Local high school youth invited to make a movie

The Pahrump Masonic Lodge number 54 has invited local high school students and home-school students of high school age to participate in a home movie competition.

The length of the movie is to be five to 15 minutes. Characters are required and must be in the movie. The movie must have a story line and its content should be equivalent to a PG13 rating. The film’s producer, director and actors’ names need to be shown as credits on the film.

In addition, movies should include audio and can be filmed by cell phone or any movie camera. The movies need to be transferred to DVD, MOV, MP4 or H.264 formats or downloaded to a flash drive to qualify.

All entries must be original works. Inserts of other films or logos can not be a part of the movie. This is to avoid any copyright infringements.

Themes can be drama, love stories, comedy, science fiction or scary movies. Creativity is the object of this competition.

The lodge is offering trophies, certificates, cash prizes and entry fees for competition in the 2015 High Desert International Film Festival for the first three winners.

All entries must be received at the Masons, P.O. Box 2322, Pahrump NV, 89041, no later than Aug. 20. Entrants, however, are encouraged to submit their film as soon as completed.

There will be seven judges. Five will be members of the Masonic Lodge. They are David White, Harry Smith, Ed Underhill, Frank Heyer and one other still to be chosen. The other two judges are Jerry Sprague, a seasoned actor now performing with the Shadow Mountain Community Players (SMCP) and this reporter, who is President of the Pahrump Youth Film Festival (PYFF) and actor with SMCP.

Underhill presented the competition idea to his fellow Masons and it was approved by its membership in April, 2014. Underhill said, “It’s talked about a lot. There is very little for the youth to do in our community. As citizens, we need to provide activities. Developing opportunities, for them to express their creativity, is a worthwhile endeavor.”

There are additional opportunities in the community for youth film makers. There are acting opportunities for film, stage and radio. In addition, there are classes given in display art. The three winners of the Mason’s competition will be showcased at PYFF on Sept. 27.

The festival will soon have an FM radio station in operation. It plans to include segments for youth to write, produce, direct and act in radio plays.

SMCP seeks youths to try out for the four or five plays it presents annually. Nye Community Coalition(NyECC) conducts two youth workshops each year that produces short films to be shown at schools and local film festivals. Many artists who are members of the Pahrump Arts Council, offer mentoring and classes in display art.

For film workshops call Francine Winters of NyECC at (775) 727-9970. For the film competition call Edward at (702) 686-7433. For play tryouts call Gayle at: (775) 727-6145. For PAC classes call: (775) 751-6776.

Contact author Creag Rowland by emailing creag.pvtimes@gmail.com.