Spacey commented, "I want to give talented people out there a shot at reaching their goals for the first time. Jack Lemmon once said to me, 'If you're doing well, send the elevator back down'. I have done incredibly well and it is because the material I found early in my career was from first-time writers, first-time directors, first-time playwrights. If it were not for that talent, I would not have a career. So if one person gets a break, then the competition has been successful."
Talented filmmakers, looking for their big break, are invited to submit a script of up to seven pages to the website before 31 December 2011.
Inspired by the theme of a legendary, humorous or very tall tale, the shortlist will be judged by an expert team including Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti, president of Trigger Street Productions ('The Social Network and '21'). The nominees will then go through to the next round, where they will show their directing skills by shooting a scene supplied by Trigger Street.
One winner from each country will then fly to LA to shoot the script and direct Kevin Spacey, all with the backing of his award winning production company. The public will vote on the three films to decide the overall winner of the competition.
Howard Southern, international marketing director, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard added, "We are delighted to be working on such a unique film project. This perfectly embodies our attitude towards film. Whereas public perception is of a closed and exclusive world, we want to open it up and give emerging talent the opportunity to be mentored by some of Hollywood's biggest names. It's a truly exciting proposition and we look forward to seeing three fantastic films."
Genevieve Hofmeyr, founder, partner and producer of Moonlighting Films, one of South Africa's leading film production companies commented, "I am delighted that South Africa has been selected as one of the participating countries in this competition. Too few opportunities are given to emerging screenwriters to have their work recognized in an international arena and this is a wonderful platform for our South African writers. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to possibly have someone of Spacey's stature perform their work. This competition will certainly encourage and help develop our local scriptwriters boosting our content development, which in turn I believe will be of benefit to the future of our local film industry."
Thandie Brewer, chair of the Writer's Guild of South Africa as well as screenwriting chair for AFDA added, "This is an opportunity for South African screenwriters and the Writers Guild of South Africa is delighted that South African writing talent will be showcased in this way. On a personal level, as both a writer and Chair of the Writers' Guild of South Africa, I'm enormously excited by the chance that this will give both established and upcoming writers to get their work into the International arena. Particularly with an actor of Kevin Spacey's stature attached."
For full details on how to enter plus exclusive videos and tips from Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti, go to www.jamesonfirstshot.com.
