THE pantry-raiding adventures of a baby boy with his own stunt double, a Jackass-style shopping trolley stunt that goes horribly wrong and an ant's-eye view of Newcastle's overlooked beauty spots.
These are some of the films all short and some sweet chosen this week as finalists in the $5000 Herald 2 Minute Showdown.
The judges have selected 10 of the best entries, which have been posted online at www.theherald.com.au so readers can vote for their favourite.
Ranging from naff slapstick to contemplative art shot in widescreen monochrome to a comedy of kitchen-sink theology, the final 10 contenders in The Herald's inaugural micro-movie challenge include the good, the bad and the ugly.
Indeed, there's even a quick-draw face-off beside the Hunter River that's straight out of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, the classic Sergio Leone spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood in a poncho.
Chasing a fistful of dollars, JVC digital cameras and automatic entry into this year's Newcastle Shoot Out 24-Hour Film-Making Festival, Showdown entrants were asked to create a two-minute, in-camera edited film including four of five emblems of the Hunter Region: the Hunter River, The Herald, the beach, a Knight and grapes.
Demonstrating plenty of cheek, the backyard Steven Spielbergs chose to feature the items as props, themes and backdrops.
And while the quality of their scripts, camera work, acting and no-budget effects varies widely, the common denominators among these do-it-yourself Martin Scorseses are creativity, pluck and lots of fun:
- In Brianna Jones And The Kingdom Of The Custard Scroll, from Lambton's Joel Goodsir, a little girl and her daring infant brother explore the pantry, Indiana Jones-style, for fabled lost pastries.
- Our Newcastle, by Bar Beach's Anthony Dempsey, offers an ant's-eye view of the city.
- In Little Jim, Dean Parr, of The Hill, reveals everything a boy needs to know before meeting grandpa, including strategically applied moisturiser.
- Thong Man, by Redhead's Nigel Williams, is shot on Newcastle's Horseshoe Beach, where a Man With No Name clad in Eastwood-style poncho meets his match in a throwdown with a difference.
- In Breakfast Sin, Adamstown's Oliver Brown gives the most important meal of the day a divine twist.
- Geoff Peel, of Mayfield, goes fishing on Ash Island and leaves his mark in I Fish And I Vote.
- In The Running Boy, by Booragul's Phillip Reynolds, a Jackass-style shopping trolley prank goes awry.
- Debra Waters, of Mayfield East, ponders a lonely woman's dreams in The Winner.
- In Graveyard Grapes, Newcastle Knight Kurt Gidley discovers human remains on the beach at Glenrock Lagoon and Adamstown's Madelaine Nunn sets out to solve the mystery.
- And The Asking, by Kotara's Derek Fisher, is a schoolyard comedy about two boys, two girls and one question.
Now it is over to you, the readers, to pick your favourite:
- Click to Watch the 2 Minute Showdown videos; then
- PICK YOUR FAVOURITE THROUGH THE POLL ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE.
The readers' choice winner will receive $500 and a JVC compact and easy digital video camera from Domayne Kotara valued at $399.
The best film as chosen by the judges will receive $2500 and an automatic team entry (up to eight members) in the Newcastle Shoot Out 24-Hour Film-Making Festival. The winning film also will be shown at the Shoot Out Top Ten screening and awards ceremony on July 13.
The runner-up will receive $1000 and a JVC Everio Hybrid camcorder from Domayne Kotara valued at $799.