A "meet cute" is a cinematic term used to describe the pivotal moment when two characters meet for the first time under unique, comical, or charming circumstances that lead to a future romantic relationship.
A "meet cute" is a cinematic term used to describe the pivotal moment when two characters meet for the first time under unique, comical, or charming circumstances that lead to a future romantic relationship. In light of current times, we're more heavily relying on digital technology as a way to meet new people. Write a scene/sequence about two people who experience a digital meet cute. In your submission, the characters should ideally meet for the first time in a humorous, embarrassing, uncommon, and/or conflicting manner that serves to set up their impending relationship later in the story. Your work should be no more than 10 pages.
SUBMISSION LIMITS
Your written work cannot exceed 10 pages.
Deadline to submit: August 31, 2020 at 2PM PT.
CHALLENGE RULES
Our monthly challenges are open to everyone in the Sundance Co//ab community. One entry per person, per challenge. All submissions will be viewable to the community. All submissions will be given equal consideration and the final winner will be determined by the consensus of the designated Sundance judges.
Only those submissions that meet the criteria outlined in the submission guidelines can be selected as the winner.
The challenge closes on August 31, 2020 at 2PM PT.
If you have questions regarding the challenge, please email collab@sundance.org. Please do not contact members of the jury directly.
PRIZES
Winner will receive:
- The winner will have their work featured on Sundance Co//ab
- One-on-one mentorship session with a Sundance Advisor
- Sundance Co//ab All Access Membership (12 months) which includes:
- Master Classes - One free registration in every monthly Master Class ($900 value)
- Online Courses - Save 50% on first live, online multi-week course and 25% on each subsequent online course (Fees apply)
- Member-only Events - Invitation to monthly Advisor Q&A Live webinar
- Live Events - Priority access to select live Sundance learning events
Runners-up (two will be selected) - Sundance Co//ab Annual Membership (12 months)
Jurors
Sheldon Candis
Juror
Baltimore native Sheldon Candis is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Candis recently created and directed the docu-narrative series ‘I WILL WHAT I WANT’, a cinematic portrait of ballet phenom Misty Copeland for Under Armour. Candis’ documentary THE DWELLING, chronicles the lives of two homeless men living along Tokyo's Sumida Gawa. The film is being distributed by Scion and Giant Robot magazine.
Candis’ feature directorial debut LUV (which he also co-wrote) was an official selection in the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Competition. He assembled an incredible cast including Common, Charles S. Dutton, Dennis Haysbert, Danny Glover, Meagan Good, Michael K. Williams and a wonderful 11-year-old breakout talent named Michael Rainey Jr.
Within television, Candis developed the ABC event series A SLAVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, adapted from Elizabeth Dowling Taylor’s New York Times best-selling book based on the true story of personal valet Paul Jennings and his unique relationship with President James Madison. Jennings would write the first White House memoir along with historically saving George Washington’s portrait during the War of 1812. Jennings would become a ‘subversive abolitionist’, helping slavesacquire freedom twenty years before the establishment of the Underground Railroad.
Candis directed and produced the feature length documentary BALTIMORE BOYS for the prestigious ESPN 30 for 30 original films. The inspiring story of the greatest high school basketball team ever; the 1981’-83’ Dunbar Poets that achieved a 59-0 record over two undefeated seasons and produced four NBA players in David Wingate, Reggie Williams, Boston Celtic great Reggie Lewis, and a 5’3” tiny dynamo named Tyrone ‘Muggsy’ Bogues.
Candis directed WHO WILL SURVIVE AMERICA for the Sundance Now Doc Club original series Take 5: Justice in America. The short documentary chronicles America's love affair and easy accessibility to guns.
Candis penned THROW LIKE MO!, with Debra Martin Chase attached to produce. An upbeat music driven bio-pic on baseball wonder girl Mo’ne Davis who historically broke the gender barrier and dominated the all boys in the Little League World Series.
Candis teamed with Rocnation and Dreamville Grammy nominated artist J. Cole for the short film CROOKED SMILE. Crooked Smile is nominated for the MTV Video Music Award for ‘Best Video With A Social Statement.’ Candis is a prolific commercial director, having directed multiple branded shorts for Under Armour, Honda, Ford, Overstock, and Microsoft.
Candis’ first foray into Virtual Reality Documentary filmmaking comes with the BUS TO CANTON, the underdog story of Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame Running Back Jerome ‘The Bus’ Bettis. Thefilm is the first long form sports documentary captured in VR. Produced by Guy Primus and Joel Newton for VRC.
Recently, Candis directed episodes on the John Singleton produced Detective Noir series REBEL, starring Giancarlo Esposito and Mykelti Williamson.
Currently, Candis is shooting WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE BRIGHTEST, the next chapter of the cult following video game series NBA 2K for Springhill Entertainment and 2K Studios. Executive Produced by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, starring Idris Elba, Rosario Dawson, Thomas Middleditch, and Lamorne Morris.
Marcel Rasquin
Juror
Coffeemaker, troublemaker, twinmaker. A Venezuelan filmmaker based in LA, Rasquin won a scholarship to study a postgraduate diploma and a Masters Degree in Film at The Victorian College of the Arts of the University of Melbourne, Australia. Rasquin is the writer and director of the feature HERMANO (2010), which won the Grand Prix (with Luc Besson presiding the jury), the Audience Award, and the Critics’ Award at the Moscow International Film Festival. HERMANO also won Best Film at the Huelva FilmFest in Spain, Best First Feature in Habana Film Festival in Cuba, and over 25 other international awards. HERMANO was the Venezuelan candidate for the Foreign Language Film Category at the 2011 Academy Awards and was released theatrically by Music Box Films in 2012. Variety included Rasquin on its “Top Ten Directors to Watch” list in 2011. Rasquin is also an accomplished theater director, with works ranging from classics, experimental, and even a Broadway Musical (NEXT TO NORMAL). He’s currently developing his second feature, DOGS IN ANTARCTICA, a television series, FLAT OUT, in addition to producing Diego Vicentini’s first feature, SIMÓN. Marcel is a 2020 Film Two Sundance Fellow.