Why Have Guidelines?

We are often asked this question with ScreenLabs Challenge. 

The purpose of the ScreenLabs Challenge is to inspire screenwriters and filmmakers to create new work in 2008. Thus, the rules specifiy that new films be created for the Challenge on the theme of "unrequited love: agony; bliss" We do not want the participants to submit short works that were created and completed before the Challenge began.

However, we also do not wish to inhibit or restrain your creativity in using archival materials or footage. For instance, if a filmmaker has or acquires some super 8mm footage from the 1960s of chidren playing in a park and that could be a flashback in the mind of the main character, we don't want to restrict that maker from using it provided they follow the rules of 4 characters, 4 locations (one them being the Witches Hat Water Tower), uses the theme of "unrequitted love." and is not longer than 12 minutes. If your short film fits within these basic guidelines, we do not care if you began writing, planning or if you shot footage prior to the registration date. 

Of course, the purpose of "the Challenge" is to provide a framework to inspire writers and filmmakers to make new moving picture stories and keep them working. We do not want filmmakers or writers to pull a past work from five or ten years ago out of their cabinet, add a few scenes (at the Witches Hat Water Tower for instance) or re-edit a longer piece to get inside the 12-minute limit and then submit it for the challenge. 

Most importantly, the guidelines are meant to provide a level playing field for the writes and filmmakers to approach this competition. By restricting the numbers of character and locations we cut down on the expense of making the short film, cut down on the number of days it takes to shoot, eliminates some of the chances for error (for instance if crew or cast fail to show up on location) and removes some of the pressure so that you can achieve more with the effort made necessary to tell the story. Eliminating physical and practical complexities can free your expression and make low-budget and no-budget filmmaking possible.