DCUP presents a short film contest with a twist. Contestants submit a 5 minute short film with a cliffhanger ending. The shorts are screened at The Comedy Spot in Arlington, and the audience votes to see which films will have their next installment made. One short will be voted out of the running. The following month, the remaining films will screen their next installment, and see whose serial gets voted out. Eventually, two serials will compete for a cash prize as they screen their final chapters of the series.

When does it start?

Submissions for the first installment must be received by March 26, 2007. The first screening will be held April 1st, 2007 (Sunday night) at 7:30pm at The Comedy Spot in Ballston Mall. Yes, it's April Fool's day, but this is no foolin'.

How do you enter?

Send us a 5 minute short film. It can be on VHS, DVD, miniDV, or a digital file we can download. It must be an original work, including any music or other media it contains. Send the entries to:

Serial Survivor c/o
The Comedy Spot
Ballston Common Mall
4238 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22203

What's a cliffhanger?

The ending must leave something unresolved that makes the audience want to know what happens next.

What's the prize?

There will be a cash prize at the end of the series for the winner, as well as the runner-up. Additionally, your films will be included on the Serial Survivor Season One DVD, which we'll sell (and cut you in on the profits). So yes, you'll have to sign an agreement saying we can include your series on the DVD. The amount of the cash prize will be a percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales to ALL of the screenings (five in all), so encourage your friends to come see your film, and make sure they don't vote to have it eliminated.

Summary

Submit your short film (no longer than 5 minutes, seriously) to The Comedy Spot at the above address.

Submit BEFORE March 26, 2007

Come to the screenings (the first one is April 1st, 2007).

Technical Crap

1. Your entry must be a short film, with a title, and a cliffhanger ending. It may not exceed five minutes in length, including titles and credits.
2. Not all submissions will be accepted. Only the best 6 submissions will be included in the first round of screenings. We will determine which serials get to compete, and after that it will be up to audiences and judges to determine who gets eliminated. We may show more than 6 entries at the first screening, but only 6 will be in the running. You will be notified either way.
3. Your submission tape, DVD, etc must have your name on it, the name of your serial, an email address where we can contact you, and a phone number in case you don't read your email regularly.
4. There are no restriction on content- but be warned: The screenings are being held at The Comedy Spot, which is in a mall, and there are glass windows looking into the club. If you have graphic violence, or worse extreme nudity, it will probably not bode well for your chances of having the show screened. We WILL be watching them before they are shown, and if it freaks us out, we won't show it.
5. You do not have to live or work in the Washington, DC area to enter. Bring it on. You don't have to be present to win. But we are going to tape the screenings for the DVD, so if you are there, it would be nice.
6. By entering the contest, you agree to have your work screened as part of our Serial Survivor show, and agree to have your work included on the DVD if we see fit to include it. You will be compensated in SOME way for inclusion on the DVD... it may not be much, but it'll be something.
7. The winners will win a cash prize based on a percentage of the screening attendance. Entry to the screenings will be $5 per person, including the filmmakers (hey, if you win, you'll get that money back).
8. Members of DCUP are not eligle to participate in submissions, but may end up being judges at one or more screenings.
9. Got more questions? Fire them off to serial @ dcupcomedy.com