Here’s a couple of interesting looking contests to get you into gear in the new year… Not entered them myself and doubt I will have time for the first one (I’m not eligible for the second), but they seem pretty good opportunities. As ever, keep us posted if you enter and tell us how you get on!
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PATRICIA CORNWELL “BOOK OF THE DEAD” COMPETITION

How to Enter:

Always thought you could do better than those highly-paid advertising executives?Now’s your chance to create a TV advert for number one crime writer Patricia Cornwell’s Book of the Dead.

One of the bestselling fiction titles of 2007, the paperback of Book of the Dead will be published in April 2008 and promises to be one of the biggest launches of the year.

What you have to do:

EITHER

Submit a 20 second short film advert promoting Patricia Cornwell’s ‘Book of the Dead’. Please read everything in the pack before you start filming.

OR

Submit a script or storyboard for a 20 second TV ad promoting Patricia Cornwell’s ‘Book of the Dead’. Please read everything in the pack before you start.

ALL ENTRANTS: once you have completed your entry, go to ‘Enter’ to register your details and upload your work to the site.

Prizes

EITHER

If a short film is selected the winner will receive £2,500.
If a script or storyboard is selected the winning entry will be filmed and produced.

Subject to our discretion, the winning entry may also be broadcast on national television in association with Channel FIVE.

Judging: A panel of judges from Little, Brown Book Group, Channel FIVE and HYPtv will shortlist three short film entries, and three script/storyboard entries. Patricia Cornwell will select a final winner from the shortlist.

The shortlist will be announced on Monday 10th March.

The final winner will be announced Monday 16th March.

Mandatory:

Your submission must be relevant to Book of the Dead.
Your submission must include a product shot (this is included in your competition kit) for a minimum of 5 seconds .
Your submission must be suitable to be shown on national television at a time to suit young family members.

Click here for full details, example submissions and to download application packs.

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B3 FEATURELAB

B3 seeks to redefine the notion of ‘British Cinema’ and is looking for the next distinctive British feature film.

So we’ve created a partnership between B3 Media, Film4, the Binger Filmlab and Skillset. We aim to fast forward the filmmaking process for people who are ready to make the leap to a full-length feature film for commercial release. Not everyone will get that far but we’ll help you give it your best shot.

We’re looking for writers, directors or writer/director teams, from black and minority ethnic backgrounds currently under-represented in film and TV. We’re also looking for talent from radio, TV, theatre and visual arts. If you understand the building blocks of drama and narrative and have something different to say, then we want to hear from you.

If you submit your idea, we’ll choose the ones to get hands-on support from some of the best film professionals around. Whether it’s script development, production, marketing or distribution, we’ll be covering all aspects of getting a feature film from idea to TV or the big screen.

But you’ll need to be quick. The deadline for applications is Monday 4 February 2008.

Find out more about our FeatureLab here.

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GOOD LUCK!