Area filmmakers are being encouraged to scare the pants off their competition.
Fright Film Competition organizers are looking for Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky filmmakers to make short (13 minutes or less) horror films over the next two months.
The competition starts Tuesday, Aug. 13, with a kick-off party 7-8 p.m. at Slatts restaurant, 4858 Cooper Road, Blue Ash.
It's modeled after Cincinnati's 48 Hour Film Project, except filmmakers have two months instead of two days to produce a short movie.
"This is not a weekend production. Filmmaking begins Aug. 13 and ends Oct. 13," says Jim Timmerman, who organized the contest with Jeff Winkelman and Bill Anderson. "You will have two months to write, produce and edit your scary film. That is time enough to create an award-winning film (video)."
The Fright Film Competition site provides information on how people can volunteer as actors or crew (or both).
"Most productions shoot on about three days, and how much you might be involved depends on your role," the website says.
Producers need assistant directors, assistant camera operators, grips, sound boom operators, script supervisors and production assistants, the site says.
All entries must "fit the horror genre," but may include mixed genres such as horror/comedy or horror/science fiction. The 13-minute maximum includes opening and closing credits. There is no minimum length.
"All production of the film must take place in the two-month period, including casting, rehearsal, set design, animation… No footage may be recorded outside of the scheduled competition time period," the site says.
However, producers are allowed to create scripts and scout locations before Aug. 13.
Awards will be presented for best film, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, screenplay, cinematography, sound design, editing, original music and makeup/wardrobe and the Audience Choice.
Timmerman opened a production company after working 25 years at WCPO-TV, and owns part of a mobile satellite uplink truck company. Winkelman, a video editor, has worked on more than 30 short films and won the 2018 48 Hour Film Project competition. Anderson has written, produced, directed, photographed and edited video and films for more than three decades. His work has been honored by the New York Film and Television Festival, the USA Film Festival and other competitions.
