Submit Student and Youth Produced Short Films to 7th Annual Green Screen!
October 15, 2013
Teachers, educators and organizers are invited to submit student and youth produced short films to the 7th annual East Michigan Environmental Action Council’s youth environmental film festival, Green Screen. Entry deadline is October 31, 2013.
Green Screen provides a forum where students and youth from across southeast Michigan and beyond can showcase their short films with environmental themes. These films allow young filmmakers to express what they think is most crucial to their health and to the natural environment. Past films have focused on the the importance of recycling, the Detroit Incinerator, lack of grocery stores in particular neighborhoods and why the quality and health of dirt is so essential to the quality of food that can be grown.
By using media as a means of spreading a youth centered message about the environment, EMEAC hopes to challenge and redirect the current corporate dominated narrative centered on “going green.” Beyond simply receiving messages, youth can create media messages that tell our own community and individual stories and encourage dialogue on issues facing us today via information channels that are becoming more and more commonplace as a means of sharing experiences.
As defined by EMEAC’s Media Director, Lottie Spady, “Youth are dangerously disconnected from an accurate narrative that unpacks our relationship with and impact on the environment. EMEAC’s environmental justice media work has centered around the development of a working knowledge of the role that the media plays in shaping attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors about environment through media literacy, deconstruction, and reconstruction of media messages. Youth-produced environmental media provides a platform for their collective voice and opinions as well as educational opportunities for peers and the public through the creation of media campaigns, local documentaries, and multi-media presentations.”
While the topic range is very broad, there are guidelines every Green Screen entrant must follow:
- Films may be up to 5 minutes in length.
- Film must be about an environmental issue facing your community, city or county.
- Topics may include but not limited to;
- Environmental health
- Alternative energy
- School bus emissions
- Urban sprawl
- Brownfields
- Recycling
- Climate change
- Stream and wetland protection
- Trash/ recycling
- Film must be suitable and appropriate for an audience of all ages. Films that promote violence will not be accepted.
- There are no restrictions on the art form of your film. Films may be live action, animation, claymation, still photography or any combination.
- Entry must be in Mini DV or Quick Time movie file on a DVD
- Entry must be labeled with film, title, filmmaker's name, e-mail and phone number.
- Participants must fill out and return an application form.
Selected films will be shown from 3:00pm-6:00pm, Saturday, November 9th in the D. Blair Theater of the Cass Corridor Commons at 4605 Cass Avenue, Detroit.
The films are judged for cinematic merit, relevance to Southeastern Michigan, and creative messaging. A panel of judges consisting of independent directors, environmental activists, youth activists, and journalists will use a judging rubric to help guide their decisions.
Anyone interested entering a film for Green Screen 2013, sponsoring a film, volunteering or making a donation of support should call 313 354-4469 or stay tuned to www.emeac.org and twitter.com/emeac for continuing updates on the Green Screen 2013. You can also follow hashtag #GreenScreen2013.
