Home About Us Join or Give Current Campaigns Educational Resources Victories

Green Screen Student Film Contest

Film Contest

East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC) is proud to announce its Third ANNUAL student short film contest, which is open to all high schools, middle schools and youth organizations. The short film and video competition welcomes students to submit films that focus on environmental issues in their community.

We invite you to participate in the Film Festival.  This is an excellent independent project or as a project for a film, environmental or science class.  A flyer with all the details to enter the festival is enclosed.  Please feel free to contact EMEAC with any questions about the festival or if you would like to have someone come to your class to talk about the festival. Winners will be announced and presented prizes during the Annual Event June 4th 2009 at the MAIN ART THEATER in Royal Oak!!

If you plan to enter please email lottie@emeac.org

What will the judges be looking for?

Judges Rubric

Guidelines:

  1. Films may be up to 5 minutes in length.
  2. Film must be about an environmental issue facing your community, city or county.
  3. Topics may include but not limited to;
    1. Environmental health
    2. Alternative energy
    3. School bus emissions
    4. Urban sprawl
    5. Brownfields
    6. Recycling
    7. Climate change
    8. Stream and wetland protection
    9. Trash/ recycling
  4. Film must be suitable and appropriate for an audience of all ages. Films that promote violence will not be accepted.
  5. There are no restrictions on the art form of your film. Films may be live action, animation, claymation, still photography or any combination.
  6. Entry must be in Mini DV or Quick Time movie file on a DVD (other formats or VHS may be accepted but you need to call the EMEAC office in advanced and submit project 2 weeks before deadline).
  7. Entry must be labeled with film, title, filmmaker's name, e-mail and phone number.
  8. Participants must fill out and return an application form.

Prizes:

  The first prize short film will receive a $200 cash prize, and an internship to go on location with a local film director, Diane Cheklich, and receive expert advice on their film and on being a film director!!

These films may be used as educational tools for future environmental education presentations. 

Deadline:

Final film submissions must be received at the address below by May 1st, 2009, 5:00 PM.

If you are interested please fill out and mail the form below:

EMEAC
c/o Green Screens Contest
3901 Margareta Street
Detroit Mi 48221

For more information contact:

Lottie Spady
E-mail: lottie@emeac.org
Phone: (248) 258-5188

Participant Contact Information Form

Participant Application Form

Organization's or School's Name:______________________________________________

Film Name:_____________________________________________________________

Topic covered in film:______________________________________________________

Participant 1 name:_________________________________________  Age:__________

Participant 2 name:_________________________________________  Age:__________

Participant 3 name:_________________________________________  Age:__________

Participant 4 name:_________________________________________  Age:__________

Adult Advisor Name(s):____________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

E-mail address:___________________________________________________________

Phone number:___________________________________________________________

 

By signing below, you acknowledge that the film you are submitting is yours and violates no copyrights, and by submitting you give permission for your film to be used in whole or part for educational purpose by East Michigan Environmental Action Council (If there are more than four filmmakers submitting this entry, please attach a sheet to this application with their names and signatures )

 

Participant 1 Signature:________________________________ Date:________________

Participant 2 Signature:________________________________ Date:________________

Participant 3 Signature:________________________________ Date:________________

Participant 4 Signature:________________________________ Date:________________

Download these details as a Microsoft Word document...

 

Film Ideas and Format:

There are many great websites with short environmental films that you can view. Check out some of our favorites:
  • Media that Matters - for short film ideas. We HIGHLY recommend watching these environmental shorts before you start on your film project. For some Michigan flavor watch, "How Walmart came to Haslett" - a short and personal story on development's impact on wetlands in Michigan.

  • Examples: EMEAC has a few DVD ’s with example from last year's film festival and with films from Media that Matters available for viewing.  Remember to keep the concept simple.  Below we have listed a few styles that could be used to make your short film.  Usually the shorter the film and simpler the message -- the greater the impact.  These are just suggestions; the content and environmental theme is completely up to you!  The films below refer to the recommended short films from Media that Matters.

    * Presentation – The beginning of Water Warriors has a picture of the Detroit River.  Over the first picture are the words, ‘what if you lived next to the world’s largest body of fresh water’, the words over the second, ‘and you could no longer afford the water’.  Lean on Me uses just a few photos and a short narrative to tell a powerful story about how a few youth made a big difference.

    * Documentary – Asparagus and Water Warriors are good example of a documentary.  A documentary is a film or TV program presenting the facts about an event, person, or situation.

    * Project – A film could be made about an environmental project a school or after school group is doing.  Maybe it’s recycling in the school and why some students help or a garden on school ground (like Young Agrarians).

    * Public Service Announcement or Commercial – Public Service Announcements are non-commercial advertisements that are broadcast for the public good. A recently successful PSA is the Truth anti-cigarette commercials.  Here are some tips on making a PSA effective. (1) Command audience attention with human interest or humor. (2) Let the viewer know how to take responsibility. (3) Make every second count. (4) Engage the viewer’s emotions. (5) Make the point 2 or 3 times. (6) Call for action.

    * Interview – By interviewing different people (maybe with opposing viewpoints) a message can be put together.  An example of this is the Book ‘Em – about the school to prison pipeline short film.  Another interview film is Asparagus – about a small farmer in Michigan.

    *Music, rap or poetry – Put your ideas into a song or poem and make a short movie out of performing the piece.

    * Puppet show – Use shadow puppets, hand, string, sock, action figures, and potato heads - whatever kind of puppets you can think of to put on a short skit.

    -------------

    Listed below are the films from Media that Matters.  All of these films can be found and viewed by clicking on the film name or from their website: http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/.  On the right side in the middle of page is a column for films by issues.  These films may be found under the ‘environment’ category.

    Water Warriors
    When water costs soar, residents of Highland Park, Michigan demand to know who will foot the bill.

    How Wal*Mart came to Haslett
    Michigan youth investigate the dubious circumstances under which a Wal-Mart appeared on a wetland in their small town.

    Asparagus! (A Stalk-umentary)
    Journey to the “Asparagus Capital of the World” (just so happens to be in Michigan) to discover why one little vegetable is so important.

    Young Agrarians
    Young people plant the seeds for a sustainable future in this portrait of organic farming in California.

    Food for Thought
    Baltimore youth love to eat their fruits and vegetables.

    Inch by Inch: Providence Youth Gardens for Change
    Teachers and students in Providence, Rhode Island get their hands dirty and their lives enriched.

    Lean on Me
    When the mayor's office says "no" a group of kids find a safe place to play basketball.

    Neglected Sky

    In this fast-paced animation, youth producer John Cooney shows us that a little effort can go a long way in reversing global warming.