President Obama Get's Into Movie Making

We’re looking for videos that highlight
 the impact of service and giving back.

Ramsey Seikaly

Los Angeles -- Well he is a lame duck sitting President with a legacy that is not only historic but controversial.  This trail blazing political leader as again taken a daring move but not in the realm of foreign affairs but rather domestic affairs with quite probably an initiative that will be the bellwether of his Presidency, besides his health care act, commonly referred to in the vernacular as "Obama Care".

Our trail blazing Chief Executive is putting on a film festival in cooperation with the American Film Institute themed THE IMPACT OF GIVING BACK.  Here is the breakdown right from the lips of El Prez himself the big O:

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"We are happy to announce that from now through January 20, submissions are open for the second White House Student Film Festival. The theme of this year’s festival is The Impact of Giving Back, and it’s open to U.S. students, grades K-12. So tell a story about paying it forward, about community service, or what making a difference looks like in your eyes and through your lens. It can be a fictional story or a short documentary, so break out the lights, write a script, get the camera ready, and show us your passion for service and giving back. We can't wait to see what you will make this year! For inspiration, take a look at the official selections from last year's White House Student Film Festival, when the theme was the power of technology in education."

Films can be short – in fact, they must be 3 minutes tops. The official selections will be featured on the White House website, and shared across the world on White House sites and official social media accounts. If selected, you may have a chance to attend the film fest yourself at the White House.

Submission Guidelines:

• All films must be shorter than 3 minutes.
• All films must be made by students in grades K-12.
• No film may use copyrighted material including music, TV shows, or movies.
• All films must be uploaded to YouTube
• All film submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 20, 2015.

Every day in classrooms and communities throughout our country, young people are making an impact in the lives of others through service and giving back. Volunteering takes so many different forms in our country and is one of the most important experiences that you can have. Service to others and giving back can offer purpose and perspective. You may find that making a difference in your community or in someone else’s life is an experience that can make a difference in your own life. President Obama has said that service gave him a compass, a center, and a sense of direction of how he wanted to live his own life.

Frequently Asked QuestionsHere are some common questions about the White House Student Film Festival:Q: Are groups of filmmakers allowed?
A: Yes! Groups of filmmakers of any size are allowed to submit, but please submit the film only once on behalf of the entire group.

Q: Who can submit?
A: The person submitting the film must be at least 18, so that can be a high school student of that age, a parent, teacher, or guardian.

Q: Did you receive my entry?
A: You will not receive a confirmation email when we receive your entry, but if you clicked submit and entered the YouTube link correctly – we got it!

Q: When is the event?
A: The 2015 White House Student Film Festival will be in early spring of 2015.

Q: When will I hear if my film will be a selection or an honorable mention?
A: Submissions close on January 20, 2015. We will notify official selections starting a few weeks later, in mid-February.

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Contact us with questions or comments.

The American Film Institute encourages young filmmakers to submit their films to the White House Student Film Festival. The theme this year is “The Impact of Giving Back.” Here are some thoughts and advice from our friends Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Bill Hader, Mark Wahlberg, Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac, Edward Norton, Jacqueline Lyanga and J.C. Chandor. For more information about the festival and how to submit your film, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/filmfestival.

2014 First White House Film Fest

A final thought.  To seek value you must first  value what you seek.  And if that value is solely for the expediency for your benefit then what you value is utterly invaluable.  Movie making quite possibly could be the last mechanism that communicates a thought, an idea, a concept with maximum impact and universal influence, literally at the speed of light.  Rather than placate ones own vanity and ego why not apply the mechanisms of your success toward the greater good and benefit of all.  For overall we are not going to be around forever and what is the value of an epicurean lifestyle built on the alter of self-service rather than service to all.  Who will remember us and where will our values, built over decades that marked the boundaries of our life?  It is our legacy that we leave behind through the progeny of our deeds and the sum total of our labor.  I hope you will lend your support.  Consider getting involved.  Entertainment is a corporate experience not a solo endeavor and movie making is called a collaborative art for a reason.  Let's all collaborate then for the greater good through the tools and mechanisms that have brought us our success in this fantastic business that many of us have built a life time career.  Pay it forward!