The inaugural “We Love Tules 4 Minute Film Festival” is issuing a call to the community for submissions.
Everyone in Lake County is encouraged to participate and enter a short film starring the lake itself.
“This is an opportunity for people to be creative and interact with the lake,” said Cheri Holden, creator of the festival and owner of Watershed Books in Lakeport.
It all began at a town meeting in Lucerne last fall, she explained.
Holden and Supervisor Denise Rushing, chair of the Lake County's Board of Supervisors, created a short film to show at the meeting. It was about how individuals can contribute their part in keeping Clear Lake clean, along with other big projects in the works.
The film was such a success that Holden wanted others to have the same opportunity, and so the festival was born.
She hopes to see themes about Clear Lake's beauty, health and history, but notes it's also open to other creative ideas.
“I hope it works,” said Holden. “We'll see what we've invented, I think it can grow.”
All ages, genres and ideas are welcome along with pros and amateurs alike.
The film should be appropriate for all ages, be between two and four minutes in length, and be submitted on two DVDs to Holden at Watershed Books by Jan. 27 by 5:30 p.m.
If using a DVD disc is an issue, please see Holden for alternatives. She wouldn't like to know people refrained from participating because they couldn't afford a disc or didn't know how to use it.
Winners will depend on how many entries are made and what categories they may be placed, said Holden.
For example, there is an under age 12 category but if no one under age 12 submits anything, then the judges might just create a new category based on submissions.
There are four judges, one of which is Holden. The other three are secret judges, she said.
They will award cash prizes to winning filmmakers and gift bags for all entries accepted. Holden said films may be submitted by both individuals and groups.
She encouraged students to get involved and requested that Mendocino College and Yuba College offer credit to students who participate in the festival. The schools have not yet announced that they will offer credit or not, she said.
Holden is very excited that her idea has spread and over 100 entry forms have already been handed out.
There are flyers advertising the festival all around the county thanks to several contributors, which Holden thanked, including the Lakeport Main Street Association, which helped fund the event along with the Sierra Club Lake Group.
Debra Sally of Clearlake Veterinary Clinic also personally contributed, and Holden offered special thanks to the Lake County Arts Council's Main Street Gallery in Lakeport for planning to house the reception ceremony for the winners. The date of the ceremony is yet to be announced.
The winning films will be shown on Channel 8 and in town meetings around Lake County. There is also the possibility that the films may be featured on several Web sites.
Entry forms can be picked up at several locations throughout Lake County. In Lakeport there's Watershed Books on 305 N. Main St., and Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
Other places to pick up the forms are Gracious Ladies at 9460 Main St. in Upper Lake and Wild About Books at 14290 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.
Holden hopes that the “We Love Tules 4 Minute Film Festival” will reach people across Lake County and inspire them to help keep Clear Lake healthy and beautiful.
The winners will be announced on or around Jan. 30.
For news and updates regarding the festival, visit www.watershedbookco.com , http://redwood.sierraclub.org/lake , www.lakeportmainstreet.com and www.cityoflakeport.com .
E-mail Tera deVroede at
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