Before I get completely caught up on all of my other blog posts, I felt it important to share this with you, since it is of a (somewhat) time-sensitive nature.
Toward the end of January, I found out about the 100 Stories for Queensland project on Twitter. I was lightly prodded by Annie Evett, one of the judges, about writing something new for it and throwing it on the virtual submission pile
After reading the submission guidelines I was a bit wary. It had to be between 500 and 1000 words (no more, no less) and had to be “uplifting in nature”. Horror does not, in its purest mode, have uplifting themes. Quite the opposite in fact. But Annie was sure I could come up with something that wasn’t horror and would be good enough to publish.
A week passed while working on several other projects simultaneously, many of which were approaching their deadlines. And so was the deadline for 100 Stories. I really wanted to contribute something even if it didn’t get accepted. That whole area of Australia, Brisbane included, had been hit hard by flooding and (at the time) a Category 5 cyclone. Mother Nature was, as she put it, pissed off.
About 2 days before the deadline it dawned on me that I really, really, needed to sit down and crank out something. There had been a small story brewing in my head so I fired up OpenOffice Writer and went to work. Within an hour I had 1,010 words staring back at me. Had to whittle it down some and then send it off to Annie.
She was gracious enough to give me a copyedit pass on it, although in her words it didn’t need much, something that surprised me. Usually stories written in such a hurry would have at least a few mistakes in them. Mostly it was the word constraints that left some questions unanswered. I managed to shave a few words off (sacrifice for the greater good) and plug in a sentence or two that answered those questions as elegantly as I thought possible.
With the final edits in place I submitted it to the project. And promptly forgot about it until about a week later when everything on my plate was clear. You tend to do that when you do something in a rush and move on to whatever else was on your schedule.
They announced, out of 300 submissions in 2 weeks (!) that they had whittled it down to 150. My story, “Transmutator”, had made the first cut. Sigh of relief, and back on to work, noting that they would announce the final 100 stories in a few days.
To be frank, it was always sticking in the back of my mind. I was more nervous about that than anything else I was working on. Would it make it in? Was it uplifting enough?
Turns out it was just fine. “Transmutator” was selected from the last 150 to be in the anthology. My congratulations to everyone else that made it in there, and thank you Annie for taking the time to look over mine so I know I wasn’t completely off my rocker.
The anthology will be released on March 8th, 2011, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Qld Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal. An audiobook version is also expected out as well.
Out of this though, I learned that I haven’t lost my edge and that sci-fi isn’t really all that far out of my reach. For that I am grateful I took the time to donate my words to a more than worthy cause.
Side note: It’s interesting to me that I can go back through my Twitter history and bring up specific snippets of conversations that were had and see exactly when they took place.
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Hello I was wondering if you could post this up. We were trying to post it up on your page but we encountered an error while doing so. it would be greatly appreciated.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
New Media Film Festival, is accepting applications for Interns for May 2011 in Los Angeles CA
New Media Film Festival is an IMDB qualifier and features the Best of New Media & includes Short Film, Mobile, Games, Web, iApps, Animation, Technology Platforms, & New Film Technologies in categories from socially responsible content to comedy, drama, animation & more. Panel discussions will highlight New Technology, Financing & Monetization, the Convergence of Media & where Traditional Media meets New Media.
Press quotes:
“The New Media Film Festival is the Sundance for the FaceBook crowd.”
-Crystal Clear Culture Rehab
“A new L.A-based festival has just popped up that addresses & celebrates all of the unique forms that visual storytelling can take in our new media world.”-BadLit
“This fest proves Tinseltown’s chops…the creativity & ingenuity of film.”-Cool Hunting
Responsibilities include:
Screening Content submissions
Assessing promotional needs and updating social media
Meeting content leaders and creators
Contacting sponsors from our database
Updating and maintaining google/excel files
Responding to email inquiries
Helping design the logo reels, program guide, eblasts
Assisting the Founder/Director, Artistic Director
Initiatives team with various tasks as requested
Dates: Dec 4 to March 25, 2011, flexible hours. Intern will be expected to work three days per week during regular business hours (days negotiable), and some evenings and weekends.
Minimum Requirements:
Interest in film distribution, grassroots film publicity
Ability to meet deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Excellent interpersonal skills, previous customer/client service experience is an asset
High computer proficiency with Microsoft Word & Excel and google docs
Superior organizational skills with a keen eye for detail
Please send a resume and brief intro to info@newmediafilmfestival.com and put Intern in the subject line.
Our competition judges from Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar, & United Talent Agency
ABOUT New Media Film Festival – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuBrwf6Pdww
Please feel free to share, thanks. http://www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com