straight 8
one super 8mm cartridge, no editing
about us
hi
straight 8 challenges anyone to make a 3 minute film on one cartridge of super 8mm cine film, editing only in-camera and people join in from all over the world
here's 'the last trip' made by malcolm finlay, a cardiologist who had hardly made any films before
we had it shown on channel 4's '3 minute wonder' after the evening news and it played at cannes too
it's a great straight 8
the last trip - malcolm finlay
and still feeling the fear ourselves, here's an effort from us for 08:
bike film too - ed sayers
read what wikipedia has to say about us
the 12 directors whose films we selected for cannes 2007 each received a super 8 camera** beautifully embalmed in black resin, by asylum models:

straight 8 began in 1999 when a bunch of people were invited to make a short turnaround no budget three minute film on a single cartridge of super 8 with a cinema audience guaranteed. 25 people: directors, producers, runners, d.p.'s, editors, writers, actors, a d.j., a cinema manager and various others braved the challenge. it was bold and it was loose. there was no expectation. then it grew and great things have happened including the films becoming a lot more polished and clever. but the experimental spirit is still very much part of the DNA. i t's just grown bigger and cleverer as more and more people have joined in and we want you to too because if you've got a film in you, we want to see it
we held our first straight 8 all-day super 8 workshop in london saturday 23rd february 2008. in conjunction with no.w.here lab. we had 16 people in pairs with 8 cameras of their own. we showed some films and some amazing processing techniques courtesy of james of no.w.here's amazing german arthouse collection of vhs's. we set a brief and sent the teams out to shoot on hampstead heath. they were brave and bold superstars. we then spent the afternoon processing, drying, spooling, discussing and choosing music. finally, a few beers later, we projected 8 great super-fast turnaround straight 8's - all within a 12 hour window. yes. on film. 48 hour film fest eat your heart out (we love you)
even as a camera test, our workshop is a lot more fun than standing in the street trying to juggle a camera and a focus chart. and we'll probably run it again sometime
so please join our mailing list so we can invite you to join in. we won't share it. promise
have a look around the site. there's more about the rules below and more films to see on the films page which updates regularly, so come back soon. and bring friends
feel free to email us anytime with any questions or just to say hi
thanks for dropping by. we hope to see you somewhere soon
straight 8
** if you have a super 8 camera that's beyond repair that you'd like to donate so that we can make it into an 08 trophy, you're a hero... please contact us
the rules (roughly)
you shoot a film on the single cartridge of super 8mm film that we
send to you. you can only edit in-camera. then you hand back your
un-developed film to us for processing. and upload an original
soundtrack
the film we send you is the actual one you shoot and we show. if it's good enough... the first time you see your film is with a packed cinema audience
the projectionist will simply play your soundtrack when he sees the first
frame of your film. no written instructions to our projectionist allowed
- it is very dark in there. he doesn't care anyway. well, he does. a lot actually. but you get the idea
you need to create original sound and/or music and get clearance from
any actors/performers who feature in your film and sound. we will send you our full rules / tips and a release form when you enter and all the wording will be there - you need to follow it to the letter
make the films you want. because that's what straight 8 is all about. we won't screen films
we think are seriously offensive or defamatory. but we
are open-minded
we love the fact we get entries about all different stuff from all over the world from people of all different backgrounds. that's why we never set themes
this is about you making the film you want to make
not about us
the straight8s. a rockabilly trio from central north carolina. find them at www.straight8s.com
