TERRE HAUTE —
The door is open for Terre Haute South Vigo High School filmakers to have their cinematic work premiere at this year’s Indianapolis 500, and then on a national movie television network.
To coincide with their induction last month into the school’s Hall of Distinction, two South alums — Jeff Belskus, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Carter Pilcher, CEO of Shorts International, the world’s leading short movie entertainment company — are giving students at their alma mater a chance to shine in a short film contest.
Dubbed “Race to the Winners Circle,” the students have been invited to participate in short film contest about race cars or advanced robotics. The first-place film will premiere at the Indy 500 on May 29, and earn the opportunity to be broadcast on ShortsHD, a short-film television network currently available in more than 40 million homes across the U.S.
In addition, the winners will be interviewed at the Indy 500 before a live audience, portions of which will air alongside the TV network premiere of the winning film.
“I have long been a believer of giving back to the communities and institutions that helped shape who I am today,” Belskus said in a news release. “This contest is a great way to harness the enduring, creative spirit of Terre Haute South Vigo High School students into a project that promises exciting rewards for the winners.”
“This contest is a great opportunity for students of South Vigo to learn, create and have fun,” said Pilcher. “We’re excited to bring the winners into the action of the Indy 500 and to showcase the winning film on our network.”
Pilcher and Belskus both graduated from South in 1978. They were inducted into the South Hall of Distinction on April 16, along with Kris Verdeyen, a 1996 grad who helped build and design NASA’s Robonaut project.
The “Race to the Winners Circle” is open to any current South student, and must be shot in HD format.
To coincide with the Indy 500, each entry film must feature a race car, automotive, or robotic technology, and have a run time no shorter than 2 minutes and no longer than 5.
All submissions will be scored according to storytelling ability and technical skills by a panel of three judges from the international film community. Submissions containing profanity, nudity or distasteful opinions, or those that exceed 5 minutes will be automatically disqualified. Awards will be given out to the top three submissions.
Pilcher’s company, Shorts International, is headquarterd in London, with offices in Paris, New York and Los Angeles. It is the world’s leading short movie entertainment company with the largest movie catalogue devoted to short movies, according to the news release.
ShortsHD is the first high-definition channel dedicated to short movies and is available on Dish Network (Channel 375) and AT&T U-verse (Channel 1789).
Shorts International also operates ShortsTV UK, a pay TV channel available in the United Kingdom on BSkyB (Channel 342), ShortsTV™ France available in France, Belgium, Luxembourg on Numericable (Channels 134 and 52).
ShortsTV is also available on TTNET in Turkey. Shorts™ is the short movie on-demand service available on iTunes movie stores in the US, UK, Canada and Germany.
To learn more about Shorts International, go online to www.shortsinternational.com or www.shortstv.com.
Local & Bistate
Prominent South alums offer big chance for student filmmakers
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Rockville correctional facility program teaches life skills
It’s hard to know who benefits the most: the inmates or the dogs.
-
AAA mag recognizes city for arts works
The nonprofit organization that uses outdoor sculpture to draw attention to Terre Haute is getting some notice of its own.
-
State pushing for convenience stores to make safety a higher priority
In 2002, after New Mexico forced convenience store owners to put sweeping security measures into place for clerks working late-night hours, the number of robberies dropped by 92 percent. Assaults, murders and other crimes at convenience stores also dropped dramatically.
Now Indiana officials are hoping voluntary compliance with similar safety standards will bring about similar results.
-
Patriotism & Honor
From his vantage point, Sonner Faught could see almost every volunteer in the cemetery.
-
Graduation turns to mourning in Clinton
Jeana Lunsford’s graduation from South Vermillion High School Saturday should have been a time of celebration.
-
School choice proponents foresee growth of vouchers
Twenty-seven Vigo County students benefited from tax-supported vouchers during the first year of the Choice Scholarship Program, and that number is expected to grow for 2012-13, say Indiana school choice leaders who visited Terre Haute Thursday.
-
Tales of obstruction meet first takeover attempts
A decade after Indiana legislators gave the state the power to take over chronically failing schools, the first implementation of the law is meeting with resistance, skepticism and questions about its costs.
-
THE OFF SEASON: Raising a flag for my father, veteran or not
My daughter, Ellen, and I stood at my parents’ graves on Mother’s Day a few weeks back and talked about how it couldn’t possibly have been so long since we lost them. My dad, for instance, has been gone for 16 years, and that is nearly unimaginable
-
3 rescued from burning residence
Quick action on the part of some first-responders is credited with saving the lives of three people in a Vermillion County fire early Saturday morning, according to the Vermillion County Sheriff’s Department.
-
He never forgot a name: Friends remember victim of fire at Garfield Towers
When Freddie Poore met you, he never forgot you.
-
Hometown boy embraces ‘Promise I Made’: Clinton native Ken Kercheval takes role in Dreams Come True production
Thanks to some help from a hometown boy in Hollywood, “This Promise I Made” is still on track to be kept in Clinton.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Many say they don’t vote in primary because of tag that comes with it
A couple of columns ago, I posed a question about why most Indiana polling places on primary election day had so few customers.
-
Police looking for convenience store robber
Police are seeking a robbery suspect following a Saturday morning armed robbery at the Jiffy MiniMart at 25th Street and Eighth Avenue.
-
Graduation ‘responsibility’: Rose-Hulman stages 134th commencement exercises
Inventor Dean Kamen gave a first-hand demonstration Saturday of how to be an innovator.
-
THE OFF SEASON: To the seniors, one last lecture before you go …
It dawned on me one day last week, as I sat at my desk in my teacher clothes and shoes, a stack of ungraded essays calling to me from a rather tall and depressing pile, that I hadn’t missed a high school graduation in 33 years.
-
Water rescuers
Emergency personnel wheel a man who was removed from a vehicle that had been driven into the water at Crystal Lake on Boston Avenue near 14th Street at about 9 p.m. Friday.
-
For many, camping outdoors is the way to beat the heat, enjoy nature
Stringing up fishing poles in the shade of American flags, households full of Hoosiers are packing into parks across the state this weekend.
-
Towns along National Road readying for next week’s miles-long yard sale
Stretching 824 miles from Baltimore to St. Louis, the National Road — known as U.S. 40 through Indiana — will soon be the host site for perhaps the longest bargain market in the country.
-
Rose grads honoring late president Branam at commencement today
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Class of 2012 will honor the memory of Matt Branam during today’s commencement ceremony by wearing special pins with the phrase “Make It Happen; Make It Fun,” a favorite saying of the former Rose-Hulman president, who died unexpectedly on April 20.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 26, 2012
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Thursday and Friday, based on jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers but are not final until the Vigo County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
A fallen soldier returns home
An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Spc. Arronn D. Fields early Thursday morning at Dover Air Force Base, Del.
-
Official touts trade with northern neighbor
A top Canadian diplomat told a Terre Haute audience Thursday his country was “disappointed” when President Obama at least temporarily rejected a proposed transcontinental oil pipeline from Alberta to Texas.
-
Caution urged for summer’s kickoff
Lane restrictions in construction zones on Interstate 70 and other highways around the state will be lifted to accommodate holiday travel for the Memorial Day Weekend.
-
Letters delivered
Several positions will be eliminated this summer at the Terre Haute mail processing facility as the U.S. Postal Service begins moving the operation to Indianapolis, a U.S. Postal Service spokesman has confirmed.
-
Companies seek Vigo tax abatements
Two Vigo County companies are seeking tax abatements for expansion projects, one of which is included as part of a county incentive package.
-
High-speed chase suspect caught in West Virginia
The suspect in a cross-country, high-speed chase originating in Terre Haute last week was reportedly in federal custody Thursday evening.
-
Second victim of deadly I-70 semi-trailer crash identified
The Vigo County Coroner’s Office has identified the passenger of a semi-tractor crash on May 16 in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 near the 12-mile marker.
- VIGO COUNTY JAIL LOG: May 22-24, 2012
-
Burn ban in effect for Vigo County through holiday weekend
Vigo County officials have issued a burn ban effective Thursday and remains in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday.
-
Brazil remembers a Fallen Son
A small town seemed sadly quiet Wednesday, waiting to honor a local fallen warrior.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Obama Honors Fallen Troops at Arlington Cemetery
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Raw Video: Deadly Explosion at Minn. Paper Mill
Man in Crane at Texas College Says He's Armed
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Romney Promises World's Strongest Military
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Beryl Knocks Out Power in Florida
Obama Pays Tribute to Vietnam Veterans
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Memorial Day Aboard Intrepid
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Raw Video: Obama Lays Wreath on Memorial Day
Raw Video: National Mall Concert Shut Down
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
J.Lo and Marc's Friendly Reunion
Justin Bieber Accused of Assaulting Photographer - Glen Walker reports
Cynthia Nixon Ties the Knot
Woman, 80, Falls Out of Skydive Harness Mid-Jump
Keira Reveals Engagement Ring
Dog runs alonside cyclists for 1,100 miles
Lady Gaga Cancels Indonesian Show After Threats
Long Story Short: Beyonce back on stage
Raw Video: Man Rescued From River in China
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Alleged Lego Thief Faces Felony Charges
Has Snooki Named Her Baby?
Heat Wave Warms Holiday Weekend
Beyonce Entertains the First Family
Inspiration for the class of 2012
