NFT GUIDELINES AND RULES

[Photo: Left, some "Bad Boss Theory"]

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To All Filmmakers:

We are looking for filmmakers to creatively and dramatically interpret any one or more of a large number of diverse scenes within YEAR OF THE RHINOCEROS, the novel chosen for this first competition. Film trailers or "clips" adapted from the Novel Scene Guide may consist of a single scene, two or more connected scenes, or a montage, and may contain voice-over narrative, special effects, music, or whatever else deemed appropriate at the discretion of the filmmaker.

Though we provide the basics, we want to make it clear that scriptwriters and directors are free to make alterations to the work as appropriate and necessary to realize their own vision. We are searching for filmmakers truly interested in making a mark in the business by virtue of their desire to make a statement. We are looking for great acting, mood, and overall dramatic presentation. See the Novel Scene Guide for a preview of relevant scenes and chapters.

Below are the guidelines and rules, terms and conditions covering submission, copyrights, formats, and so forth.

(NOTE: we are forming a growing resource list of producers, directors, scriptwriters, and actors for future reference by major publishing houses, presses, authors, and whoever else is desirous of making quality book trailers).

Thank you.

The Sponsors

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NFT CONTEST START AND END DATES
The main NFT competition begins February 20, 2008 and is now extended to August 20, 2008. Entries postmarked no later than August 20.

(NOTE: we wish to make it clear that we acquire non-exclusive rights only and that all entrants permanently retain the rights to promote and display their films.)

The Audition Video Competition begins February 20 and ends July 20, 2008.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

All films shall be judged on the basis of:

• Creativity/Originality: (up to 25 points)
• Quality of Execution: Image, sound, lighting (up to 20 points)
• Actor Performance/Overall Dramatic Presentation: (up to 30 points)
• Literary Theme: does film capture the essence of mood and/or theme in the novel? (up to 25 Points)

WINNERS RECEIVE:
The top three Winners and Honorable Mentions receive the following:

• Grand Prize Winner - $2,500.00 Cash Prize (US)
• Second Place $900.00 Cash Prize (US)
• Third Place $500.00 Cash Prize (US)
• Grand Prize Winner receives ticket to Los Angeles for the award and screening of the winning films at the NFT Festival, summer '08.
• Top three Winners will be awarded full and permanent website domains (e.g. www.younamefilm.com) to include a home page professionally modeled after the NovelFilmTrailer.Com website design and containing the winning film, bio of Contestant, pics, and other information as appropriate.
• The top three Winners will have an interview with NovelFilmTrailer.Com, bio and pic resident, as well as advertised, on the NovelFilmTrailer.Com website and the WebdelSol.Com website.
• The seven honorable mentions will have their films, bio information, pics, cast information, and so forth permanently displayed and promoted on the NFT Website at NovelFilmTrailer.Com in a manner that is both professional and appealing.
• The results and Winners of the Contest will all be displayed and promoted on the sponsor websites, in press releases and other promotional information provided to film, literary, and political websites and blogs.

Note that prizes will be awarded to the person whose name appears on the entry form. Parceling of prizes among other members of the film crew and/or writers will be the sole responsibility of this person.

FILM FORMAT
To be eligible for the top 30 semi-finalists, Contestant films must be 1 to 12 minutes in length, submitted on DVD, uncompressed (or compressed to not less than 100 megs), and in one of the following formats: .asf, .wmv, .mov, .avi, .mpg, and .mp4 (preferred). Contestants may submit up to five films, however, each film submitted must depict a different scene or scenes from the novel, and a separate entry form must accompany each film. PLEASE DO NOT include any photos or publicity material with your submission and entry form(s).

CONTEST JUDGES AND SELECTION PROCESS
30 semi-finalists will be chosen from total entries by a judging committee composed of professional editors, writers, and filmmakers from the sponsors Red Hen Press, WebdelSol.Com, and Nextpix Film. The final three winners and seven honorable mentions will be chosen by finalist judges composed of individuals who are active and vigorous producers and literary players in the business.

Semi-finalists will be announced in July, 2008, and Winners will be announced in August, 2008. The NFT Competition will use its best efforts to announce the winners at the designated time, but will not be held liable for any unforeseen delays. Winners will be notified by mail and/or email. The NFT Competition reserves the right to extend the competition deadline and/or Winner announcement deadline for any unforeseen reasons if needed.

If a Contestant submission is selected by judges as a potential winning submission, valid releases from the Contestant and each individual appearing, writing, composing, filming or otherwise performing in the film will be required. If a Contestant is requested to provide these valid releases and we do not receive them within fourteen (14) days of request, then the Contestant will be ineligible to be a Winner. The NFT Competition may or may not, at their discretion, provide notice to Contestants of ineligibility, and ineligibility of any Contestant will not prohibit Sponsors and the judges from selecting actual Winners.

The NFT Compeition and Sponsors shall have no liability for any Contest submissions or the submission of any additional materials that are lost, intercepted or not timely received for any reason whatsoever.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest is open to legal residents of the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Italy, and all other countries applicable who are at least 18 years of age at the time of submission. Minors must have signed parental permission submitted with the NFT Entry Form.

Note that foreign language films must have sub-titles or they cannot be considered.

Films must be original and not infringe on any copyrights or rights of other third parties. Contestants agree that they have obtained all required permissions regarding music, actors, sound and/or images as presented in the entered film or films. Contestants agree that neither the NFT Competition or Sponsors will be held liable for any copyright infringements on the part of Contestant or Contestant's film or films or any third parties or participants in the creation and production of the film or films. The NFT Competition reserves the right to not screen, display, review, or judge any film for any reason it deems valid.

Entry materials (DVDs) submitted will not be returned to the Contestant. The NFT Competition is not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, postage due, stolen, or misappropriated entries.

By entering the NFT Competition, Contestants and/or their parents or legal guardian (if such entrant is a minor) grant to the NFT Competition and its Sponsors a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, sub-licensable right to make use of any and all film or films and any physical representations contained therein, in any media and in any form. The NFT Competition and Sponsors reserve all rights, on a non-exclusive basis, to reproduce, publish, use, broadcast, display, and stream the film or films in connection with any and all media, and for any purpose relevant to the promotion, display, or marketing of the films and/or Competition. Contestants (or, if an eligible minor, your parent or legal guardian) understand and agree that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is established by Contestant submitting a film or films to the NFT Competition and its Sponsors.

By entering the NFT Competition, Contestants and/or their parents or legal guardian (if such entrant is a minor) agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions which are final and binding in all respects, and to waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Contest or in these Terms and Conditions or any other part of these Guidelines and Rules. Contestants (or, if an eligible minor, your parent or legal guardian) further agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the NFT Competition and Sponsors and their respective affiliates, and each of their respective directors, editors, authors, employees, representatives, contractors and agents from and against any claims, damages, costs, expenses or liability (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in the Contest.

By entering the NFT Competition, Contestants and/or their parents or legal guardian (if such entrant is a minor) agree and accept and be bound by the decisions of the competition and its judges which are final and binding in all matters.

Employees, their families, subsidiaries, and affiliates of the NFT Competition and Sponsors are not eligible. Winners are solely responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes