Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA)

Rules

2010 Overview

To be eligible for the competition, you must deliver your short film to us by Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 5:00 pm. Your short film must meet our criteria. You are responsible for all costs associated with the film/video you produce.

You must give us certain non-exclusive rights in your short film so that we can make your film readily available to the public without having to come back to you for each possible use. This approach is the most practical. You retain ownership rights to your work. You are free to show it to others when and where you like.

We require you to take responsibility for your short film submission. You must get rights, releases, and licenses for your use of materials that might infringe the rights of others. You must not put the other individuals or their works into your short film without their consent. In very limited situations, you may have the legal right to use the works of others without their consent. The decision to use without consent should be made based on a complete understanding of the law and the facts in your situation. Be careful. If you have questions, ask. Be especially careful with using MUSIC. Music definitely adds a lot to your film, but it must be music you have permission to use or have created yourself. Films using music without permission are automatically disqualified from the competition and will not be included on the 2010 Quiet on the Set compilation DVD.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all ages and abilities. Films can be produced individually or in teams. Individuals or teams may be involved in more than one entry.

Delivery

You must deliver 2 DVDs and submission paperwork in-person or post-marked no later than 5:00 pm July 21, 2010. If you mail in your submission, send to:

MELSA
Attention: Quiet on the Set short film competition
1619 Dayton Avenue, #314
St Paul, MN 55104


You will receive the submission paperwork when you register.

Format

The short film must be no longer than 5 minutes in duration. This includes the opening title card and closing credits. Two copies of your short film submission must be provided on DVD (your submission can be viewed by our judges via any commercially available DVD player). The first title card in the closing credit must read "This film was produced for the Quiet on the Set short film competition" and you must include the following list of sponsors: MELSA, Comcast, and IFP. (Logos are available at the bottom of this website, if you want to include sponsor logos.)

Required Elements

Your short film must include the following:

  • A metro public library card
  • The exterior of a metro public library
  • The interior of a metro public library
  • The International Symbol for Library (this is the sign that appears around town in the vicinity of libraries; you may also pull the sign from this website.)

You must contact the provided library staff contact for the branch where you plan to film; it's a good idea to do this at least a couple of weeks before you plan to shoot your film. You must also provide a brief description, or treatment, of the action to take place. Action that would pose a danger to the library, its patrons or its contents is not permitted. You may not access parts of the library not typically accessible to the public (staff lounges, etc.) You may not have access to the library during hours that it isn't open to the public. There may be other restrictions at the library you select; library staff will let you know if the action you have planned needs to be revised to be within regulations.

Content

Movie making is about imagination and storytelling. Within that framework, your short film submission must:

  • Not contain any material (including language) that is unlawful, defamatory, threatening, obscene, racially offensive, or in any other way objectionable.
  • Not serve to promote, advertise, or market any product or service.
  • These short films will be posted to a special Quiet on the Set playlist on YouTube. As such your short film submission must also meet their Community Guidelines.
  • If foreign words or phrases are included, an English language translation appears in subtitles. In fact, your film may be in a language other than English, as long as subtitles in English are included.
  • MELSA reserves the right to reject any short film submitted hereunder at MELSA's discretion. MELSA is not obligated to exhibit, display, distribute, or publish the short film.

For more information, call Sally Lederer at 651-645-5731, ext. 102