Shoot Out in Boulder, Colorado

Hollywood may take years to create a film, but Shoot Out throws down the gauntlet with a challenge to make your own movie in 24 hours.

The Steven Spielbergs of the world might faint at the folly of it all, but note that the films are only seven minutes long, and that there is no post-production editing (apart from music) or cutting -- you have to film your magnum opus in sequence. The organizers claim that all you need are friends and a camera, providing post-filming facilities such as a copyright-free music library and a dubbing suite to enhance what you have in the can.

Participating teams are given a brief, which stipulates the use of at least five items from a list of 11 props, locations and phrases that must appear in each film.

Even if you're not in a film-making team, you could offer yourself as an actor, so there's no excuse not to get involved. There's even a Shooting Star challenge -- to appear in as many films as possible.

After the 24 hours are up and the films are submitted, volunteer teams watch through the night to whittle the field down to the final ten. These are then shown to the public on the Sunday lunchtime at the Boulder Theater. The festival ends with the giving of awards, cash prizes and the guarantee of showings at other film festivals.

When: One weekend in late September or early October. Brief handed out Friday at 5:55pm, Sunday screening 1pm.

Don't miss: The final showdown -- the Sunday screening of the top 10 films.

About the crowd: With more than 50 teams competing, almost everyone you meet will have a camera.

Strange but true: It all started about as far away from Hollywood as you can get, in the New South Wales town of Newcastle, in 1999.

Insider tips: One of the five specified items must be seen (or heard) in the first 30 seconds of your film. All entries must be submitted on MiniDV, Hi8 or VHS, so even if you film direct on to the hard drive of your camera, you need to leave time to copy onto the numbered MiniDV tape provided by the Shoot Out organizers.

What else?: Boulder, with its five iconic "Flatirons" on Green Mountain, is home to the main campus of the University of Colorado, so expect plenty of student teams.

Get there: Boulder is 56km (35 miles) northwest of Denver, in the foothills of the Rockies, and is well served by Denver's extensive bus service.

Price: Moderate to compete/Inexpensive to watch the screening.

Information: Register your film-making team or availability as a volunteer actor online up to the week preceding Shoot Out. (tel. 303/449-1515; www.theshootoutboulder.com)