ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard and Fresh Films, a national teen filmmaking competition, are looking for a few, good filmmakers.
NG Docs is a new program developed to give young filmmakers the opportunity to capture the real people, places and experiences of the Army Guard through their own lens.
"We're excited to create a documentary program with Fresh Films, because the Army National Guard shares their belief in these talented young filmmakers," said Col. Michael Jones, chief of the Army Guard's Strength Maintenance Division. "It's our goal to celebrate the heroes that surround us everyday and who better to bring their stories to reality than the next generation of heroes in the making."
The mission of this program is to build their confidence, camaraderie and documentary filmmaking skills by providing them with the technology, network and hands-on insider experience they need to share the story of the Army Guard, according to a news release from Fresh Films.
In October, documentary crews, comprised of youth ages 17-22, will be headquartered at a military installation, where they will be immersed in the world of the Army National Guard. They will document the Guardsmen, telling their stories, and connecting to the communities and people, who have benefited from their service and support.
The completed documentary will debut Nov. 8 in Hollywood at AFI FEST, produced by the prestigious American Film Institute.
Youth from all over the United States can apply through Sept. 8 online atwww.fresh-films.com. No filmmaking experience is required to apply or participate as teens learn and grow alongside each other on location.
Earlier this year, the National Guard sponsored one of three filmmaking categories - Action Hero - for Fresh Films. The "action heroes" in the films are members of the Army National Guard.
Three short films were shot in three cities by three groups of teens. The teens were responsible for writing, casting, producing, directing and editing under the guidance of professionals from Dreaming Tree Films.
The three films competed against each other in an on-line voting process with the winner going up against the winners from the other two categories: Comedy and Drama.
You can view the films online atwww.fresh-films.com/action.htm.