Shootout at the OK Corral—Are you an aspiring filmmaker? How would you like the opportunity to shoot your very own Western at New Mexico's famed Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch (site of such famed films as Silverado, Lonesome Dove and All the Pretty Horses)? Primate Memory Factory, founder of the monthly 5-Minute Film Competition, has come up with an extremely cool promotion this month. Each month, PMF dreams up a theme and asks local digital filmmakers to shoot a short film around that particular subject. This month's theme happens to be “Westerns.” To help get aspiring John Fords started, PMF is offering a chance to shoot at the Bonanza Creek Movie Ranch outside Santa Fe on Sunday, March 14. Fork over a mere $30 to help PMF cover expenses, and you've got the run of Bonanza Creek. The place is packed with western saloons, jail cells, windmills, cattle barns—all the great sets you need to shoot your very own mini-masterpiece. Word is there may even be props, costumes and horses available. All you need is a camera and an actor or two. The screening of all the entrants will take place on Friday and Saturday, March 26 (11:30 p.m.) and 27 (noon) at Madstone Theaters. That means you've got one day to shoot the film and less than a week to edit it. But it's only five minutes long—you can do it! Scheduling will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. To find out more info, log on to www.pmf5.com.
Reel World
DigiFest Deadline—The DigiFest SouthWest Film Festival (formerly “Flicks on 66”) is accepting entries for its fifth annual event, slated for June 11-19. DigiFest SouthWest picks seven short film scripts (12 pages in length) from around the world, and brings the winning writers to Albuquerque to shoot, edit and premiere their movie all in one short week. The festival supplies everything at no cost to the seven chosen winners—all equipment, crew, cast, locations and props needed to complete their movie in just seven days. The deadline to submit a script is April 1. For more information and to download an entry form, visit www.digifestsouthwest.com.
Reel World
Camera Course—Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute will be teaching a camera assistant's course for the motion picture, television and entertainment industries. Cost is $500 per person. The course will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on two consecutive weekends: April 3-4 and April 10-11. This four-day course will teach you how to use the latest 16mm, 35mm and digital camera equipment while learning the procedures and techniques of a professional camera assistant. The class is designed for second assistants and camera PAs who want to move up within the camera department as well as videographers who want to work in features. For more info, contact TVI at 224-5227.
