Filmmakers raise stakes to promote at Louisiana Film Prize

To win the 2015 Louisiana Film Prize on Oct. 2-4, the Top 20 filmmakers have to be creative, have spunk and, most of all, be willing to bribe their audience.

In the prize’s fourth year, the filmmakers continue to be competitive in their means to go for the grand prize of $50,000.

The grand prize winner is determined by a panel of industry professionals from across the country (50 percent) as well as festival attendees (50 percent). When it comes to votes and promotions, there are no rules about filmmakers promoting their film. Bribes can be dished out before, during and after festival-goers view their film.

Aside from bribes, some go to extreme levels to promote their films.

Local writer/producer Eric Rippetoe whose film entry, “In Progress,” is about a bank robbery, thought outside the box by creating a fake press release intimating he had actually been arrested for robbery.

“I was contacted by several people who really thought it was serious, that I had really been arrested,” Rippetoe said.

Putting their personal record on the line is just one of the many ways the filmmakers draw attention to their film.

The team behind the Top 20 film, “The God Particle,” will host a “celebration of art” Sept. 30 at the Remington Suites Hotel.

“In addition to serving food and drinks (including locally produced beer), we have even had a mixologist create a ‘God Particle Cocktail,’ which we will serve at the event,” Amber Lindley, part of the “God Particle” team, said. The party will also feature dancers and musicians entertaining the crowd.

Some also use their film to do good and give back to the community.

Dallas-based filmmaker/screen writer Catherine Hatcher is the creative force behind one of the Top 20 films, “Five Star Dinner Club.”

“Our film is about a group of people who love to eat and eat well,” Hatcher said.

“As our film is about people who dine at the finest restaurants, we thought it would be a great idea to do some fundraising for those in the community who are not so lucky. We have been doing some fundraising and raffles with all the money raised going to the local food bank,” Hatcher said.

Of course, the most widely used tools are traditional promotional items such as T-shirts, sunglasses, flyers and booths at the event. However, many of the prize entrants actually create film trailers for their projects, which can give them an online presence and expanded exposure in an attempt to garner votes for their projects.

And as the film prize website reminds the audience, “The power to alter the fate of a filmmaker is in your hands. Choose wisely!”

Louisiana Film Prize event coordinator Sabrina Adsit has been with the Louisiana Film Prize since its inception. “What drives me is the energy here and to see the work unfold,” Adsit said.

Along with this year the film prize, the weekend will also include a Music Prize. The Music Prize kicks off Sept. 30 in downtown Shreveport. The winning band will get $2,500 and a recording session at Blade Studios.

With each event that spurs from the Louisiana Film Prize, Executive Director Gregory Kallenberg said he loves seeing the creative measures filmmakers take to reach out to the public.

–Karl Hasten

WANT TO GO?

Louisiana Film Prize WHEN: Oct. 2-4 WHERE: Locations in downtown Shreveport and Bossier City. TICKETS: lafilmprize.com