just show up on April 24," Manetta said. "Most of the people who contribute have never made a movie before. And it takes surprisingly little to create a short movie. Most of us are already walking around with adequate technology in our back pockets.” Therefore, it is affirmed that this challenge offers anyone the chance to channel their inner filmmaker and truly have fun. Films can include a wide variety of cinematic genres, from a comedic skit to an animated educational story; all are welcome!
Still curious about what the short films may look like? Or seeking creative inspiration? View an example of Ken Hess’ film titled “The Tale of Sir Jeff the Valiant”. This exciting film follows a warrior in a strange yet all-too-familiar environment. The main character is unable to fit into modern society. This film has a lot of preparation, with thoughtful creativity throughout its creation. This film is one of many that Hess has created; they all follow roughly the same blueprint. The script. Hess states that, “The most exciting part of creating any film is putting a script into action. The writer/director has a vision of how the film should look and sound from the script, but there are inevitable changes and challenges along the way that make it exciting. Films are actually made in editing, and that's why directors require multiple takes and grab a lot of b-roll. Editing can be tedious, but the end result is cool because you see your vision in finished form.” While filmmaking can require a lot of dedication, it’s the end result that brings an abundance of satisfaction and gratitude. This aligns with the contest's overall principles. No matter how much experience you have, how old you are, how creative you believe yourself to be, you can find satisfaction in something you made from scratch. Furthermore, to have a rewarding experience and fun in this challenge.
“The Tale of Sir Jeff the Valiant” by Ken Hess
TerryLynn Melody, the creator of the Village Weekend Movie Challenge, underscores the event’s spirit of discovery and inclusive creativity. “You may discover you have an incredible talent for directing, or you’re a great screenwriter, or maybe you have a really good eye for cinematography it's fun and once you get the bug you'll want to do it again.” Overall, she emphasized the importance of discovery and trying new things in her experience. Even in the movie challenge’s origins, Melody described that she was “...editing some travel footage from vacations I had taken with my husband, and I thought, I wonder if I challenged people to make movies if some creative people would come out of the woodwork.” What started as a single idea has grown into a catalyst for local innovation, proving that sometimes all it takes is one spark to ignite a wave of creativity.
Those interested in participating can attend the kickoff meeting at The Old Theater in Oriental on April 24 at 5:00 PM. Organizers encourage all aspiring filmmakers and curious community members to join the fun because all it takes is one creative spark.
Movie Challenge Graphic
All Photo Credits: The Old Theater Oriental NC
“The Tale of Sir Jeff the Valiant”: Ken Hess
Comments