What is HHM Film Slam

The HHM Film Slam is a coordinated event with Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival (HHM) that pits filmmaking teams against the clock creating a fun, challenging and highly creative collaborative challenge by making a 3-7 minute short film  — script through submission — in one weekend!

Canceled – 2020 Spring HHM FimSlam

We will be presenting a 72-Hour challenge Friday, March 20, 2020 through Monday, March 23.  

Check out the amazing shorts produced in previous Film Slam challenges:

• 48-hour 2019 Festival HHM Film Slam

• 72-hour 2019 Winter HHM Film Slam

• 48-hour  2018 Inaugural HHM Film Slam

This competition is limited to 10 teams.

We hope you join in the fun!

Our Mission

The HHM Film Slam Challenge was created with a simple goal in mind – Remove all the usual excuses and provide a simple framework for aspiring filmmakers to ‘get out there’ and shoot something that they can see on the big screen.

Our mission is to support filmmakers by making the most collaborative art form out there accessible to anyone that wishes to say, “I made a film this weekend.”

HOW DOES IT WORK?

  • 1. Register and gather your team

    PREGAME

    • Register your team through the HHM Film Slam registration page, www.HHMFilmSlam.com/register/.  If you would like to be part of a team we will help pair you up. After submitting your team registration and the $50 fee, you will receive confirmation and more information via email.
    • During the lead up to the HHM Film Slam, teams recruit their cast and crew, scout locations, pull their gear together and don’t forget snacks. Get as much as together as you can, even if you don’t end up using it. Waiver/release paperwork is required for cast and crew members, locations (if non-public), music and materials such as special effects.

  • 2. Friday Night Kickoff

    6pm – 7pm on Friday, March 20, 2020

    • At least one team member comes to the HHM office, 721 Washington Ave. – Suite 203, Bay City, Michigan, to receive the information packet, which includes required elements.
    • You’ll receive two random genres to make a choice from for your HHM Film Slam short’s main film style.
    • Also announced at this time are — a character, a prop and a line of dialogue — ALL of which must appear in each film.
    • Go, go, go!

  • 3. Film Weekend

    Your next 72-hours will go something like this:

    • Friday Night: Brainstorm story, write script, notify cast of roles and gather props/costumes.
    • Saturday: Production! Cast reports early to rehearse, runs lines and commence filming.
    • Sunday: Pick-up shots, rough editing and music selection (or production!).
    • Monday: Final editing, fine-tuning, render and upload to designated dropbox, or dropped off at Ohno Design by 7 pm.

  • 4. Monday Night Film Submission

    7pm on Monday, March 23, 2020

    • Your film must be between 3 and 7 minutes long, excluding title card and post credits (1 minute limit).
    • Opening credits are allowed but they are counted against your 7-minute limit.
    • All teams submit their films along with the required paperwork to a designated dropbox folder for your team.
    • But don’t be late! Lateness disqualifies the team from awards eligibility — but all films are screened. Film tech requirements will be sent once registered.

  • 5. Premiere Big Screen Viewing

    Friday, March 27, 2020 at 7pm
    at Bay City’s stunning State Theatre 

    • Lateness disqualifies the team from awards eligibility, but all films will be screened.
    • HHM Film Slam Awards will be announced following the screening event.
    • Judges Choice Award will also be screened during Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Fest on Friday, March 27, 2020, directly following the awards.

  • 6. Awards

    • Lateness disqualifies the team from awards eligibility, but all films will be screened and awards will be announced following the screening event.
    • Standouts in your short films, such as Best Actor, Best Use of Criteria, etc. will be recognized.
    • Cash prizes awarded to two films selected by the HHM Film Slam Judges. Cash prize amounts to be determined by the registration fees. The Best Film will get 2/3’s and the Runner-up will get 1/3 of all entry fees collected.

What can I win?

  • The registration fee has been lowered for this event. Your $50 registration fee goes to the cash prize awards. 
  • Cash prize amounts to be determined by the registration fees collected. The Best Film will get 2/3’s and the Runner-up will get 1/3 of entry fee total. The more teams that enter, the bigger the prizes!
  • The culmination of all your hard work is a screening of your film at The State Theatre. All submitted films (both late and on-time) will be screened on Friday, March 27th, at 7pm. After the screening, we will have a short panel discussion about the films and a cash award presentation.
  • The Judges’ Choice from the eligible HHM Film Slam will replay during the Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival during the Michigan Shorts Program also at The State Theatre in September 2020.

This is a Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival event.

WHY

Because you will learn a lot about filmmaking in a short amount of time with the most fun.

WHEN

Kick-off – 7pm Friday, March 20, 2020
Filmmaking – For the next 72 hours
Deadline – 7pm Monday, March 23, 2020
Viewing – Friday, March 27, 2020 at 7pm

WHERE

Kick-off will be at the HHM Office,
721 Washington Ave. – Suite 203,
Bay City, Michigan 48708
Filming locations will be up to you to secure.

COST

$50 per team, all proceeds go toward the cash awards. Hell’s Half Mile Events, is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and expanding the art of independent film, music, and entertainment.

DETAILS

This year we are going to limit this competition to 10 teams, the number of members in each team can vary.
Although it’s easier to have a producer, you do not need a production company to participate but you will need a team name and a team leader.

All creative process must take place during the Official Time Period. This includes, but is not limited to:

Writing the Script
Rehearsing
Costume/Set Design
Shooting
Editing
Sound
Design
Rendering
Uploading

Things that can be established prior to kick-off are:
Scouting and securing locations
Securing equipment
Organizing cast
Organizing crew

I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.