What happens when you give a bunch of school students seven days to make a mini documentary on their region?
That's the 'reel' challenge for Year 12 students from Narangba to Caloundra in the inaugural QUT High School Film Competition.
The contest will run over one intense week, with each eight-member school team filming and editing a short film of up to three minutes on their region.
It will all kick off on May 10 when the students take part in an all-day film workshop hosted by QUT creative industries experts including Associate Professor Geoff Portmann (a former head of comedy at ABC TV, best-known for producing/directing Mother and Son).
The school students' mini documentaries will be screened at a special "red carpet" night at QUT's Caboolture campus on May 17.
QUT's Caboolture head of campus Robert Craig said it was the first time the university had staged the competition.
"We have very creative young people across our region so it will be interesting to see the results of their hard work," he said.
"We have enlisted our experts from QUT's Creative Industries Faculty to get them started with the workshop - after that it's all up to them.
"The students have just seven days to produce their short films and then we will - literally - roll out the red carpet on May 17 for a gala screening of their work in front of 200 guests."
The winning school team will receive $3000 to spend on camera and sound recording equipment, plus $250 cash for each student and a $1000 scholarship to QUT if they decide to come to the university next year.
All participants are also eligible for a $500 scholarship to QUT Caboolture.
The schools taking part are St Columban's College (Caboolture), Bribie Island State High, Meridan State College (Caloundra), Dakabin State High, Narangba Valley State High, Grace Lutheran College (Caboolture), St Eugene College (Burpengary), and Tullawong State High.
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, 07 3138 9449 (Mon & Thurs) or media@qut.edu.au (Mon-Fri)
