Star Tribune

July 24, 2002

Producer of cycle-safety ad puts out call for submissions

The filmmaker is honoring the memory of her son, who was killed in an accident.

By Colin Covert

Staff Writer

Attention, would-be screenwriters and filmmakers. No agent? No connections? No problem. If you think you have what it takes to create a compelling 30-second short, film producer Julie Hartley is prepared to give you the resources, cast and crew - free of charge.Hartley, whose most recent feature film was the Peter Fonda/Kris Kristofferson comedy "Wooly Boys," is coordinating an open call for treatments for a public service announcement about motorcycle safety.

The Kangaroo Project, as the enterprise is called, has convened a jury of local advertising professionals to pick the winning concept. Submissions will be anonymous to ensure that concepts are judged solely on merit. A second competition will select the director.Hartley launched the endeavor as a memorial to her son, Sean Francis, who died two years ago in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident. Its goals, beyond educating the public, are to increase opportunities for filmmaking and creative careers in the Twin Cities, and to energize the local film community. The current business doldrums have some film professionals wondering whether they wouldn't be better off ``stacking books at Barnes & Noble,'' Hartley said.The deadline for the concept competition is Aug. 5. The rules and judging criteria are posted online at http://www.kangarooproject.com. The winning concept will be posted on the site Aug. 12. The deadline for the director's treatment competition is Aug. 26.

The spot will be shot, edited and finished in Minnesota during September and presented to the state Department of Public Safety to air.

- Colin Covert is at ccovert@startribune.com