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You Could Be Laughing
Aspiring filmmakers offered a chance to have their work personally viewed and judged by Peter Jackson.
It's an opportunity that no budding filmmaker would turn down - a chance to work with the production team responsible for The Lord of the Rings trilogy, under the guidance of executive producer, Barrie Osborne, and then have this work judged by Peter Jackson himself.
So how did this miraculous opportunity come knocking? 100% Pure New Zealand Presents Your Big Break is a short film competition that is looking for submissions of three-minute screenplays that capture the spirit of New Zealand. Of these submitted screenplays, an expert panel of judges, including The Lord of the Rings executive producer Barrie Osborne, will select four outstanding submissions and one "People's Choice" finalist screenplay will be chosen from votes cast by members of the public.
These five lucky entrants will then shoot and direct their short films on location with the assistance of Osborne and have access to the world-class post production facility, Park Road Post, so that their final product can be presented to Peter Jackson for viewing and judging.
"As producer of The Lord of the Rings," says Barrie Osborne. "I can tell you New Zealand is an incredible place to shoot in - and anyone who has the opportunity to get their work judged by Peter Jackson has an opportunity of a lifetime."
Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive, George Hickton, sees the competition as a platform on which filmmakers can "capture the essence of 100% Pure New Zealand and tell the world their story of how they see the youngest country on earth."
With New Zealand's world-famous ski fields, mountain ranges and sheep, it seems as though filmmakers will have no difficulty in finding inspiration.
"The importance of having two film industry legends involved with Your Big Break is immense," continues Hickton. "Their support will help ensure the project is noticed by the world's film industry, give it international reach and, we hope, result in some great stories."
Submissions and voting for the first round of the competition will open from December 9, 2009. Head to the website for more information including advice and insights from Peter Jackson and Barrie Osborne.
Picture Caption: Peter Jackson at work on the set of The Lovely Bones, released in cinemas from December 26, 2009.