straight 8 2019 Deadline Approaches
straight 8 - the one super 8 cartridge no editing film challenge - has places remaining for its 2019 charity shootout format for all creative companies around the globe.
Confirmed companies so far include a mixture of previous competitors and others new to straight 8. Iris Worldwide, London (Gold Winner 2018); The Producers, Melbourne (Silver Winner 2018); Taiyo Kikaku, Tokyo (Gold Winner Shootout Online, Dec 2018); Rattling Stick, London; Partizan, London; Society, Los Angeles; Forever, London; British Arrows Doorways, London (part of British Arrows).
Make your in-camera-edited super 8 film by May 31st and see it with everyone else, for the first time, in Cannes on June 20th 11am.
Companies are invited to rise to the straight 8 shootout challenge: make a 2.5 minute short film created entirely in-camera on just one cartridge of super 8mm film. Every shot is taken in story order, with no opportunity for re-takes or editing. Any visual effects, colouring and titling must be done the old-fashioned way: as part of the shoot, with the camera. Super 8 doesn’t record sound, so soundtracks are made ‘blind’ and must be original. Entrants send their exposed but un-developed film cartridges to straight 8 partners Cinelab London who process and scan the films. straight 8 then lines up each soundtrack with the first frame of each film.
This year a special 21st entry is being donated by straight 8 to British Arrows Doorways which finds and engages with young people from all backgrounds and connects them with the advertising industry, so be careful who you’re up against.
straight 8 is celebrating its 20th birthday this year. Since launching shootout in 2016 with APA London, its success has been proven at Cannes, Ciclope and Adfest and most recently the first straight 8 shootout online with a live online premiere broadcast where entering companies in USA, Canada, Argentina, London, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Tokyo saw their work at 2pm GMT, which was 6am PST and 11pm in Tokyo. Many top companies from around the world have now risen to straight 8’s shootout challenge. See some of the companies who’ve entered and some of the charities who’ve benefited to date here. Tickets are already available here.
A welcome breakfast for entering teams and ticket-holders will be held from 10am at the cinema - hosted by Madam Films, a long time supporter and first time sponsor of straight 8 shootout.
And in partnership with charity cycle ride The FireFlies Tour, £5 from every ticket sold for the premiere will go towards their fundraising for Bloodwise.
Ed Sayers, straight 8 founder, comments: “We’re so excited to be launching shootout this year after a year of new events in new parts of the world. Last year’s shootout at Cannes sold out all 20 places in 24 hours. Everyone who came to the Cannes screening remarked on the jump in quality of work. We’re expecting to see more demand when we open up the 20 spots to the registered companies - AND more insane creative effort than ever by the successful entrants! We’re actively looking not just at the ad industry but to any company that calls itself creative - so if that’s yours, how about it?”
Asif Kapadia, Academy, BAFTA & Grammy Award winning writer-director (Amy, Senna, The Warrior), and jury member for straight 8’s annual open competition since 2016, said: "I started shooting on Super 8 and 16mm. Film is precious. With no video assist you trust your instincts. This is what I love about straight 8, the magic of cinema in its purest form."
Adrian Bull, managing director, Cinelab London, comments: “We process hundreds of films each year, from 70mm down to super 8, with recent films including Mission Impossible and Wonder Woman 1984, and yet still one of the most exciting projects we are involved with is straight 8. The sheer creativity that entrants manage to pack into each reel of super 8 film is amazing, and that’s why we support it.”
Jimmy Lam, president, Adfest, said: “It’s a fucking stupid way to make a film, but I love it.”
