Rules

How to Submit

Join the Dark Horse Film Festival on Google Classroom to upload and submit your film. Films must be submitted by May 15, 2024 to be considered. Use code rfcf3ig to join.

Teams

Submissions can be from individuals or from teams. Each team must have at least one student who is enrolled at a junior high or middle school in Fremont Unified School District.

Time Limit

There is a 10 minute limit. Films can be as short as you’d like them, but they can be no longer than ten minutes.

Content

The content of the film must be school appropriate as films will be shown during school hours. Films should be able to be rated G or PG.

Music and Images

You may use music and photographs as long as they are copyright-free (see below for links to copyright free websites). All music used should be fully credited at the end of the film (see info on credits below).

Credits

Videos may be posted on the Dark Horse Film Festival website, which is a public website. If anyone involved in the production does not want their name to appear publicly, make sure to use a pseudonym (a fake name). Credits should include:

• The names or pseudonyms of the filmmaker(s) and actors

• This statement: This film was made for the Dark Horse Film Festival 2021.

• The name of your school: Examples include Centerville Junior High or Horner Middle School.

• The authors of any source materials (this includes music, photos, editing/animation software, and anything else that you use in the film).

• A special thanks to anyone who helped you make the film (like someone who lent you a prop or drove you to a location; this includes your parents). 

Releases and Permission

Each team must secure releases for anyone involved in the production of the film (this includes writers). A “release” is a signed document that gives the filmmaker (and the Dark Horse Film Festival) permission to film and present recordings of an actor. The releases must be turned in with the finished film. The film will not be screened unless we receive the signed releases. Here is a copy of the release form.

Disqualification

The Dark Horse Film Festival may, in its sole discretion, disqualify entries deemed to be inappropriate or otherwise non-compliant.

Resources

Links for Software, Images, and Music

Video and Animation Software (If you know of a good, not too difficult to master, video or animation program, please let me know and I will add it to this list.)

CapCut (video editing)

Movie Maker (video editing for Windows)

iMovie (video editing for macs)

Vegas (video editing: free trial)

Davinci Resolve (video editing)

Scratch (animation)

Opentoonz (animation)

Animaker (animation)

Flipaclip (animation app)

Raw Shorts (animation)

Krita (painting program)

Canva (design platform)

KineMaster (animation app) 

Links for finding images

Photos For Class

Pixabay

CC Search

Unsplash

9 Great Websites for Free Images to Use in Class and School Projects

Links for finding music 

Bensound

Free Music Archive

Steps and Examples:

Below are assignments I give my classes. If you like structure, try following the directions below for your film.

Documentary Assignment

THE ASSIGNMENT

You will create and narrate a documentary about a social problem or true story. 

You can record your own interviews or narration and use copyright free footage, images, animations, graphs and charts. The focus should be on your ideas. It should be 2-10 minutes long (not including credits).

STEPS

1. BRAINSTORM a social problem or true story that you can focus on. There are no bad ideas.

2. NARROW IT DOWN. Choose a social problem or true story that you care about. It should be appropriate for a middle school audience. You must get teacher approval before moving onto the next steps.

3. RESEARCH to make sure you understand and can support your claims about the problem. There MUST be some data points or proof that the problem exists!  Capture URLs as you go.  

4. WRITE A SCRIPT that includes all the elements above. You must get teacher approval before moving onto the next steps.

5. DRAW A STORYBOARD or outline. Hint, use Google Slides note section to layout what each slide should do.

6. VISUALS: Search or create useful visuals (for each idea). Use copyright free footage, images, animations, graphs, and charts.

7. CREATE THE DOCUMENTARY using your visuals and audio. Your audio should include interviews or a voiceover.

8. MUSIC (Optional): Add background music (copyright free).

9. EDIT your video or slideshow to be sure that it meets the 2-10 minute requirement.

10. TITLE SCREEN: Make sure to add the title screen or cover slide that shows for 5 seconds, (this 5 seconds is not counted in the 2 - 10 minute requirement). The title screen has the following information:
    
    

Your Name

Dark Horse Film Festival

Centerville Junior High School

Video Title

11. SUBMIT by the due date. This should be an .mp4 file. Upload to assignment to the Dark Horse Film Festival Google Classroom (code: jtz3pon)

Short Film Assignment

THE ASSIGNMENT

You will create your own short film. 

You may use original footage, animation, photos, etc. It should be 2 - 10 minutes long (not including credits).

STEPS

1. BRAINSTORM characters and stories. No idea is bad.

2. NARROW it down and choose the characters and story you will use. 

3. WRITE AN OUTLINE of the story that includes a description of each character, what each character wants and is trying to do, the setting, and the conflict or the central problem. You must get teacher approval before moving onto the next steps.

4. WRITE THE SCRIPT. Make sure to use proper script format (each page should represent about a minute of a film if done right). You must get teacher approval before moving onto the next steps.

5. DRAW THE STORYBOARD. Each drawing should represent each new shot. Make sure to use many different shot types.

6. PLAN YOUR LOCATIONS. Get permission to use your locations.

7. SHOOT YOUR FILM. Get several takes for each shot so that you have options when you edit.

8. EDIT YOUR FILM. Make sure to leave lots of time for this. You want to do a rough edit and then get feedback before doing your final edit.

9. TITLE SLIDE: Make sure to add the title screen or cover slide that shows for 5 seconds, (this 5 seconds is not counted in the 2-10 minute requirement). The title screen has the following information:
   
   

   1. Your Name

   2. Dark Horse Film Festival

   3. Centerville Junior High School

   4. Video Title
      
      

10. SUBMIT by the due date. This should be an .mp4 file. Upload to assignment to the Dark Horse Film Festival Google Classroom (code: jtz3pon)

Using Other People

You are the owner of your film. You can include other people but you must have written permission to show them in your video in case we post these on the school site.

Completed Documentary Outline Example:

Name: Simple ways to avoid CVS

Why This Topic:  I have selected the topic because of my personal experience, to tell how to protect your eyes, specifically ways to avoid straining them because in the long run you can do real damage.

Problem: We live in a world of screens and it’s impacting our vision in both the short and long term.  

Research: I am using resources shown on the mayoclinic.com website and webmd.com and healthline.com as my source materials. I will draw my own art or use my own pictures or free pictures from pickabay.com & photosforclass.com.

What I want my audience to learn and do: I want them to be aware of the problem and to start taking better care of their eyes, including a specific exercise.

For More Info:  mayocgo linic.com

Completed Short Film Outline Example:

Characters’ names: Samantha Reese, Gregory Paleworth, Binky Smyth

Characters’ wants: Samantha wants to break into the principal’s office to get her backpack, which was confiscated because she had spray paint. She wants to get it because the backpack also has a very important memento from her late mother. Gregory wants to help Samantha, but he really doesn’t want to break in. If he gets caught, his parents will kill him. Binky wants food. He is very hungry. 

What each character is trying to do to the other characters: Samantha is trying to get Gregory and Binky to help her. Gregory is trying to get Samantha to leave the building. Binky is trying to get the others to help him find food.

Setting: Main office of a junior high school at night.

Conflict (the central problem facing the main character): Samantha (the main character) can’t get into the principal’s office and there is something dangerous and powerful that lives in the main office at night that is chasing them.