RIPFest #7

Submission Guidelines

August 5, 2005Raw Impressions, Inc. is proud to announce the opening of submissions to participate in RIPFest #7.

RIPFest #7 will be produced October 14-November 1, 2005 in New York and Los Angeles.

In case you don't know about Raw Impressions, we're an award winning not-for-profit company committed to inspiring artists to be prolific with excellence. We also create opportunities for artists to take risks and work with new collaborators. Lastly, we premiere all the work we commission after supporting our participants through a speedy development process free from commercial pressures - so our artists can just be artists.
RIPFest is our film division in which participants who have never met are paired together to make 6 short films in 16 days. We produce half in NY and half in LA simultaneously. We've made 39 short films in the last 3 years and have events in the Fall and Spring.

Here’s what happens at RIPFest
At the first meeting, 6 teams are announced - each comprised of: a producer, a director,
a writer, a composer, an editor, a DP, a group of actors (1-5), and a crew.
The teams are given guidelines in creating a new 5-10 minute DV film. Then we have:
2 days to write a first draft in which is given a reading by the actors.
2 days for rewrites
2 days for pre-production.
2 days to shoot the film.
8 days for post-production.
16 days after the first meeting, the films are premiered to a crowd of over 1000 people.

There are no restrictions on content or style. However, each team is given the same guidelines for creative inspiration. An EXAMPLE of The Guidelines for RIPFest #6 were: 
Create a 5-10 Minute DV film tailored to the actors you are given. 
Use the one indoor and one outdoor location you are assigned. 
Theme: "Without Thinking"

For RIPFest #7, there is no set genre. The films will not be movie musicals. But, there will be a theme announced on the first day of the event.

We DO NOT produce previously written or conceived scripts/films.

There is no pay. Food/Video provided. SAG Experiment Film Contract. 

Raw Impressions promotes the best films to come out of RIPFest. Many films continue to be shown at events and festivals around the country including the Mill Valley Film Festival, Santa Cruz Film Festival, Chicago City Limits First Sundays Film Festival, The Daily Show's "This Just In" Film Festival, the Brookline Film Festival and broadcast on The Showtime Network.Submissions must be Postmarked by September 2, 2005.

If you're applying to participate in NY send submissions to
Erik Bryan Slavin, Creative Director
Raw Impressions, Inc.
Attn: RIPFest #7
63 Greene St. #506
New York, NY 10012

If you're applying to participate in LA send submissions to:
David Rodwin
RIPFest #7
2817 3rd St. Suite #C
Santa Monica, CA 90405
You may also hand deliver submissions to our NY office only (not in LA) from 11AM-5PM M-F at the address above. Be very gracious to the receptionist Christine and specifically say you'd like to leave a submission for Raw Impressions.

We discourage electronic submissions.

If you are unable to send a submission by this date, but very much want to be involved, call David Rodwin at (917) 553-2147.

See below for requested work samples and the full participant schedule.

Double-Click on the individual lines below to download a PDF of:

The RIPFest #7 Schedule
Everything You Need To Know Before You Do A RIPFest
A Who's Who of past RIPFests
An Overview of Raw Impressions, Inc.

Selection for RIPFest is highly competitive. You may apply in more than one category, but you may only be selected in one. (e.g. there are never people both writing and directing)

Categories: producer, director, writer, composer, editor, DP, sound mixer, sound editor, actor, PA, make-up, wardrobe. You must send appropriate works samples for each position you're submitting for.  (Producer commitments begin as early as September 15).

Materials will not be returned. Do not send masters. We will notify those selected as participants as soon as possible after all entries have been received.  We will not be notifying people we do not invite to participate.
If we do not take you for RIPFest #7, it does not necessarily mean we don't want to work with you. The demand is high and the participants for each event are selected as a whole for balance and compatibility of artists. You may submit work again if we don't chose you now.

Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in applying.

If you have any questions, please email David Rodwin at david@rawimpressions.org or call at (917) 553-3147.
We look forward to receiving your submission,


David Rodwin, Producing Artistic Director
Christopher Tiné, Executive Producer
Erik Bryan Slavin, Creative Director
Bruce Kennedy, Co-Executive Producer
Jackie Stolfie, Consulting Producer

RIPFest submissions we request
1) Worksamples - See below
2) Resume - Include a resume relevant to the position you're applying for.
3) Cover Letter - Please make clear in the cover letter and on the material submitted what position you're applying for, how your heard about Raw Impressions, and how participating would make a difference to you professionally and artistically.

Directors, Editors, Producers DPs:(1) Resume and VHS or DVD of a 5 minute section from any length film.  (please have the taped cued to the 5 minutes you'd like us to view . If you worked on that film in a capacity other than what you're applying to participate in RIPFest as, make note of that in a cover letter.)

Writers: (1) hard copy of a script. Preferably film and preferably short. If you send a feature, we will only read the first 20 pages, unless you indicate clearly which other 20 pages to read. TV scripts or plays are acceptable, but they put you at a huge disadvantage - especially stage plays. 

Composers and Lyricists: (1) CD representative of your best work. And if available, a VHS or DVD of a 5 minute section from any length film you have composed the score for or/and a section/song from a music theatre piece you've composed. Please send a lyric sheet with the CD. (please have the taped cued to the 5 minutes you'd like us to view and note on the CD which track you'd like us to listen to expect that we will only listen to 5 minutes). If you're applying with a specific collaborator, please make note of that.

Actor/Singers: (1) Picture/resume with extensive MUSICAL credits. (1) 5-minute reel. (Do NOT send video of stage productions.)

Raw Impressions promotes the best films to come out of RIPFest. Many films continue to be shown at events and festivals around the country including the Mill Valley Film Festival, The Sonoma Film Festival, The Ms. Film Festival, Santa Cruz Film Festival, Chicago City Limits First Sundays Film Festival, The Daily Show's "This Just In" Film Festival, the Brookline Film Festival and broadcast on The Showtime Network.