UPDATE: 'CREATIVE LICENSE' has won BEST FILM in the US National Film Racing Competition! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone for all your support! -------- PINOY FILM WINS U.S. NATIONAL 24 HOUR FILM RACING TOUR A Filipino film was awarded top honors at the recently concluded U.S. National 24 Hour Film Racing Tour. The winning short, 'Creative License', was directed by Pinoy filmmaker and commercial director Paolo Dy. The 24 Hour Film Racing competition challenged filmmakers in cities all over the United States and Canada to write, shoot, and complete a short film in 24 hours, based on a specific theme. Examples of past themes were "Revenge", "Bad Advice", and "Jealousy". Filmmakers were also tasked with incorporating a surprise element in the film. The surprise element could be a prop (such as a balloon) or an action (such as a slap) that must be performed in the film. "At 10 o'clock in the evening, the night prior to the deadline, we received our assigned theme," says Dy. "The theme was 'Exaggeration'. And our surprise element: Pizza." Dy explains that he and his team, composed of theater actors Cathy Azanza and Christopher Fabregas, wanted to make a story that was fun, but also very sincere. Shot in New York and written in Filipino, 'Creative License' tells the story of a young Filipino immigrant struggling to make it in the big city. "The film was inspired by conversations we had with Pinoy friends living in New York and elsewhere," says Azanza, who wrote the screenplay, "Like most immigrants, they are very willing to give up certain luxuries and make sacrifices to build a life for themselves. But, of course, their families back home worry. Out of love, they find that at times they have to get 'creative'-- just like the character, played by Christopher in the film -- to stop their families from worrying." "We were very conscious about making the film about what was close and real to us, which is why we chose to write it in Filipino," adds Dy, "At the heart of it, we just hoped we could tell a story people could relate to and a character people could feel for -- no matter what language we used. More than a Filipino story, we hoped to tell a very human one." Representing the borough of Brooklyn, 'Creative License' won Best Overall Film in the National Film Racing Tour, finishing ahead of the runner-up films representing Chicago, Vancouver, Minneapolis and NYC. It also received citations for Best Direction, Best Sound Design and Audience's Choice. Dy and Azanza officially received their First Place prize package in New York last week from Film Racing co-founder Charlie Weisman. The package consists of a cash prize, a one-year scholarship with Writers Boot Camp, plus professional film and audio editing software from Sony Creative Software. http://www.filmracing.com/Films/competitions/winners2010.htm http://www.paolody.com ----------- Winner of the Brooklyn Film Race 2010 - 4 Awards including BEST FILM Written, shot, and edited in 24 hours. Competition theme: EXAGGERATION. Surprise element: PIZZA Directed by Paolo Dy Written by Cathy Azanza Starring Christopher Fabregas ABOUT FILM RACING: The 24 Hour Competition Format In each city, teams receive a theme and surprise element assignment for their films via e-mail at 10PM on a Friday night. Examples of past themes are "Revenge", "Bad Advice" and "Spare Change". The plot of the film must revolve around the theme. The surprise element can be a prop (ex. toothbrush) or an action which must be performed in the film (ex. a slap). The filmmakers have just 24 hours to write, shoot, edit and score an original film no longer than 4 minutes based on the theme and surprise element assignment. The films are due back at the film dropoff location by 10PM on Saturday night and all the films are screened for the public at a local theater a few days later. The top films go on to compete for thousands in cash and prizes against filmmakers across North America. filmracing.com

UPDATE: 'CREATIVE LICENSE' has won BEST FILM in the US National Film Racing Competition! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone for all your support! -------- PINOY FILM WINS U.S. NATIONAL 24 HOUR FILM RACING TOUR A Filipino film was awarded top honors at the recently concluded U.S. National 24 Hour Film Racing Tour. The winning short, 'Creative License', was directed by Pinoy filmmaker and commercial director Paolo Dy. The 24 Hour Film Racing competition challenged filmmakers in cities all over the United States and Canada to write, shoot, and complete a short film in 24 hours, based on a specific theme. Examples of past themes were "Revenge", "Bad Advice", and "Jealousy". Filmmakers were also tasked with incorporating a surprise element in the film. The surprise element could be a prop (such as a balloon) or an action (such as a slap) that must be performed in the film. "At 10 o'clock in the evening, the night prior to the deadline, we received our assigned theme," says Dy. "The theme was 'Exaggeration'. And our surprise element: Pizza." Dy explains that he and his team, composed of theater actors Cathy Azanza and Christopher Fabregas, wanted to make a story that was fun, but also very sincere. Shot in New York and written in Filipino, 'Creative License' tells the story of a young Filipino immigrant struggling to make it in the big city. "The film was inspired by conversations we had with Pinoy friends living in New York and elsewhere," says Azanza, who wrote the screenplay, "Like most immigrants, they are very willing to give up certain luxuries and make sacrifices to build a life for themselves. But, of course, their families back home worry. Out of love, they find that at times they have to get 'creative'-- just like the character, played by Christopher in the film -- to stop their families from worrying." "We were very conscious about making the film about what was close and real to us, which is why we chose to write it in Filipino," adds Dy, "At the heart of it, we just hoped we could tell a story people could relate to and a character people could feel for -- no matter what language we used. More than a Filipino story, we hoped to tell a very human one." Representing the borough of Brooklyn, 'Creative License' won Best Overall Film in the National Film Racing Tour, finishing ahead of the runner-up films representing Chicago, Vancouver, Minneapolis and NYC. It also received citations for Best Direction, Best Sound Design and Audience's Choice. Dy and Azanza officially received their First Place prize package in New York last week from Film Racing co-founder Charlie Weisman. The package consists of a cash prize, a one-year scholarship with Writers Boot Camp, plus professional film and audio editing software from Sony Creative Software. http://www.filmracing.com/Films/competitions/winners2010.htm http://www.paolody.com ----------- Winner of the Brooklyn Film Race 2010 - 4 Awards including BEST FILM Written, shot, and edited in 24 hours. Competition theme: EXAGGERATION. Surprise element: PIZZA Directed by Paolo Dy Written by Cathy Azanza Starring Christopher Fabregas ABOUT FILM RACING: The 24 Hour Competition Format In each city, teams receive a theme and surprise element assignment for their films via e-mail at 10PM on a Friday night. Examples of past themes are "Revenge", "Bad Advice" and "Spare Change". The plot of the film must revolve around the theme. The surprise element can be a prop (ex. toothbrush) or an action which must be performed in the film (ex. a slap). The filmmakers have just 24 hours to write, shoot, edit and score an original film no longer than 4 minutes based on the theme and surprise element assignment. The films are due back at the film dropoff location by 10PM on Saturday night and all the films are screened for the public at a local theater a few days later. The top films go on to compete for thousands in cash and prizes against filmmakers across North America. filmracing.com