VFS and YouTube have just announced an international scholarship competition that should knock Chris Crocker off the front page and into the obscurity which has hungered for him ever since the Leave Britney Alone fifteen minutes started.

The prize is a full tuition scholarship to internationally-respected Vancouver Film School, the school out of which Kevin Smith dropped to go on to produce the magnum opus, the veritable Big Chill of his generation, Clerks. Like I ever saw that.

I’m old, yo.

Anyhoo. The challenge is to make a compelling YouTube pitch explaining just exactly why you’re the natural choice to win. Anyone with enough self-confidence to go into film should have no problem with this part. The school picks the finalists, and then the viewers on YouTube make the final choice.

Official Rules

Full Press Release (PDF)

A few more details, from the FAQ:

This competition is about making film school accessible to everyone. The YouTube community will award three aspiring artists (that includes directors, animators, actors, sound designers and more) with full-tuition scholarships to the Vancouver Film School program of their choice.

Between March 18th and May 9th, submit a short film, animation or creative pitch addressing the theme “What Matters to You.” You must start your video by identifying the VFS program you wish to attend and you must limit your video to no more than three minutes. On May 20th, we will announce the 10 finalists, selected by Vancouver Film School.

From May 20th to May 27th, the YouTube community will view and vote for their favorite videos.

On May 30th, we will announce the 3 scholarship winners.

What programs are up for scholarship awards?

1. Foundation Visual Art & Design
2. Acting Essentials
3. 3D Animation & Visual Effects
4. Classical Animation
5. Digital Character Animation
6. Houdini™ Certification
7. Acting for Film & Television
8. Digital Design
9. Entertainment Business Management
10. Film Production
11. Game Design
12. Makeup Design for Film & Television
13. Sound Design for Visual Media
14. Writing for Film & Television

Some handy tips:

Be creative. Don’t just tell us what’s important to you – show us. For example, if you’re a director, make a short film or documentary about an issue you care about. If you’re an animator, animate a story about an issue, person, place, etc. that matters to you. If you’re a writer, pitch a fresh screenplay concept about something that matters to you. If you’re a makeup artist, transform a stranger into someone who matters to you. These are just ideas and we know you can do better, but the point is: think creatively!

What gets into the shortlist?

Vancouver Film School will judge submissions based on the following criteria:

a. Creativity and Originality (up to 25 points)
b. Relevance of the video to the particular program of study selected (up to 25 points)
c. Technical Execution: Camera/Sound/Lighting/Editing (up to 25 points)
d. Overall Impression (up to 25 points)

And after that, it’s all up to the community on YouTube, so start sucking up building relationships now!

Vancouver Writes on February 23rd

(Vancouver, January 15, 2007) The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents Vancouver Writes—an evening of competitive wordplay that will bring together people interested in writing with established authors to produce “instant literature”. Join host Billeh Nickerson, authors Caroline Adderson, Elizabeth Bachinsky, Kevin Chong, Steven Galloway, Zsuzsi Gartner, Genni Gunn, C.C. Humphreys, Nancy Lee, Billie Livingston, Miranda Pearson, Bill Richardson, Timothy Taylor and many more of Vancouver’s finest for the first edition of Vancouver Writes.

Teams of eight participants will collaborate with one well-known Vancouver writer acting as coach and editor to come up with a piece of prizewinning fiction or poetry. There will be three contests during the evening, and writers will switch teams after each contest, giving participants the opportunity to work with a variety of writers. Vancouver jazz ensemble Mother of Pearl will help the participants get into the groove.

The Vancouver Writes judges will choose a winner for each contest and prizes will be awarded to the team. After the three sessions a grand winner will be announced, which will be published in The Tyee, BC’s on-line newspaper. Then the real fun will begin—live music, drinks, and a chance for the contestants and published writers to mingle and talk. For more information or to register go to www.writersfest.bc.ca.

Vancouver Writes is part of the Winterruption Festival, a showcase of food, arts and culture on Granville Island (February 23–25).

Vancouver Writes

February 23 @ 7:30 PM

Performance Works

Tickets: $20/18 students & seniors

Tickets are limited

Call 604-681-6330 or log onto http://www.writersfest.bc.ca

Winterruption 2007

February 23–25, 2007 on Granville Island

www.winterruption.com

-30-

For downloadable photos go to http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/media/author-photos.php

For more information contact Ann McDonell 604 681 6330 ext 104

Development & Marketing Manager

Vancouver International Writers Festival

dmm at writersfest.bc.ca

-note that this is unpaid-

VANCOUVER CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL 2007

We are delighted to announce that the second annual Cherry Blossom Festival will take place in Vancouver, Canada, during March and April 2007.

We invite poets from around the world to submit one unpublished haiku inspired by the beauty of the cherry tree. Submissions must be received by January 11, 2007.

Top selected haiku will become part of a permanent stone Haiku Memorial at Burrard SkyTrain Station in downtown Vancouver under the cherry tree planted in 2006 to commemorate the inaugural festival. The Haiku Memorial will be
unveiled at the festival’s opening mid March and selected haiku will also be displayed on TransLink city buses and SkyTrain cars for a period of two months.

In addition, top selected haiku will win free copies of “Haiku Journey,” a new computer game from Hot Lava Games that features 540 English-language haiku by 45 poets around the world, selected by Michael Dylan Welch.

Other works of merit will be published on the VCBF Website and featured at readings throughout the festival.

You may find submission details at http://www.vcbf.ca/ by following the link to haiku.

We look forward to receiving your haiku and thank you for your participation as Vancouver so enjoys and appreciates your writing.

Respectfully,

Linda Poole
VCBF Creative Director

Carole MacRury
Michael Dylan Welch
Edward Zuk
Haiku Committee

The Haiku Invitational is made possible with the support of the Canadian Society for Asian Arts.

from Gawker comes word of NaDruWriNi, which isn’t officially called that but should be: ’tis the National Drinking and Writing Festival, ’tis, but even we Canuckistanis shall co-opt it, for lo, we are very co-opterative up here at the socialist roof of the world, and lo, we drink more than they do, so there.

Alas, the glorious day has passed, but as they point out on the site, the next Festival is a mere 51 lost weekends away. Think of it as physical training and carry a notebook small enough to fit in your pocket so it sticks with you when you lose your purse, as you surely will around word 2,800, if I can believe what my shockingly disreputable friends tell me.

Naturally, you’ll want to pay attention to your choice of booze. Feeling feline? Go with gin. Working on a piece about the high life? See if you can’t round up a crystal Champagne flute and magnum of Cristal, or at least a couple of straws and a jug of Cribari. Working on a murder tale? Well then, what’s their poison? Kimveer Gill had Jack Daniels for breakfast his last day on Earth; Christian Brando had three Negronis and then shot his sister’s lover; Robert Frisbee drank something like seven French 75’s and a bottle of wine before bludgeoning the poor, foolish little old lady who paid for his cocktails.

Yeah, just a little something to set the mood.

I would post excerpts, if only I could read the handwriting. Click and decipher for yourselves. This is what Gawker found, from last year, and it’s representative:

observation #5

 

i was going to write about
an old man i saw
but am now so drunk
that i cannot concentrate enough
do do so
or remember him
h9old on
giveme a sec.

From Lois Peterson’s Surreywriters list. Note that this is not paid writing work, which is, of course, how I came to hear about it:

On Sunday the Province will lanch the Sunday Serial Thriller, a 12-part mini-novel set in Vancouver.

The first and last chapters will be written by Daniel Kalla, with the the other chapters contributed by Province readers.  Prizes to be won include a trip to Mexico.

Complete details, and the first instalment, appears in the Sunday Province.

NEWS:
Friends and associates, in the past week WinneroftheWeek.com underwent some remodeling.  What came out of this remodeling are some very fine new humor sections and improvements upon the older ones.   You will find these sections catalogued at the top of the third column for your clicking pleasure.

THE NEW CONTEST IS AS FOLLOWS:
“The Worst Educational Experience of all Time” -  In 117 words or less, share your worst experience in school, be that college, high school, middle school, grade school, pre-school. Check out the site for details.

OTHER NEWS:
The 13 most backhanded letters of encouragement of all time are on the site right now, as well as important information on the end of all life on earth, Condoleeza Rice, Ancient Roman Sanitation, Judge’s Notes on last week’s contest, The McCoy Review from world traveler Christopher McCoy, The Person of the Week, User Favorites (contests and articles) and so much more.
Sincerely,
The WinneroftheWeek.com Staff
winneroftheweek.com

From Gawker.
David Patrick Columbia Defeats Death

Socialite captioneer and social mandarin David Patrick Columbia is most well known for running the good ship New York Social Diary. Unfortunately, it seems he took in a showing of An Inconvenient Truth. That or the heat done got him. The generally dark news here and abroad inspired the gentleman to issue this declaration:

Nothing is impossible as long as there is you and your imagination. That may be beyond naivete. But … have you ever been confronted by the very real possibility of death? I have. I learned that the human reaction is to Do Something.
In other words, have you ever stared death in the face, punk, like David Patrick Columbia has? We have no idea what the actual possibility of death was that confronted DPC, but we’re sure we can collectively come up with a better one. Therefore, the challenge: in 50 words or less, describe David Patrick Columbia confronting and overcoming death. The scenario must take place at a NYSD-appropriate party or other social function. Submit entries in the comments below or to dpcdeathatgmaildotcom. Winning entry receives a free copy of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Edition.

Happy Monday!  It’s Monday!  Yay!  Awesome!

NEWS:
The 30 Best Animals of all Time are now featured on the site. Whether it
be the sewer rat, the manatee, the party animal, the narwhal, etc., the
story of these animals are sure to brighten your day. Thanks to all who
submitted.  Also on the site: important information concerning
mosquitoes, Superman versus Batman, a particular Russian Duchess,
Baroque versus Rococo, and so so much more.

THE NEW CONTEST IS AS FOLLOWS:
“Why, Despite the Odds is Everything Going To Turn Out Okay?” In 111
words or less, write the most positive affirming letter ever, something
that would truly uplift someone’s spirit amidst the many problems in
their life that you continually mention. Who this backhanded letter is
intended for is up to you.

SOME INTRIGUING IF NOT COMPLETELY USELESS NOTES ON LAST WEEK”S CONTEST:
While the list of animals compiled in the past week was diverse, diverse
as the reasons for their choosing, the editors at WinneroftheWeek.com
did pick up on some trends. It seems that when given the choice to be
any creature under the sun, most contestants chose an animal alter-ego
that ensured a life of laziness, frequent sex and pooping—three very
human ideals.  That said, we salute the oversexed, the lethargic and
the fine individuals with poop on the brain.  We would also like to
congratulate Joey Lawrence for having made the best animals of al time
list.  Joey, you have not been forgotten.

Very excited about the things to come,

The WinneroftheWeek.com Staff
http://winneroftheweek.com