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Our sister site NP2k (not to be confused with our nerdy brother site TFN) is throwing its first film festival in five years, wherein entrants all make a short film under the same circumstances and they're pitted against each other in some sort of a cage match.

I'm doing one, Brian's doing one, Emfayder might do one, Harbin is doing one...this is hardly enough. So if you're interested in making a thing, check it out over there and join up.

Re-post of the rules after the...jump? After this fucking line.

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STEP ONE. Commitment. Don't sign up if you're not going to finish what you've started. The last film festival we ran here had lower than 1/3rd completion rate. (yes, even I was to blame for one of those failed projects).

STEP TWO. Officially announce that you will be directing a short film for the festival. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to write or edit it. It means that you have to direct it. You can officially enter by simply replying to this contest with an "I'm in as a director." THERE IS AN ENTRY FEE OF $10 USD - ALL ENTRY FEE monies will go 100% directly to the "Best Director" prize and "Audience Choice" award. More importantly, it will act as a reminder to finish what you've started!!!

Once you've declared your interest in entering the film fest, we will contact you on how to submit your $10 USD entry fee. Your entry fee IS NON-REFUNDABLE and will be kept as prize money whether or not your project is finished.

Outsiders of the film fest whom do not want to direct, may post their interests as writer, editor, etc, etc.... Directors are allowed free reign over crafting their above & below the line crew, with the exception of the PEER that will be assigned to them (see step 4).

STEP THREE. Between now and May 1st, craft a few ideas for a short film. Think about what you want to make, and create a logline & synopsis for each. You can come up with as many as you'd like, one or more, but keep in mind you will have to pitch this idea to.... See next step.

STEP FOUR. On Saturday, May 1st, we will randomly assign you a PEER - someone whom you will share details of your project. Your Peer will be a fellow NP2ker that has either a.) joined as a director, or b.) announced their interest as a writer/producer/actor, etc, etc, etc. This peer will be an exec. producer on your project.

Once each Director has been assigned a peer, it is the Director's job to pitch their ideas to their Peer. It is the Peer's job to act as a voice of reason. What does this mean, exactly? Well, as a Peer, it will be your job to make sure the Director isn't getting into something over their heads. Is your director trying to make a huge action sequence with no money? It's your job to tell them. Ultimately a director can choose to ignore their peer, or you can request a new peer if you feel yours is not applying enough pressure on you to get work done.

The Peer concept is important for a couple basic reasons:

a.) it ensures us that you're making the project specifically for the NP2k Fest and not using something you've already made.

b.) it creates a creative bounceback for the directors to listen to. The peer will also help push you along and help you meet deadlines. That's the peer's ultimate job.

When a project appears to be in trouble, NP2k will contact both the Director and the Peer first, to get details. If we feel the Peer is not doing their job, NP2k will replace them. This is bound to happen on at least a couple projects.

STEP FIVE. Write your script. You'll have until May 29th (11:59pm) to do so. That's basically a MONTH to write something roughly 4 to 20 pages in length. It's not rocket science, you can do it. Projects can be HOWEVER LONG YOU WANT THEM TO BE. We're not going to limit your creative abilities, but we will tell you if we think you're shooting too high. FINAL SCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO: chadpeter@hotmail.com - Please send in .pdf format. PLEASE DO NOT START FILMING UNTIL YOU'VE SUBMITTED YOUR FINAL SCRIPT AND RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM BOTH YOUR PEER AND NP2k.

STEP SIX. Submit a schedule to your peer & NP2k. This is for your own good. you don't have to stick to your schedule, but it will help set a timeline in your head. We hope that subconsciously you will stick to it. Once NP2k has received your schedule, you may start filming. IF A SCHEDULE HASN'T BEEN RECEIVED BY JUNE 8th, your project will be removed from the festival.

STEP SEVEN. CAST YOUR PROJECTS from your local talent pool. Please don't cast your friends, unless they're actors. There are amateur actors EVERYWHERE, trying to build a reel so that they can carve a career for themselves. They want to find you. Please be sure to ultimately provide them with a COPY OF YOUR FILM! Receiving copy is an actor's LIFEBLOOD. Denying them of that means you will go to hell.

STEP EIGHT. Shoot your damn movie. You have until Monday, July 5th to finish filming. That gives you ultimately TWO MONTHS to write a script and film it. Seems like a lot of time, but it will FLY BY.

STEP NINE. Projects are due July 21st, 2010. Please send a link of an H264 encoded HD-quality quicktime (100% of source size) to chadpeter@hotmail.com - arrangements can be made if you're unable to find hosting for your file.

STEP TEN. Give us a week to review and post the films one by one on NP2k/TF.N/ETC. Public voting will take place after all films have been reviewed by the public. A "Best Director" prize (1/2 prize money) and "Audience Choice" award (1/2 prize money) will be given, in addition to an NP2k-first "Best Actor" & "Best Actress" prize. The "Audience Choice" award will not act as an audience "favorite film", but rather a maliable reward for a publically nominated job (example, "Best editing in film #3", or "Best Cinematography in film #2". This allows for excellence at random skill positions to be recognized. Actors & directors can also be awarded the "Audience Choice" award, even if they've won the "Best Director" or "Best Actor" prizes as well.)