THE INDEPENDENT FILM SERIES

                OVERVIEW AND GUIDELINES 
            REGARDING NEW CHAPTER FORMATION

















  (1997 True Independent Film Committee

  The information contained within this document is a guide to the full production of a new chapter to the True Independent Film Series. These guidelines may seem strange or strict, but are presented to keep continuity between the individual stories. If your film defies one of these rules, it will be disqualified from running when the final film is completed. As the originators of this series, we the True Independent Film Committee (from herein known as the T.I.F.C.) have the right to change these guidelines if we deem it appropriate. 


SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE TRUE INDEPENDENT FILM SERIES

1. By signing the exclusive rights contract, you secure all distribution rights to the T.I.F.C. and still control all of your original rights as the author and director of your film. 

2.  The T.I.F.C. holds NO responsibility for any individual filmmakers film content, or actions while on location. Although we STRICTLY enforce utmost respect for shooting locations. All locations MUST be left in as good of or better then condition as they were found after all shoots.  If we hear of any kind of problems during and or after a shoot, we hold heavy consequence on the offenders.
3.   All forms MUST be fully completed before shooting starts.
  
     GUIDELINES FOR PRE-PRODUCTION OF A NEW CHAPTER

1.  All participants MUST sign a release form that secures all exclusive rights for the T.I.F.C.
2.  The T.I.F.C. must be notified of shooting days.
3.  T.I.F.C. MUST have copies of ALL actor releases and location releases. 
4.  A T.I.F.C. member must be present on all shoots unless other conditions have been agreed to.










       

GUIDELINES FOR PRODUCTION OF A NEW CHAPTER


1.  All new chapters MUST be at least five minutes in length, and no longer then twenty minutes, total running time.
2.  Shooting style MUST be original and contain elements of film noir.
3.  ALL films MUST be shot in SVHS, VHS, HIGH-8, or 8mm. No submissions on any other format will be accepted.
4.  ALL lighting MUST be natural (household lighting fixtures are acceptable) NO LIGHTING KITS ARE TO BE USED.
5.  ALL sound MUST be recorded in camera.


  WRITING GUIDELINES FOR FORMATION OF A NEW CHAPTER


1.  NO Chapter may hold the title of Chapter 1.
2.  No chapter may hold a title higher then 64.
3.  Chapters 11, 12, and 13 have already been produced.
4.  ALL screenplays and characters MUST be approved by the T.I.F.C. before receiving a green light. 
5.  The character of NICK CASSAVETTAS MUST be mentioned, but can never be seen. Nick Cassavettas is neither living, nor dead, so he can be referred to as either.
6.  If your chapter involves gunplay, there MUST be at LEAST three gunshots. 
7.   There MUST be at least ONE reference to the "package".


    GUIDELINES FOR POST PRODUCTION OF A NEW CHAPTER


1.  All final cuts MUST be presented in Black and White with ten or fifteen point letterboxing.
2.  NO songs may be used from major motion picture soundtracks.
3.  ALL dailies must be dubbed down to V.H.S. and presented to the T.I.F.C. for archival purposes.
4.  Final cut MUST be approved by T.I.F.C.
5.  Final cut MUST be in High Resolution or SupeRTV.
6.  T.I.F.C. MUST be presented with an SVHS copy DIRECTLY                 from the computer containing ONLY chapter title card,
   the film and AT LEAST ten seconds of video black header
   and tail for combination reasons.

                    




TITLES

1.  Title card MUST have ONLY Chapter name and number.
2.  Personal copies must have the T.I.F.C. logo in tail credits, and T.I.F.C. MUST be billed as the Executive Producer.