August 3, 2010 What to Do This Summer: Enter the Write It! Film It! Summer Video Contest Based on Exquisite Corpse Adventure Online Story

Don’t put those pencils away just yet! Even if school is out for the summer, the Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge, based on the unpredictable episodic story “The Exquisite Corpse Adventure” (www.read.gov/exquisite-corpse/), continues with a new twist.

“Central casting” at AdLit.org and Reading Rockets is looking for young, creative writers and filmmakers to star in the Exquisite Prompt Write It, Film It Video Contest, with a chance to win fabulous prizes and 15 minutes of fame on YouTube.

Since September, Reading Rockets and AdLit.org have been offering students a chance to flex their writing muscles through the Exquisite Prompt challenge. Like the Exquisite Prompt Writing Challenge, the prompts for the Exquisite Prompt Write It, Film It Video Contest are inspired by the authors and illustrators participating in the “Exquisite Corpse Adventure,” the online serial story sponsored by the Library of Congress and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance. In particular, the authors inspiring the Write It, Film It prompts also have experienced having their writing adapted for film or television.

To enter the contest, writers and filmmakers in grades 2-12 choose a prompt, create a narrative, then make a video of their story. Visit AdLit.org External or ReadingRockets.org External to see the prompts.

To be eligible for prizes, students will be asked to submit original writing related to their video project, such as interview questions, storyboards, dialogues or scripts, and a video no longer than three minutes. All video submissions must be uploaded to www.youtube.com/group/exquisiteprompt External and written materials must be emailed to readingrockets@weta.org or adlit@weta.org. All entries must include the student’s name, age, city or town, state and contact e-mail or phone number or the entry will not be accepted.

The contest has three competition levels: Level I, ages 7-10; Level II, ages 11-13; and Level III, ages 14-18. Entries from each level are eligible for a gold, silver or bronze award. Entries will be judged on creativity, theme development and technical quality. If appropriate to the prompt, entries will also be judged on character development, research and factual accuracy.

Prizes include a selection of books, including autographed titles; flip HD video cameras; book and DVD collections; and movie tickets. Seven winners will be selected – one winner for each prompt. The contest ends Aug. 30, 2010.

The Center for the Book (www.loc.gov/cfbook/) was established by Congress in 1977 “to use the resources and prestige of the Library of Congress to promote books, reading, literacy and libraries.” With its many educational programs that reach readers of all ages, through its support of the National Book Festival and through its dynamic state centers in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Center for the Book has developed a nationwide network of organizational partners dedicated to promoting the wonders and benefits of reading. The center also oversees the new Read.gov website, with its exclusive “Exquisite Corpse Adventure” serialized story.

The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance (www.thencbla.org External) is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit education and advocacy organization created in 1997 by award-winning children’s book authors and illustrators. The NCBLA acts as a freelance, nonpartisan advocate, creating and developing special projects and events that promote literacy, literature, libraries, humanities and the arts; educating the public about practical literacy and education solutions; and ensuring young people’s right to read. The NCBLA’s latest project, “Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out,” is an award-winning book for young people designed as an engaging solution to help confront historical illiteracy.

AdLit.org (www.AdLit.org External) is a national multimedia project offering information and resources to the parents and educators of struggling readers and writers in grades 4-12. AdLit.org and its sister project, Reading Rockets (www.readingrockets.org External), are educational initiatives of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation’s capital.