San Diego UnderSea Film Festival

[sharksdelight]

Well folks, its that time of year again so finish that almost complete project and get those films in.
San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition

If you make underwater films and no one ever sees them,
how do you share your visions of this our Ocean Planet.


Submit you’re films to the San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition, and make a difference.

This is a call for entries for the 7th Annual San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition, scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings, October 20 & 21, 2006 at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.

Here is your chance to see your work in a large-format, state-of-the art, digital theater, and to share your adventures with others.

Each evening will feature a different program consisting of 14 to 16 short underwater films from locations all over the world.

Entry Guidelines:
* Submission deadline is August 15, 2006.
* We are accepting only mini-DV NTSC tapes.
* No film should be longer than five minutes max and at least 50% of the footage must be underwater.
* Please ensure that you have all rights, to any media that is used in your film(s) (music, visual footage,
personal, copyright, or any other legal right.
* Please leave a 10-15 sec. blank leader at the beginning of your submissions. More than one film
may be entered on a tape.
* To have your tapes returned after the Film Exhibition, please include a proper sized, self-addressed,
stamped envelope with proper postage.

* Please include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, film’s name and length,
and a brief bio with your film submission(s).

* Send your submissions to: The San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition
c/o Bob Gladden
10339 Thanksgiving Ln.
San Diego, CA 92126.

Filmmakers whose films are selected are encouraged to come to the show and introduce their film(s) in person on the night of the show.

The San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition reserves the right to use the films for the promotion of this event. All rights will remain with the owners of the films.

If you have any questions please contact either Bob Gladden at (858) 695-0264, ovisions@san.rr.com; or Steve Douglas at: (619) 464-4505, steve-sharksdelight@cox.net.

 

[drbill]

How much can you really get across in such a "short subject" format? Mine are all 30 min or longer. Why don't you have a category for "underwater epics?"

I do look forward to attending the event this year if at all possible!

 

[sharksdelight]

Its a good and fair question. This is a non sponsored, non profit annual event. We have to rent this beautiful theater as well as pay insurance which is sizeable. The show lasts 2 hours, if the films were all 30min or longer, then we would get to see about 4 films. This is supposed to be a showcase for videographers around the world and thus we limit, as do most all underwater festivals, the film to 5 min. I find that some folk do a much better job when they clean up their films by removing unnecessary or poorly shot clips simply because they fell in love with their own stuff. It is not hard to tell a story in 5 minutes, just more challanging. This is our 7th year and is an act of love. Our organizing committee consists of 6 people who do all the work just to make for a successful show. We must be doing something right as we sell out every year. Not many get to see their stuff on a large screen projected from a state of the art projector and sound system in a beautiful theater.- Steve

 

[drbill]

I find that some folk do a much better job when they clean up their films by removing unnecessary or poorly shot clips...

What is a poorly shot clip? I've never seen one of those come out of my camcorder (well, at least once I've edited with Premiere!).

We must be doing something right as we sell out every year. Not many get to see their stuff on a large screen projected from a state of the art projector and sound system in a beautiful theater.- Steve

No question that you are. I do intend to get there this year sans an entry. Have wanted to for the past several years.

We had talked about doing an underwater film festival here on Catalina in association with next month's annual Avalon Harbor Cleanup. I guess I kind of dropped the ball on that. We'd probably have used a similar short subject format.

 

[shadowr69]

Wow, this sounds pretty damn sweet. 5 minutes might be short, but I think I'll actually try to do this...even thoug I'm a noob, I'm sure I can get plenty of practice and footage in the next 7 months....

-Mark

 

[PeaceDog]

How much can you really get across in such a "short subject" format?

I agree completely with the good doctor. I am wrapping up production on a 40-minute documentary about a shipwreck off the coast of Gloucester, MA, and have been looking to enter it into various underwater film festivals. As it turns out, most underwater film festivals aren't interested in docs, just short, pretty shots of sea life. As a result, I've been successful only with general film festivals.

I also totally disagree with the notion that marine-centered stories worth telling can be wrapped up in 5 minutes. I was really hoping to be a part of the San Diego festival this year; maybe I'll be there next year with a shortie about Bonaire!

Having said that, I'm ecstatic that a grass-roots campaign is succeeding to get more underwater film festivals going, particularly without the need for serious sponsorship. Hats off to you! It always is a treat to see your work on the big screen...

 

[shadowr69]

So you don't think it would be useful to make something akin to a trailer? You could include info at the end of the short that points to your site for a fell length feature info. It's free advertising, use it to your advantage.....

-Mark

 

[PeaceDog]

So you don't think it would be useful to make something akin to a trailer?

Can't say I ever thought of that. I shall give it a try...

 

[sharksdelight]

Yes it is harder to cut down footage, but I have seen some great short documentaries with 5 minute lengths. They do not all have to travel logs, which I am personally bored of. Thus, Mark and Peace Dog, what have you to lose by submitting an entry. There are no guarentees of what will or won't get in but this show sells out each year. You might also want to check out some of the films on www.divefilm.com to see a source of excellent (mostly) films.-Steve

 

[shadowr69]

Yes it is harder to cut down footage, but I have seen some great short documentaries with 5 minute lengths. They do not all have to travel logs, which I am personally bored of. Thus, Mark and Peace Dog, what have you to lose by submitting an entry. There are no guarentees of what will or won't get in but this show sells out each year. You might also want to check out some of the films on www.divefilm.com to see a source of excellent (mostly) films.-Steve

Trust me I'm all for doing this...I was just mentioning another point of view for it's usefulness...ala free advertisment....



Mark