The art of making a one-minute-movie

At the cutting edge of filmmaking, Marguerite Albrecht and her team will present a workshop that lets you in on the secrets of one of the most disciplined challenges you'll ever face as a writer.

Your task is to ... tell a story ... on digital video ... in exactly 60 seconds ... in one continuous shot ... with a crew who must produce the entire movie within twenty-four hours!

Last year saw the launch of the concept in South Africa, with screenings at various venues around the country, and a best-of collection shown on SABC3.

Based on a concept by Mexican producers Valentina Leduc and Jean Carlos Rulfo, the Quickies brought together 35 South African directors with backgrounds as diverse as their individual stories.

For experienced television directors, experimental filmmakers, film students and first time directors, Quickies offered the opportunity to delve into filmmaking in all its stages - from the conception of the idea, to pre-production, production and postproduction. On the other hand, more experienced directors faced the challenge of returning to the bare minimum of telling a story in 60 seconds.

This year, The Quickies Company - who originated the idea, and own the rights to it - takes the idea even further. Starting soon, 40 Professionals and 10 Virgins will be selected to produce 5O Quickies over one dirty weekend. One-million voyeurs will watch the proceedings on national television and select the 16 sexiest Quickies to engage in a series of daring knock-up rounds. After a final orgy of filmmaking, viewers will vote for the hottest Quickster in the land.

And the winner gets ... the chance to make a full-length feature film. With the most talented newcomer winning a film-school scholarship.

As usual, all filmmaking starts with the script. So on Saturday 13 July, not only will writers be given a full overview of the selection process, they'll see examples of Quickies from last year ... and get hints on how to conceptualise, write, and rewrite their own ideas.

And all writers will be encouraged to tell a story true to their experience and culture, in their mother tongue.

So if you want training in the real world of filmmaking, and think you can succeed as the hottest Quickster in the country, slip into this month's SASWA workshop on Saturday 13 July, at 1:30pm, in the SABC Radiopark Auditorium in Johannesburg. Bring your friends. And bring paper and a pen, because you might just get some killer ideas along the way!!

The workshop is R10 for SASWA members, R20 for non-SASWA members (pay at the door or join at the door)

Venue is the Ground Floor Auditorium, SABC Radiopark, 1:30 p.m. for 2 p.m.

Please RSVP Di or Heather at the SASWA office (tel. (011) 678 3838 or e-mail ) by Friday 12th of July, so we have an idea of numbers for catering (you can also leave a message on the answering machine.)

Also check out the SASWA web site at www.saswa.org.za.