Filmmakers submit short,
15-minute films and wait to see how they do. The short movies are
played for an audience, but after three minutes, audience members
are allowed to produce that loud, sonorous tone. The gong means the
film is a no-go with the audience and they want to see what's next.
The first interactive
short films event took place Monday night at the Stone Oak location.
Comedian
Jade Esteban Estrada served as emcee.
"Audiences never lie. This is a great opportunity
for filmmakers to get feedback in a competitive
arena,"
Estrada said. "San Antonio has
been ready for an event like this for a while. This
competition will separate the men from the boys."
The grand prize winner walks away with bragging
rights and $100 cash. But no one loses, because
there are plenty of free laughs.
"Jade
is hilarious and knows how to get a crowd riled up,"
producer Kimberly Suta said. "For San Antonians
needing to laugh or just blow off some steam, this
event is for them."
"This is a great way for filmmakers to try out new
ideas, see their film on the big screen and observe
how an actual audience responds," Suta said. "I've
heard some filmmakers are a little afraid to get
gonged, but that's part of the fun. You've got to be
fearless, put yourself out there or you're in the
wrong industry."
While some enter with the goal to get gonged, many
of the participants are serious about filmmaking,
and the producers say San Antonio is becoming the
perfect place to start.
"San Antonio was recently listed in MovieMaker
Magazine as one of the cities on the rise in the
film industry, and this is one of those events that
we hope can help by bringing local filmmakers
together and the community to support them," Suta
said.
NiffNot Productions got the idea
from a theatre in Tucson, Arizona. Every first
Friday the theatre is packed.
The Gong Shorts in San Antonio will become a regular
event as long as the audience shows up ready to
gong.
