Little Big Shots reviewing comp extended - VIC

Little Big Shots Film reviewing competition extended!
To give those who attend Little Big Shots in Frankston and Warrnambool the chance to enter the competition, LBS have extended the closing date for entries until after the school holidays on Monday July 14, 2008.

So if you thought you'd missed the chance to submit a review this year, now's the time to crank up the computer and start scribing!

The 10 best junior critics will win a spot on the 2009 Little Big Shots children's jury and a season pass to next year's festival, as well as see their winning reviews published up on the Little Big Shots website.
For more information and full program visit: www.littlebigshots.com.au

Five tips for a top-notch film review from www.littlebigshots.com.au

1. Lights, action, camera … and a long line of credits. Plenty of people and decisions influence how a film is made. The film you see on screen is the result of a big creative jigsaw. Script, sound, storyline, directors, actors, lighting, sets, editing – all the people in that long line of credits at the end of a film play a role. Pick out some of the elements of the film you respond to most and explain why they do or don’t work.

2. Don’t give away the plot. This is a key rule of reviewing. Feel free to explain a little about the plot but don’t reveal any of the surprises or major twist, even if Sam does fall in love with Mary at the end.

3. Hook us in! Starting your review with “This film is about …” doesn’t exactly scream “Read me!” Make your reader sit up and pay attention to what you’re about to say. Write creatively and sharply and ask yourself, is this good enough for the rest of the world to read? Hook us in and keep us there.

4. How good were the stars? Think about the performances of the lead actors. Did they do a good job? Were they believable? Did they “get under the skin” of their role or did you feel like you were always watching “the actor”? Did you like the characters and did you care about what happened to them in the film? Tell us!

5. How did the film make you feel? Filmmakers want audiences to respond to their film. Pay attention to how you’re feeling while you’re watching a film. Are you happy, sad, bored, excited, inspired? Maybe your responses change at different points of the film. What’s making you feel that way? And what’s your overall feeling by the time it’s all over.
from www.littlebigshots.com.au