Today, Sir Ridley Scott announces Porcelain Unicorn from American director Keegan Wilcox as the winning short film in Philips’ Tell It Your Way film-making contest.
The contest, which received over 600 entries from around the world, invited aspiring filmmakers to create an original short film using the same six-line dialogue as the Cannes Lions award-winning Parallel Lines short films directed by RSA talents Carl Erik Rinsch, Greg Fay, Johnny Hardstaff, Jake Scott and Hi-Sim.
Commenting on his choice of winner, Sir Ridley Scott said: “I chose Porcelain Unicorn to be the winning film as it had a very strong narrative; a very complete story that was well told and executed.”
Directed by Keegan Wilcox, it is a sensitive and moving tale of how a traumatic wartime encounter inspires a man in later life. Wilson cites his grandfather’s war stories as inspiration for the short, and the ‘hero’s journey’ of a Joseph Conrad novel.
Keegan Wilcox commented: “I'm honored and humbled Sir Ridley Scott selected our film from five equally deserving entries. This came as a huge surprise. Being awarded the opportunity from Philips to gain valuable work experience at RSA is a privilege and a first step on the long road to a career.”
Entries for the Tell It Your Way contest could be in any genre and follow any storyline, but were required to follow the exact six-line dialogue from the Parallel Lines films. Ten finalists were chosen by a judging panel from RSA, British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) and Philips. Judging criteria included creative and original storytelling; interesting use of the Parallel Lines dialogue; and technical achievement.
Following a round of public voting on YouTube to select the top five, the overall winning film, Porcelain Unicorn, was chosen by Sir Ridley Scott. Porcelain Unicorn and the other finalists can be viewed at www.youtube.com/philipscinema.
As overall winner of the Tell It Your Way contest, Keegan Wilcox will now enjoy a potentially career-making opportunity of a week’s work experience at Ridley Scott Associates (RSA) offices, 7 nights’ accommodation, spending money and the new Full HD 3D Cinema 21:9 Platinum series TV from Philips. In addition, his film will appear on www.philips.com/cinema and be globally promoted by Philips.
The public was also given the chance to vote for their favorite entry and select a ‘People’s Choice’ runner-up. Slapstick comedy, Baby Time, by French director Cedric Petitcollin received the highest number of votes and will receive a prize of VIP tickets to an RSA film premiere in New York or London, travel, 3 nights accommodation and spending money, plus the new Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum TV.
Philips introduces new 3D short
Parallel Lines continues with today’s release of a 3D short film, The Foundling, directed by RSA talent, Barney Cokeliss. Created to showcase the world’s first Full HD 3D cinema proportion LED TV, the Philips Cinema 21:9 Platinum Series, the film will be available to view in selected Philips retailers.
Director, Barney Cokeliss, comments: “Making The Foundling was a fantastic creative challenge. 3D brings a host of advantages and possibilities to the film-maker, enhancing the visual vocabulary - the way you tell a story. A circus seemed like a perfect setting for a 3D film since it contains lots of different layers, rich detail and texture and lots of movement”.
A historical drama set in a 1930s circus, The Foundling was shot in collaboration with award-winning stereographers Vision3@Compendium featuring a team who also worked on 3D blockbuster, Avatar (2010).
A 2D version of The Foundling will also be presented exclusively to fans on Philips Cinema’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/philipscinema, and will then be released on www.philips.com/cinema and www.youtube.com/philipscinema on September 22nd. Exclusive footage of how the film was made, including interviews with the director and crew, will be released on Philips Cinema’s Facebook page.