If you're interested in film writing and production, this might interest you:
MySpace has launched MyMovie MashUp in partnership with Vertigo Films, a competition to find the best short film director on MySpace. The winner will get to direct a feature film with a budget of over £1 million with the film scheduled for theatrical release in 2008. Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of film-makers and actors who will select five finalists. The finalists then face a public vote by millions of MySpace users to decide the ultimate winner.
You will be able to follow the entire process online, including the production phase--this is kind of a rare opportunity. I had a look at the work of a couple of directors whose short films are on the site and can't say I've been overly impressed, but it's early days. (One of the short films starts with a close-up of a digital alarm clock which then rings and a hand reaches out and turns it off...one of those visual cliches I hope never to see again...).
