Get your lighting, costumes, and props and make a spooky short video for our October contest. The Dreadtime Stories for Teens contest runs from October 1-November 1. Click on this post for more info, including rules & instructions on filming, submissions, prizes, and the judging process.
Read your favorite eerie tale, or act out or animate a short film, then submit.
All entries must be received by 10:00 p.m. on November 1 to be considered. Signed release forms of each individual appearing in the film will be required, with signed parental consent if under age 18. Download a PDF of the Release Form here. All entries will be judged by our film experts: horror fan Jill McKeown, Adult Services Manager, and frequent library presenter and film connoisseur Mike Smith of “Mike at the Movies”. Winners will be notified in November. Prizes must be picked up in person at the Wilmette Public Library. Keep reading for the Rules and find the entry form here.
RULES
- Open to Illinois students in grades 9-12.
- Must have a Halloween or horror theme. Even better if it’s library-related, too (but not required).
- Submissions must be original, previously unpublished, and contain no adult content or strong language. (PG-13 or less, please!)
- Signed release forms for each person appearing in the film (including signed parental consent if under 18) is required.
- One entry per participant. Films can be submitted as a group work or solo effort.
- Films must be under 5 minutes (including title and credits).
- Proper credit must be provided for any stories, music, or images that are not original works. Use only stories, music, and images that are public domain, royalty-free, and/or common use.
- Short films should be submitted as a YouTube link. To create a YouTube link:
- After your video is edited, create a free YouTube account and upload your video. (All videos are subject to the YouTube terms and conditions.) After uploading and creating a link, complete the online entry form here and submit the link to your video. This will work if your video is public or unlisted.
- If you’d like to make your video private, you can use this email to directly share your private link: khutley@wilmettelibrary.info. Post that you are doing so in the online form where the YouTube link would go.
- To read more about how to change the privacy of your YouTube videos, go here.
PRIZES
- Grand prize: $100 gift card plus some Halloween goodies!
- Honorable mention (if chosen by the judges): a mix of Halloween goodies!