Digital Womens Network

Budding film makers are invited to submit a 60 second short film based on the theme 'Celebrate' - you could see your work screened by the BBC and win tickets to the BAFTA awards!

The deadline for entries is 4 January 2007. Check out tips for film making from DWN members - and good luck!

This new BAFTA competition and is open to anyone aged 16 or over - it's been introduced to reflect BAFTA's 60th birthday and Orange's 10 year partnership with the Academy.

60 Seconds of Fame aims to give the general public the tools and 'know how' to create their own 60 second short.  To help filmmakers achieve the right look, editing software, soundtracks and guidance can be found on www.orange.co.uk/bafta. Respected British directors Ken Russell and Martha Fiennes, along with newcomer Julia Jason will create exclusive 60 second films for the initiative.

It's easy to enter by uploading a film online at www.orange.co.uk/bafta. 

It  has the support of BBC Nations and Regions and Northern Film and Media.  Shortlisted films will be shown by each BBC Region and, following a public vote, one winner from each area will win two tickets to The Orange British Academy Film Awards in 2007.  The overall winner will be announced and have their film featured as part of the BBC One broadcast of the ceremony. 

"Camera Action" Tips for a 60 second video

When we do our 'Camera Action' courses with young people, these are some of the basic guidelines we always share:

· Every story has a beginning middle and an end and so does each scene.  We advise filmmakers when developing their sixty second films to picture a scene - then they find it easier to create something manageable from the start. 
· To illustrate this, and other aspects of filmmaking such as framing and different shots,  we show them scenes from feature and short films.
· It also helps to give some limitations - this can encourage creativity. For example, agree a title or some must-have ingredients: this might be that there must be a close up, or a point-of-view shot within the piece.
· We tend to advise there should be a twist at the end
· We spend a lot of time on the storyboarding phase and then ask the group to turn this into a shot list
· It often helps if each person is assigned a role within their 'production team'

Within a couple of hours, the group have made their sixty second film. The tips work!

Advice from Julie Nicholson, DWN member who runs "Camera Action" courses with groups of young people around the North East.

Contact: Julie Nicholson This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Your Most Important Work is Before You Pick Up the Camera !

One of the biggest mistakes made - by people of all ages! - is to rush into shooting pictures. It's tempting but it can waste a lot of time and camera tape. And your story may be weaker than it needs to be.

Start by spending time deciding what story you want to tell.

Try to sum it up in one or two sentences.

Try to draw out on a big piece of paper or a blackboard what your initial images and sound might be…what the ending might be…and key stages inbetween. For a sixty second video, you need a very tight storyboard which gives the viewer the chance to take in the information that you're providing and keep up with you to the end.

You don't need to tell your story with words or voiceover. It might be told by strong pictures and sound effects. It might be someone holding up captions they've written. There are many great ways to tell a story - but first of all be sure what it is.

Then imagine who your audience is. Is it one of your mates? Is it your aunt or uncle? Is it a stranger you've met on the bus?  Then ask yourself a tough question: how will you make sure they are gripped by your story? Look at it through their eyes and hear it through their ears.

Storytelling is a wonderful skill. It goes back into the mists of time. You are probably already very good at it. A sixty second video is another way to tell your stories.

Enjoy your projects! - Olwyn Hocking