2009 Fantasy Filmmaker Draft Rules

Five Teams will each complete a 5-8 minute short film, with 4 Characters used to tie the scenes together.

January 7, 2009
Participants will list different positions they wish to be eligible in.

On 1/7/09, Five Team Captains/Producers will be randomly drawn from the list of Participants. The order in which names are pulled will be the Draft Order.

Captain A will select either a Director or Writer with Pick One. Followed by Captain B, etc.

Captain E will pick twice in a row. This is a Snaking draft. (A, B, C, D, E, E, D, C, B, A)

Following all drafts, trades are allowed, pending the approval of the other Captains and The Draft Commissioner (IFC President).

All Captains, Directors, and Writers must be current IFC members.

WRITERS RULES:
Following the Draft, Writer A has 7 days to write approx 5-7 minutes worth of a script. The following Wednesday, Writer A will give a copy of the completed script to Writer B. Writer B may choose to continue writing the scene written by Writer A or may choose to take the story in a completely different direction. Each Writer will have 7 days. Writer E will complete on 2/11/09, the day of the Actor/Crew Draft.

Each script must include Two Male and Two Female Primary Characters (PCs). Each of these PCs will be identified by a color in their clothing. Their names will be: ________ Black, __________ White, ________ Grey, _________ Brown. Writer A will determine the name/sex of these four characters and this cannot be changed.

The four characters will be cast with different actors in each scene. Extras with speaking roles may be used. Extras with speaking roles can be asked to return in subsequent shorts, if Writer likes the character; however the four Primary Characters must be in each short.

Writers must make some sort of attempt to transition from Script to Script. Example: If the PCs are in a Diner, they must be in a Diner at the beginning of the scene, but the Writer has free liberty to beam them into a space ship upon exiting the Diner.

NOTE: In order to avoid teams with completed scripts several weeks of pre-production while the other teams write, Writers are forbidden to discuss any aspect of the script, or show the script to anyone other than the next Writer. Writers are also forbidden to discuss what the other Writers have done. Example: Writer B cannot tell Writer C what Writer A did.

It is the responsibility of the previous Writer to contact and hand off the script to the following Writer. The IFC will provide email and contact information if needed. Please include a copy/CC for the IFC’s records.

February 11, 2009
Following the completion of Writer E’s script, all Producer/Director/Writer teams may meet up the night of the IFC meeting on 2/11/09 and discuss the script and who they want on their team.

A random drawing will determine the Draft Order (snaking draft).

Teams will choose:
2 Female Actors
2 Male Actors
Director of Photography
Editor
Crew (composed of people not selected in previous rounds)
This includes, but is not limited to, Extras, Production Assistants, Script Supervisor, etc.

Once a person is taken in the draft, they are ineligible to be drafted for another team in another position. The exception to this rule is crew. If a Participant so chooses, he/she may work on several different scenes during shooting. But they are forbidden from discussing other Team’s progress.

Following the draft, Teams are free to shoot whenever they like, likely utilizing the upcoming weekend. Writers may tweak the script once production is underway, but the basic story and actions must remain true to what the Writer submitted.

DIRECTOR/DP RULE: While many Directors often shoot their own footage, this is discouraged for this event. The Director and DP may work closely together, but job titles should be respected.

Teams will turn in completed scenes at a date determined by the IFC Board. The IFC will compile the five programs and assemble into one short.

Shooting/Editing Requests:
Please shoot your short in 16:9.
Upon completion, please export the finished scene as an MPG-2 on a Data DVD, to allow for easy assembly.

The Fantasy Filmmaker Project will screen on Saturday, February 21st at the Just Off Broadway Theatre.

 

Entry Fees:
To be eligible for the Draft, Participants must fill out a form, indicating the positions they wish to be drafted. There is a one-time $5 Draft Fee for IFC members, $10 for non-members.

TIMELINE:
1/07/09: Producer/Director/Writer Draft
1/08/09: Writer A starts Scene 1
1/14/09: Writer A hands Scene 1 to Writer B
1/21/09: Writer B hands Scene 2 to Writer C
1/28/09: Writer C hands Scene 3 to Writer D
2/04/09: Writer D hands Scene 4 to Writer E
2/11/09: Writer E Deadline
Producer/Director/Writer meets for the first time to discuss script
Actor/DP/Editor/Crew Draft
2/12/09: Production of Scenes begins
2/18/09-2/20/09: (Exact Date TBD) IFC deadline to receive MPG-2 on Data DVD
2/21/09: Completed Project screens at the Just Off Broadway Theatre

To download the rules click here