2012 Rules
Eligibility - This is a student festival; only student-produced films are eligible. Students must be associated with a public, private or home school located in one of the following seven South San Joaquin Valley counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare. Student films must be reviewed and approved by the head official of the associated school for content that is aligned with the educational morals of that school and suitable for a general public viewing audience. The student may upload the film into the Slick Rock Portal but the advisor or teacher must complete and submit the Entry Form.
Submission Window (March 1 - April 13) - Each films must be uploaded to the Slick Rock Portal between March 1, 2012 and April 13, 2012. The Slick Rock Portal will be turned off after April 13, 2012. An Entry Form for EACH film must be completed and submitted by the advisor by April 13, 2012. If technical problems occur, contact Scott Smith (scott@vusd.org) by Saturday April 14, 2012.
Judging Panel - The judging panel is composed of industry professionals who have successful experiences with film production, film critique, or film promotion.
Entry Process
- Upload each entry to Slick Rock Portal by April 13, 2012.
Click here to upload film
- Advisor must submit an online entry form for EACH entry.
Click here to submit online entry form
Limits (3 films per school per category | 4 students per film) - A school may submit a maximum of three films per category. A maximum of 4 students per film may be listed on the entry form and will thus be eligible for awards or prizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is my school a Valley school?
Qualifying schools may be public or private as long as the school (or home-school) is located in one of the following seven South San Joaquin Valley counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare.
2. How many entries may a student submit?
Important note: The school submits the film on behalf of the student. The lead school official (principal or designee) must review AND approve each submitted film for appropriate content. Under the school's umbrella, a student may be associated with no more than three entries per category.
3. How many entries may a school submit?
A school may submit a maximum of three films per category.
4. My school doesn't even have a film or media class. Can I still enter?
Yes. Many students have embraced filmmaking even when their school does not offer a formal program. The only requirement for a student to enter is that the film must be submitted under a school's authority. The student must find a staff advisor (e.g.: teacher) to serve as the Student Film Advisor to review the entry and deem it appropriate. Only a Student Film Advisor may submit an entry form.
5. What happens if my entry is longer than the specified time limit?
Films will be judged only on what is presented within the time specification of the category.
6. How many students can work on a film?
Successful films usually include a large number of dedicated, talented people. However, for this Festival, only 4 students may be listed on entry form as the filmmakers. A maximum of 4 students per film will be eligible for awards and/or prizes.
7. How do I enter enter this fantastic contest?
Easy... Produce a film that matches a film categroy. Upload by film by April 13, 2012. Have your advisor submit a entry form by April 13, 2012. See Rules above for additional details.
8. What about the release forms?
The Student Film Advisor should keep all of the likeness releases, location releases, and copyright permissions along with a DVD copy of EACH film produced/submitted by the student/school.
9. Do I really need to get all these forms signed?
Yes. Student Filmmaking requires discipline and dedication to the craft. Students are honor bound to acquire all necessary permissions and signatures and accept the liablilities for copyright violations.
10. As a student, how much help can I get from parents, teachers, and other adults?
Review the Slick Rock Filmmaker's Code. Outside help must be limited to showing students how to do a task while never actually performing the task for them and offering suggestions while allowing the students to make the final decision. Only those entries that truly reflect student work and preserve the Festival as a level playing field for all students are welcome. Submissions must be the work of students, this includes scripts, camera work, pre-post production.
Teachers, parents, and support people are encouraged to be resources, and may participate as actors, but the project must be student work. Students and advisors are honor bound to disqualify or remove any entry that violates the “Slick Rock Filmmaker's Code."
11. How do I know if I win?
Come to the Award Ceremony and find out ... Saturday May 19, 2012 at the Fox Theater in downtown Visalia. The Student Film Advisors will be the contact person for all entries. All updates and notifications will be e-mailed to advisors for distribution to their students. The "Premiere Cut" films will be announced by late April.
12. What are the prizes?
Prizes range from "Thanks for the Entry" certificate to merchandize to scholarship money. All "Premiere Cut" films will be screened at the Fox Theater on Saturday April 19. All high school "Premiere Cut" filmmakers will be eligible to participate in the famous "RedCarpet Walk" just prior to the Award Show on Saturday May 19. Filmmakers of "Nominated" films will receive a special gold-seal certificate suitable for framing. Filmmakers of "Rock" films will receive cash or merchandize and the associated school will received a special rock.
13. Will you show my film on the giant 50' screen at the historic Fox Theater?
Perhaps. A "Premiere Cut" will be announced in late April. Students associated with "Premiere Cut" films will have their full-length film screened at the Fox Theater on Saturday May 19, 2012 between 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
14. What is a "Nominated" film and how does that compare to a "Rock" film?
From the "Premiere Cut" films, the judges will select a short list of nominated films within each category. The judges will also select the top film in each categroy from the nominated list, which will be honored as a "Rock" film.
15. What is the "Rock" made of?
Really hard dirt.
16. How much violence can my film have?
This question addresses the topic of "appropriate content." The Festival is a school-related event ... a family show. As such, subject matter, violence, profanity, sex and drug activity must be appropriate for school use and adhere to your school's policies, rules, and guidelines. Slick Rock believes in freedom of speech but at Slick Rock, speech has its limits.
ALL films must be reviewed by the school principal (or designee) to ensure the content is appropriate for a general viewing audience. Note: in past years, principals (or designees) have rightly disqualified films because they contained too much gratuitous violence, explicit adult themes, or profanity. Use good judgment in planning and executing your film to avoid possible disqualification.
Violence or criminal activity may be suggested but NOT explicitly shown. Slick Rock encourages filmmakers to use restraint when depicting violent acts. For the purposes of the Festival, the suggestion of violence is always preferable to the gruesome detailing of it. The viewer's imagination is a powerful force ... leverage it.
For example, the famous scene from Hitchocock's Psycho demonstrats such admirable restraint. We see a knife being raised; we see it plunge; we hear the screams; we see blood swirling down the drain; but we never actually see the knife strike flesh. The horror we feel is real. The violence is "suggested" through a series of quick cuts from the weapon to a secondary reaction - not the knife opening bloody gashes - but the victim's eyes widening in shock, her screams, her hand gripping the curtain as she slumps, the reflection in her eye of her life and blood swirling down the drain. Hitchcock lets the viewer's imagination do the work for him.
George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is a classic example of what to avoid when depicting violence. It has gained cult status for its gruesome shots of zombies awash in body parts and entrails. Generally speaking, the violent detail is portrayed for shock value, not horror. There may be a place for such films in the industry but not at the Slick Rock Student Film Festival.
17. What about cussing ... can I use profanity in my film?
Profanity is not necessary to tell a good story. Slick Rock asks that films avoid excessive use of profanity.
Remember that ALL films must be reviewed by the school principal (or designee) to ensure the content is appropriate for a general viewing audience. Note: in past years, principals (or designees) have rightly disqualified films because they contained too much gratuitous violence, explicit adult themes, or profanity.
18. What about adult themes like sex & drugs?
Sexual acts or drug use may NOT be explicitly shown. Remember that your film must be appropriate for school. Be responsible. Do not glorify illegal, dangerous, or potentially harmful behavior. Do not depict the acts; instead, show the origins and results of such acts. Make your film about the decisions made, the relationships gained or lost, the life opportunities won or lost because of these acts. In short ... make the film about the people not about the act.
The formula for most adult themed G/PG-rated movies focuses on why the characters are going to do what they do, the internal struggle of the decision. When the time comes for the adult behavior there is a fade or a "suggestion" of the act (sex, drugs, crime, etc.). The remainder of the film deals with the aftermath of the actions and a resolution. Focusing on the causes and effects allows you to work with serious topics in a realistic, adult way while adhering to school standards.
Remember that ALL films must be reviewed by the school principal (or designee) to ensure the content is appropriate for a general viewing audience. Note: in past years, principals (or designees) have rightly disqualified films because they contained too much gratuitous violence, explicit adult themes, or profanity.
19. What if I have other questions not in this FAQ list?
Email your questions to the Festival Commissioner, Scott Smith (scott@vusd.org)
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