straight 8 – the global
one super 8 cartridge no
editing film challenge
from London – brings its
ad industry charity shootout
from Cannes to the USA
(8 August 2018) straight 8 brings its thrilling filmmaking competition, from Cannes Film and Ad Festivals, to the United States. All kinds of companies from the ad industry in the States are invited to rise to the straight 8 shootout challenge: to make a 2.5 minute short film created purely in-camera on one cartridge of super 8mm film. Every shot is taken in story order, with no opportunity for re-takes or editing.
Any visual effects, colouring and titling must be done the old-fashioned way: as part of the shoot. Super 8 doesn’t record sound, so soundtracks are made ‘blind’ and must be original. Entrants send their exposed but un-developed film cartridges to straight 8 partners Cinelab London who process and scan the films. straight 8 then lines up each soundtrack with the first frame of each film.
The most thrilling part is that the first time anyone sees even their own work is at the premiere which is packed with an audience of their peers. A live vote at the cinema follows the screening and winning companies donate prize money to the charities of their choice. Because every film is shown at the premiere – no matter how, or whether, it turns out – 20 is the maximum number of companies that may enter. To have a chance to enter, interested companies must register on the straight 8 site ASAP at www.straight8.net.
The premiere will take place as part of the AICP Show Chicago on 14th November 2018.
The creative brief? Simply: what you want to do with 2.5 minutes of the silver screen at a beautiful cinema full of colleagues, competitors and friends?
Since straight 8 launched shootout in 2016 with APA London, its success has been proven at Cannes, Ciclope and Adfest with some the best companies in the world rising to the challenge. See the companies who’ve entered and some of the charities who’ve benefited, plus view past shootout films, see straight8.net/shootout.
straight 8 has launched three distinct shootout competitions simultaneously. straight 8 shootouts: JAPAN 2018 AND SOUTH AFRICA 2018 complete their bid to bring the format East, West and South around the globe, from London and Cannes.
Interested USA companies must register asap at: www.straight8.net/usa-2018.
AICP is partnering with straight 8 to bring shootout to the USA for the first time.
Matt Miller, President & CEO, AICP comments: “straight 8 has been a bit of a cult exhibition, where people around the world have been able to playfully use their filmic skill-sets for fun and charity. Piggybacking their inaugural U.S. event on the final and largest event on the AICP Show and Next Awards Tour, seems entirely fitting as we head into the holiday season of giving.”
Ed Sayers, straight 8 founder, comments: “There’s something thrilling about shooting a film and then not being allowed to do a thing with it until its cinema screening. No polishing it to within an inch of its life. No being sick of the sight of it by the time it’s done. This is the ultimate digital detox: from camera to screen without software or sellotape. OK – you can polish the hell out of your soundtrack but you’ll still wonder if it will synch up – and you’ll only find out at the premiere. We’re thrilled to be bringing shootout to more people in more places and we can’t wait to see what they’ll do.”
Asif Kapadia, Academy, BAFTA & Grammy Award winning writer-director (Amy, Senna, The Warrior), and jury member for straight 8’s annual open competition since 2016: “I started shooting on Super 8 and 16mm. Film is precious. With no video assist you trust your instincts. This is what I love about straight 8, the magic of cinema in its purest form.”
Adrian Bull, Managing Director, Cinelab London, comments: “We process hundreds of films each year, from 70mm down to super 8, and from Mission Impossible to Phantom Thread, and yet still one of the most exciting projects we are involved with is straight 8. The sheer creativity that entrants manage to pack into each reel of super 8 film is amazing, and that’s why we support it.”
Jimmy Lam, President, Adfest: “It’s a f**king stupid way to make a film, but I love it.”
About straight 8
straight 8 began in 1999 when director, Ed Sayers, asked friends to have a go at making a short film on one cartridge of super 8 each – with no waste, at a 1:1 shooting ratio. The films were screened in London’s West End to a packed audience, projecting off Super 8 with the audio playing from cassettes.
straight 8 now receives 100-200 entries to its annual competition from all over the world and has enjoyed 13 years of premieres at The Cannes Film Festival, plus stints on Channel 4 broadcast TV and has appeared at many festivals. Past entrants include Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Shaun of The Dead), Alice Lowe (Sightseers, Prevenge) and many more.
straight 8 shootout USA 2018 confirmed partners at launch:
AICP represents, exclusively, the interests of independent companies that specialize in the production and post production of commercials in various media—film, video, digital—for advertisers and agencies. The association, with national offices in New York and Los Angeles as well as regional chapters across the country, serves as a strong collective voice for this $5 billion-plus industry. Founded in 1972, AICP assists its members by: disseminating information; representing production and post production companies within the advertising community in business circles, in labor negotiations and dealing with employment issues; and before governmental officials; developing industry standards and tools; providing professional development; and marketing American production and post production via events and awards shows.
Global confirmed partners at launch of 3 x shootouts:
Cinelab London – Offers a full range of laboratory services from colour and B&W 65mm, 35mm, 16mm and 8mm neg processing to 35mm feature film distribution printing. They support film, commercial and television clients, as well as content owners who wish to preserve and restore their film and media archives.
Machine Shop – Machine Shop Special Effects provides a range of live atmospheric and pyrotechnic floor-effects with our reliable and experienced team of technicians. We also offer superior modelmaking and animatronics services from our team of in-house specialists.
