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V48HOURS 2011 – A Furious Filmmaking Competition

OFFICIAL RULES & OTHER STUFF

Please check back and RE-READ before The Launch for 2011

We reserve the right to alter the rules year to year, to keep those smarty-pants in order. There may be new rules introduced right up until the shoot weekend. All new rules will be posted in the news column so it pays to keep checking back here. If you miss a new rule it could land you in a whole world of bother.

Please direct all questions to the 48HOURS 2011 Discussion Forum. There are a good number of regular participants as well as the organisers on these forums, so you will be able to get quick, accurate answers.

For details on the new file submission requirements, please visit the Technical FAQ page.

Contents

Before the Weekend

During the Weekend

After the Weekend

Before the Weekend

School Teams 2-for-1 Deal

As school entries get a Two-for-one Deal, you must select the School Team Box and pay full registration price to get your second entry free. This will be sent to your email as a Discount Code- enter this code in the Discount Code Box when you register the second Team,.

Preparation

Only work to begin prior to the official start time is: Paperwork, Organising Crew and Cast, Securing Equipment, Scouting/securing Locations, Sourcing music, Creating Team Logo and your 30s team introduction.

Out of Town Entries.

If you cannot compete in one of the official regions, you can compete as an out of town team. We would really like you to have one person representing your team at the heats, but this is not necessary.

You must have a JP organised to sign your submission prior to the launch date. Make sure you ask them if you may go and have your entry notarised up to 7PM on Sunday NZ TIME.

Please get them to write in a BLACK vivid marker the exact time you handed it in on the Sunday, and seal the envelope with their stamp or signature (vivid marker). You must send your submission by courier on the Monday to your City. Email your city manager so they can book you into a heat.

Supporting Our Sponsors

We love our sponsors who support us unconditionally. Without them we wouldn't exist so we like to keep em happy. What we don't like is piggybacking companies that want exposure within the films but won't come onboard as an official sponsor. These companies are what we call parasitic cinemalice.

We are completely happy for you to pull any deal you need to make your film, all we ask is that it's not from a company in direct competition with one of our sponsors.

If you need to have a product visible, you can always create a bogus one, which is sometimes more fun. Ultimately this is about supporting the event and you the filmmakers in regards to prizes and merchandise.

The Cast and Crew

All cast and crew must be volunteers. You are allowed to use professionals, but you are not allowed to pay them for it.

Hard to enforce but please keep in the spirit of the competition. Word gets around.

Feed them well and give them hugs. Don't stress out and make it hell for your cast and crew, they can turn on you like a croc with a toothache. Egos should be locked in closets before leaving home.

Rules

Read the rules again prior to the competition weekend, and make sure you know what you can and can't put in your short.

Have fun, however keep in mind that the organisers reserve the right to not screen any film that cannot be screened on Free-To-Air Television. Check out the Classification area under Help.

30s Team Introduction

Starting in 2011, all teams are required to provide a 30 second team introduction with their handed in short. This introduction will be screened at the heats.

You are allowed, and encouraged to shoot this introduction prior to the weekend. It doesn't need to be all your team members, it can just be one member, or even a still photo of a cow with a voice over. Preferably not mooing.

Equipment

Any type of video or film camera may be used. There is no limit to the number of cameras that can be used. And any format for shooting is acceptable, (HD, 35mm, super8, pixelvision, PXT etc) as long as the finished film is submitted in a supported format.

During the Weekend

The Start Line

Each participating group may have only two (2) representatives at the V48HOURS kickoff event. (If you are Out of Town then you don't have to be there - but remind your City Manager now via email). You will not be allowed out until 7pm.

Please check your City Info for details on when you must arrive by. Each city handles this differently due to the large variation in number of teams.

ANY CELL PHONE USE DURING THIS TIME WILL RESULT IN INSTANT DISQUALIFICATION.

Smaller cities may allow more team members at the launch, so please check your City Info to make sure how many people are allowed at the launch and finish.

At the start line all teams will be assigned their random Genre, and will be given the required components - typically a character name and trait, line of dialog and prop. 2010 also included a required camera shot, though there is no guarantee this will be included again. Keep your mind open, as there may be a surprise.

Genres

Each group's film must be in the genre it is given. The list of final genres won't be known until the drawing on the Friday of the shoot. There may be new genres specifically created to thwart those who think they can plan too far ahead.

Here are some examples that may or may not be included: Road Movie, Thriller, Romance, Horror, Political, Sequel, Educational, Religious, Action/Adventure. Don't know what a genre is? Look up Wikipedia and get schooled. Nailing your genre is crucial.

Required Elements

Your short must contain all the required elements as supplied.

This means exactly as supplied. For example, if the required line of dialog is "When you look at it that way", you cannot say "If you look at it this way". If you do, you will be disqualified.

Be careful not to cut out a scene containing one or more of the required elements to make your short fit the 7 minute duration. This has happened, and will undoubtedly happen again.

Your film MUST include the final closing credit: This film was made as part of V48HOURS 2011

Footage

All footage must be shot within the 48 hour time period of the project. In a past year, a fantastic short was disqualified because of this rule. Now known as the Del Sur Rule.

You cannot use old footage shot unless you fall under the below exceptions. Also, make sure TVs and radios aren't on in the background and if they are either blur the footage or have them playing something you've shot in the weekend or any of the above.

Music

Participating groups are encouraged to work with local composer and/or musicians to write and record music for the films. We realise that this may be difficult to achieve in 48 hours. Therefore, it is permissible for a participating group to use pre-recorded music, however the participating group must have the rights to any music used in its film.

If you're not using tracks from any labels participating in V48HOURS then you'll need releases for all the music/songs in your short. This is very important; otherwise the short is not eligible for future screenings and all prizes. The downloadable PDF Release form covers talent, music and locations. Royalty free music is acceptable. You can use a song/music from a friends band as long as you have them sign a release.

Pre-recorded, public domain Sound Effects are ok.

Sound and Visual FX

Video and Sound Effects are okay in the competition. However, full screen stock footage is not. Note any effects you use must be public domain or royalty free. If you're not sure of the license for a particular effect, don't use it.

This means you can use pre-keyed VFX like muzzle flash, blood splatter, smoke etc as long as it's a small part of the frame, and not very long.

But seconds of stock footage is NOT THE SAME as a 12 frame muzzle flash. You cannot use full frame stock footage at all.

We're not expecting people to create readily available VFX like blood squirts, but if your short requires something on a TV in the background of a shot, YOU MUST SHOOT IT YOURSELF DURING THE WEEKEND.

If you include live TV or Radio in your short, you WILL be disqualified.

Animation

The same rules for live action apply for all forms of animation (Cell, CG, Stop-Motion).

You can pre-build your characters, backgrounds and sets, just as you would secure actors and locations. Though we must state that 2009's National Winners Team Line Men did everything (design of characters, backgrounds, and animate) in 48 hours.

Others have also created everything from scratch in 48 hours, however there's a big difference between traditional stop-motion, cell and creating animation using Flash and other assisted software.

So we're being more lenient in 2011 to make it fairer and to give animators in other mediums a chance to take part and compete in V48HOURS. You obviously cannot animate one frame before Friday 7pm of the shoot weekend.

If we see or hear of any old animation you've previously done being used this year then you will be disqualified.

Duration of Short

We allow anything between 1-7 minutes including a maximum of 60s of credits. So if your credits are 60s, your short can be no longer than 6 mins.

You can also create a nifty company logo prior to the shoot weekend. It doesn't count as running time but please don't make it any longer than 10s.

The total make up of your handed in short must be:

  • Team intro - 30 Seconds or Less
  • Info Card - Team, Title, Genre, City - White on Black 10 Seconds
  • (optional) Team Logo - 10 Seconds max
  • Short Film - Between 1 minute and 7 minutes max, including credits.
  • Plain Black - At least 5 seconds

Hand in Formats

Shorts can be handed in in two formats: File or MiniDV. File based delivery is new for 2011, and is the preferred format.

Please see the Technical FAQ for details on the formats required for submission.

Release Forms

You must get signed release forms for all actors, location and music used in your films. Typically, we do not require releases for public spaces.

If you're unsure whether or not you need a release form, you probably do, so you should get one. The rule of thumb is if you can make out a person in the background of a shot then you should try to get a release from them.

These forms can be completed prior to the weekend.

Once you have all the completed forms, you will need to hold on to them. You do NOT need to hand them in with your short, but if your short makes it to the finals, TV show or DVD, you may be asked for the forms. If you cannot provide them, you may be disqualified.

We do not require permits, though the city may technically require permits for certain obvious areas. So please talk to your city Council in your area if you are unsure, they are there to help. If you have to break in somewhere, chances are its off limits.

Online Wrap-Up

You must complete your online wrap-up form during the weekend.

If you do not complete this before 7pm Sunday, you will be disqualified.

Handing in Your Short

All shorts must be in an A5 envelope.

Every year we get handed a dogs dinner at the finish line. And it's completely understandable, your mind is mush at the end of 48 hours. But here's how we're going to fix it. Assign one person whose only job in the entire 48 hours is to do the following: Buy an A5 envelope. That's A5 not A4 or A2.

On the envelope you must write:

  • Team name
  • Short film title
  • Genre

Put your short in it and then seal it. Tapes have gone missing and teams have missed out because of non-labeling tapes and no envelopes. No envelope means no movie handed in.

If you can write this same information on your USB drive, it's a good idea to do that.

File Submission Problems

Electronic devices can be finicky. We know this, so we are providing a solution in case you experience issues with your USB drive that prevents us from playing your film after you've handed it in.

You have the option of adding a checksum of your file to the online wrap-up form. If you provide this, and we can't read your file, we may ask for a re-delivery of the file. If the file you supply after the weekend has a checksum that matches the one supplied on the online wrap-up form, the re-delivery will be accepted.

See the Technical FAQ for more information on this, including how to supply it to us.

This does not mean we will accept late hand-ins, even if you have completed the online wrap-up form. You still need to get to the finish line on time.

Deadlines

The 2011 competition will occur between Friday 7pm 20th May and Sunday 22nd May at 7pm NZ TIME EXACTLY.

All participating teams must complete their film/video work in time to deliver it to the location for their city (see City Info) by 7pm Sunday.

Please note: 7pm is a solid deadline. A countdown clock will be available to view on the website, the NZ official time is available online and at the Venue, down to the second.

Sunday 7pm MEANS Sunday 7pm not Sunday 7:03pm - no excuses. You snooze you lose. Unfortunately one second late is too late, and every year teams are caught out by red lights, stop signs, and slow Sunday drivers.

Late Films

Films received on Sunday after 7pm will be screened at the heats, but are not eligible for any audience awards or entry into the Finals.

To get your ineligible film screened you MUST hand something in BEFORE Sunday 9:00pm (please check Your City Info for local variations). After that, you'll just have some interesting home movies to cherish alone.

Late films are NOT eligible for the Audience Award, and cannot be entered into the city or national finals.

So what we're saying is this DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT be late.

Weekend Check List

  • Finish Wrap Up Form Online.
  • Get signed release forms for all talent/location/music in your finished short.
  • Write your team/short details on an A5 envelope.
  • Put your finished short into the envelope.
  • Get to the finish line by 7pm.

After the Weekend

Sneaky Screenings

Another unbreakable rule. Your short cannot be screened prior to your heat.

So if you even show your cast and crew the film will have to be disqualified. And we will find out. Loose lips sinks ships. And much as you want to, as Team Leader you must insist your team waits a day or two. Again, this is for the benefit of you the filmmakers and the event.

Attending the Heats

The heats are free at great cost to the event. If you do not turn up its like rubbing our noses in it. I do not care if you think your film is the worst thing ever made because guess what? It won't be, and it'll be fun to see it on the big screen warts an all. Those who have made a good film and don't bother turning up? Well that may count against you when judging comes along. Get those medical certs ready.

Public Sharing (YouTube etc)

You MUST NOT upload your recorded short to any public video sharing network (such as YouTube or Vimeo) until:

  • After the national finalists are announced if you are not a national finalist.
  • After the winner is announce if you are a national finalist.

(TBC)

Note a change of rules in 2011 means that shorts that are not city finalists may be in the national finals, so you need to be careful when you share your video.

We would appreciate if you added your video to the Screening Room once you've uploaded it to YouTube or Vimeo.

Cheating

Any team found to have cheated in some way will be disqualified from any award and screening. Now and in the Future. Please keep the spirit of the competition in the back of your mind throughout the process. And keep in mind how vindictive and small NZ is! You're supposed to be having fun, not trying to screw the system.

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