IFP Minnesota Hosts “On the Lot” Finalist Andrew Hunt

Minnesota filmmaker Andrew Hunt is scheduled to speak on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 7pm, at IFP Minnesota Center for Media Arts. Hunt will share his experiences, lessons and work samples as a finalist on the Fox reality TV show, On The Lot. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett, On The Lot featured filmmakers competing in weekly elimination competitions with the ultimate prize of a million dollar development deal at Dreamworks. The event is part of IFP’s professional development series for directors.

IFP Minnesota is located at 2446 University Avenue West, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114. Ticket prices are $5 for IFP and MFA members, $8 for the general public. For more info, click: http://www.ifpmsp.org/new.html#OnTheLot.

Thanks to Chris Gegax of Signal Pictures for sending over this item.

Minneapolis Filmmakers Among Heinz Finalists

Minneapolis filmmakers Jim Davis and Dan Raleigh are among the finalist in the Heinz “Top this TV Challenge” contest. Their spot, which is called “Heinz Group Therapy,” was one of the top 15 entries in the YouTube-hosted contest.

You can support them by voting at www.topthistv.com. The rules allow you to vote once per day through September 10.

48 Hour Film Fest Screens “Best of Minneapolis”

The Twin Cities edition of th e 48 Hour Film Festival will premiere this year’s best entries at the Riverview Theater at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 28. Twelve entertaining shorts are scheduled to be screened at the Riverview Theater, 3800 42nd Street S., Minneapolis, MN. The screening will be followed by a wrap party at the nearby Global Market. For more, visit the contest web site and my previous post.

Mr. Clean Wants to Make a Scene

Mr. Clean is sponsoring another one of those YouTube-based make-a-commerical contests. This one features a $10,000 grand prize. There’s also a $5,000 sweepstakes for people who watch and rate the entries.

Learn more at www.mrcleanscenes.com.

84 Films Entered in 48 Hour Film Festival

Last weekend’s Minneapolis/St. Paul edition of the 48 Hour Film Festival attracted 84 entries. No doubt many of the participants are still recovering from the frenzied film making challenge. The films begin screening tonight with seven two-hour sets scheduled on June 12, 13, 14, and 18 at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis.

The event challenges film makers to complete a short film in just 48 hours. Teams receive their assignment, which includes a genre, character, line of dialogue and prop, on Friday evening and must deliver a finished production exactly two days later.

The event showcases the vitality and creativity of Minnesota’s film production community and usually features the kind of humor that results when film makers are sleep deprived.

More details at www.48hourfilm.com/minneapolis/.

Minneapolis Resident Among the Finalists “On the Lot”

Andrew Hunt, a 31-year old promo producer for ShopNBC, is one of the finalists on “On the Lot.” The Fox reality show (think “American Idol” for film makers), which is executive produced by Steven Spielberg and reality tv kingpin Mark Burnett, aired Hunt’s one minute scifi comedy “Spaced Out” on Monday night. On Tuesday’s results show Hunt learned that he advanced in the competition.

A profile of Hunt and his film are available at http://www.thelot.com/contestants/view/?id=2.

While I’ve always thought that short films should be able to find a market on cable/satellite TV, this show is probably not going to prove me right. The format so far is not compelling and the ratings are not good. Still, Hunt could use some home town support in the voting that follows each round of film making.

Ketchup Commercial Contest

Heinz is sponsoring the “Top This TV Challenge,” a YouTube-based commercial contest. Details are available at www.topthistv.com. The deadline is August 6.

First place prize? Yea, you guessed it – $57,000!