Ladies and gentlemen, start your digital video cameras. The Brattle has announced the 2007 Trailer Smackdown, a contest in which you create a two-minute coming attraction for a fictional film called "Miranda" and toss it in the piranha tank with other competitors to see who survives. Entries will be judged according to "how much they make us want to see 'Miranda'," and there are additional elements -- location, character types -- that need to be incorporated.
That's right, it's the Dogme version of "Project Greenlight." Those smartypants at the Brattle have covered all the bases -- but where's the entry form that lists the additional elements? Not up yet, I guess.
My favorite bit of boilerplate: "The films may contain violence or nudity, but we cannot allow anything that would be deemed pornography. You may not harm real animals or unwilling people in the making of your video." Got that, everybody? Get signed releases. It worked for Sacha Baron Cohen, it'll work for you.
All entries are due by July 1, with finalists to be screened at the theater July 19. There'll be an audience award and some kind of cash prize, but they're being coy about that for the time being.
