Wakakirri National Story Festival

What is Story-Film?
Let the cameras roll! To create a Wakakirri Story-Film, schools can choose any film style (animation, doco, music clip, drama…) or a combination of styles to deliver a 5 minute original work on video*. FREE to enter.

Stories have always been a great medium for exploring and learning about the world. The ‘theme’ of our world is in no way meant to limit the stories told by schools. If you look for it, you’ll find all stories examine the worlds around us, both real and imagined.

Schools are also invited to include a signature item in their works. The 2008 signature item is "tap". Schools can represent the signature item as part of their work in any way they choose. It can be used thematically or literally, it be on stage for the entire item or for a second. Awards will be handed out during the festival and competition series.

For example the signature item ‘tap’ could be (although certainly not limited to):
- a water tap ... tapping into something ... tap dancing ...

Examples of Story-Film items (click on thumbnail to watch a video)


Coburg West PS (VIC) Primary Story-Film 'A Future Message'	Benalla West PS (VIC) Primary Story-Film 'Children of the Pong'	Bundaberg SHS (QLD) Secondary Story-Film 'Larry'	Sutherland SCS (NSW) Secondary Story-Film 'Aussie Gang'

Students should create stories based on the festival theme ‘Our World’, enabling them to explore and understand their own environment. Schools should also consider applying the concepts of reduce, reuse and recycle to the creation of any props, sets and costumes used within the film. Print any paperwork you require on recycled paper.

Dates
• Registrations due – Friday 4 April 2008
• Works due at the Wakakirri office - Friday 13 June 2008. Our address is: PO Box 607, Newtown, NSW, 2042.

Rules
• Schools can enter only one Story-Film entry
• Work must depict original stories or original interpretations of stories
• Any soundtrack should use original music (PLEASE read carefully the rules below on music)
• Any number of students may perform in or work on the production
• Any featured performers or animation voice overs must be students (unless making a documentary)
• Can be edited and involve voice overs, effects, animations, credits and captions
• All editing must be the work of students
• Stories, language, images and themes must be appropriate to age group - Primary school items must be G Rated. Secondary school items must be PG rated.
• Films must not exceed 5 minutes in length (including opening titles and end credits).
•Entries MUST be filmed in 16:9 widescreen ratio- This is explained below.
• Work created for other competitions or assessments can be submitted as long as it fits the Story-Film rules, tells a story and is delivered on DVD (preferably) or MiniDV tape (if you cannont send in digital format).

• Works must posted to Wakakirri on a DVD for judging. We will still accept Mini DV Tape for the 2008 Wakakirri Story-Film Competition.
• Only works received by the due date (Friday 13 June 2008) will be eligible for judging. Late entries will not be accepted.
• If making a documentary, you will need to get a Documentary Release Form signed by everyone you film (a release form is like a permission form and you can find one under Wakakirri Forms)

TOP

How do I send my Story-Film entry in to be judged?

Works must posted to Wakakirri on a DVD for judging. We will still accept Mini DV Tape for the 2008 Wakakirri Story-Film Competition.

Please see below for more information about the formats in which you can submit your Story-Film.

Sending your Story-Film in on DVD

Please adhere to the below requirements when sending in your Story-Film on DVD.
Ensure that you check the quality of your DVD by playing it back in a DVD player before you send it to us.
You can record your film on any disc you wish EXCEPT DVD-RAM.

Quicktime file (MAC or PC)
File extension: .mov or .dv
Size: 720 x 576 16:9 PAL Anamorphic
Frame Rate: 25fps
Compression: DV PAL
Quality: Best
Scan Mode: Interlaced

Audio will be as follows:
Format: Big Indian(i.e.Linear PCM)
Sample Rate: 48.000 khz
Sample Size: 16 bit
Channels: Stereo (L R)
Estimated File Size: 240mb per 1 minute of footage.

• Entries must be in PAL format (the Australian standard). Some computers have a NTSC (American standard) setting as default. Please check settings before recording or editing
• Please film at 16:9 widescreen. See expanation below.
• Must not have ‘picture bars’/ ‘cinema bars’ (the black bands at the top and bottom of screen). This is a setting on some video cameras. Please make sure this is turned OFF.
• Include 30 seconds blank at the beginning of the tape.

A miniDV Tape looks like this and is usually used in conjuction with older video recorders.

16:9 Widescreen Explained

To save any conversion problems from 4:3(fullscreen) to 16: 9(widescreen), we ask that you shoot your film in 16:9 widescreen to allow footage to be used in the annual Network TEN TV Special in the event you become a Wakakirri Story-Film Finalist.

Some older digital cameras do not allow you to shoot at 16:9 so make sure you check the functionality of your camera.

As the diagrams above indicate, the picture varies quite significantly when shooting at 16:9, your image will be rectangular rather than the square 4:3 image.
Shooting in 16:9 will allow you to capture landscapes more readily as well as letting you add more dimension to each shot.

Editing time during post-production may also be reduced because you will be able to combine two shots into one, an example of this may be two people conversing. When shooting at 4:3 each person has to be shot one at a time; when shooting at 16:9 however, the entire conversation will be able to be filmed at once without having to film one person then the other.

Although you might be able to use existing songs for films you make for school assessments, you are not allowed the same freedom in Wakakirri because the films will be made available to the public via our website and during our TV special. We recommend you use either original music or license/royalty-free (see below) recordings in your story-film, however, should you wish to use other music, please read carefully the following information on music copyright. NOTE: Films received that use existing songs in their soundtrack without written permission from all copyright owners will be DISQUALIFIED.

You will need permission to include other people’s music in your film, even if the music was accidentally recorded in the background while you were filming.

A single piece of music may include a number of copyrights: if using an existing recording, you will need permission from the recording company that own that particular recording, as well as permission from the publisher who holds copyright over the lyrics and music.

When applying for permission to use copyrighted music, you must make it clear that the music is being used for a short film that may be displayed in live venues, featured on the Wakakirri web page and/or in our National TV Special on Network TEN.

Generally copyright lasts for the life of the relevant creator plus fifty years, however, there are exceptions to this rule. When in doubt, you should check out the Australian Copyright Council’s web page (www.copyright.org.au)

Some music exists that is licence/royalty-free and therefore free to use, however, it is always best to check this with the producer of the music source and where possible, obtain this in writing.

A simple way to avoid the tricky problem of obtaining permission from the copyright holders, is simply to create your own original music. There are lots of simple (and sometimes free) software programs for creating music on your computer (eg Garage Band)– or you might want to involve music students from your school in the production by getting them to create music for you.

If you have any questions about Story-Film please call the Wakakirri office (free call 1800 650 979) or email wakakirri@wakakirri.com

Awards & Judging
• Every entry will receive a recognition award
• Each student will receive a participation award

Prizes
1st 2nd, 3rd national winners for the Primary and Secondary competitions

Special Awards
Best Environmental Story
Most Sustainable Production
Signature item
Editing
Cinematography
Script
Soundtrack
Costumes
Makeup
Best actor
Claymation

Recognition
A selection of outstanding entries will be complied onto video and displayed in the foyers at Wakakirri National Story Festival Finals where thousands of audience members will see them
National primary school and secondary school winners will be announced and highlighted on the annual Network Ten National TV Special

Finalist works are judged nationally by a recognised professional in the field.

Our 2008 Story-Film Judge is Craig Pearce (pictured below). Craig is a NIDA graduate and, as an actor, has worked extensively in theatre, film and television.

In 1991 Craig co-wrote with Baz Luhrmann the screenplay for the enormously successful feature film Strictly Ballroom, which won eight AFI awards, including Best Screenplay, was nominated for five BAFTAS (including Best Screenplay), won the Prix de la Jeunesse at the Cannes Film Festival and the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Best Screenplay.

In 1994 Pearce and Luhrmann adapated William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet for the screen. The film, starring Leonard Di Caprio, broke box office records for Shakespeare worldwide. Among its many nominations and awards William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet won the Alfred Bauer Award, the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and four BAFTAs (including Best Screenplay).

Craig began work with Baz Luhrmann on the screenplay of Moulin Rouge in 1997. The film was in competition at – and opened – the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. The screenplay was nominated for a Golden Satellite and a BAFTA, and the film’s many accolades include winning two National Board Of Review awards (including best film) nine Golden Satellite awards, three Golden Globes – including best film musical or comedy – a Grammy Award, the Los Angeles Film Festival movie of the year, five Australian AFI awards, two US AFI awards and numerous others throughout the world. It was also nominated for eleven BAFTAs, including Best Screenplay, nominated for the 54th Annual WGA Awards for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

In 2003 Craig wrote a screen adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar for Universal Studios. In 2004 he wrote Carmen and in 2005 The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud, also for Universal Studios. In 2007 he wrote Mad Hot Ballroom for Paramount Studios.

Craig is currently writing and will executive produce for HBO 'Will', a television series about young William Shakespeare. He is also writing Fast Love, a stage musical set in the world of speed dating.

The 2006 National Story-Film National Judge was Greg Williams. Greg has written and directed a whole heap of award winning short films and his telemovie, The Glenmoore Job, was broadcast on SBS this year. 2005 Story-Film judge was multi-award winning writer of books, plays, film and television for young audiences, Richard Tulloch.