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No script? No problem

The Surrey Little Theatre's 50-Hour Film Challenge is for deadline-oriented auteurs.
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What are you waiting for? The 50-Hour Film Challenge is open to anyone ready to bare their natural assets.

Budding filmmakers, get cracking: it’s time to register for the 50-Hour Film Challenge, Surrey Little Theatre’s 5th annual movie-making marathon.

There could be money in it for you. There’s $500 in prize money on the line for the best five-minute film.

Don’t have a script? No problem.

The whole point is to write, shoot and edit a five-minute film in just one weekend.

Originally launched four years ago to highlight the long-running community theatre troupe’s 50th season, the 50-hour Film Challenge is a runaway success, according to event organizer Brigitte Seib.

It gives community members another way to express their creative side, she says.

Everyone is welcome to put together a team of five people or more, and come out and participate.

It’s open to all ages. Past film-making teams included participants as young as 12 years old.

Local film schools and “even a brave team of thespians that learned the film-making process on the fly” have also taken part, Seib says. “All these films amazed the judges and were in the running for the top prize!”

Taking its cue from the popular 48-hour film challenge format, Surrey Little Theatre’s film contestants are encouraged by the good-natured invitation and tagline: “When all you need is a couple extra hours.”

Film challenge weekend starts at 6 p.m., Friday Oct. 12, when teams pick up their randomly-selected “inspiration package.” They spend the next 50 hours writing, shooting and editing a five-minute film. The movies must include all the chosen surprise elements.

Participants have until 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14 to drop off their finished films.

The results will be screened at a special filmmaker’s reception and gala the following weekend on Saturday, Oct. 20.

The early bird registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 28, and the final deadline is Oct. 7.

Registration forms and rules available at www.surreylittletheatre.com, or contact Brigitte Seib at brigitte.seib@surreylittletheatre.com or by calling 604-576-8451 for more information.