Welcome to YouTube Project Direct: a film challenge for directors with something to say. Direct an original film using specific elements outlined by award-winning filmmaker, Jason Reitman, and you could get the exposure you need to turn your craft into a career.If you win, you’re going to a major international film festival where you’ll attend surprise industry events, meet with executives from Fox Searchlight Pictures, and show your film at a private event.
The task: to create a two-to-seven minute film in which “[a] character . . . must face a situation above his or her maturity level.” Also, according to YouTube’s press release, “[e]ach film must include the line ‘I demand an explanation for these shenanigans. What do you have to say?’”Finally, “[a] character must pass a photograph to someone else.” The first requirements may just be there to provide some flavor; the last one is likely due to Hewlett-Packard’s involvement.
If you are a resident of the United States, Brazil, Canada, France, Italy, Spain or the United Kingdom and are legally considered an adult in your country of residence, you are eligible to enter Project Direct.
Following the submissions process, Jason Reitman, the writer and director behind “Thank You For Smoking,” will review the films and (along with a panel of judges) select 20 finalists. The YouTube community can then vote for the overall winner.
Judges will review your videos based on the following criteria:
Creativity and Originality (up to 25 points)
Screenplay and Actor Performances (up to 25 points)
Technical Execution: Camera/Sound/Lighting/Editing (up to 25 points)
Overall Impression (up to 25 points)
And here’s where we get to the good stuff. YouTube states, “The winner . . . will spend nine days as a guest of Hewlett-Packard at a top international Film Festival where they will attend special events, including a meeting with Fox Searchlight production executives. The winner will also receive a $5,000 debit card and have their video played on the YouTube homepage in seven countries.”
Our second place winner gets a $5000 debit card and our third place winner gets a $2500 debit card.
