Vote now in the Optus One80Project

Voting is now open in short film competition the Optus One80Project.

The public can watch online the top ten entries by filmmakers from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, and vote for their favourites, with the chance to win a $1,500 BlackBerry Prize Pack.

Each entry is a 180-second ‘pilot' or trailer for a one-hour television drama.

"The quality and diversity of ideas this year were exceptional with each entry conveying concepts that not only fit the brief but also met the requirements of a one-hour television drama," says Rebecca Batties, General Manager, Music Brands MTV Networks Australia & New Zealand.

"The top ten entries were of the highest calibre seen to date - a real showcase of the untapped TV production talent that this country has to offer."
 
"The Optus One80Project offers a unique platform allowing entrants to reach TV, mobile and online audiences," says Michael Smith, Managing Director, Optus Consumer. "I encourage everyone to get involved and support our local TV talent by voting at Optus One80 Project. Optus mobile customers can also view the top ten and vote for their favourite on their compatible 3G mobile phone via the Optus ZOO portal."
 
The top ten entries were selected by representatives from Optus and MTV and will now be voted on by a panel of industry experts.

The panel includes Emmy and Golden Globe nominee and star of movie classics Jurassic Park, The Piano and currently Daybreakers, Sam Neill; Australian actor Xavier Samuel, who has just finished filming the third instalment of the Twilight series phenomenon Eclipse; star of Beautiful Kate, Sophie Lowe; US-based MTV Films heavyweight and Executive Vice President of New Media, David Gale; and Chris McGlinn, Director of Marketing for Amalgamated Holdings Limited, who brings with him over 25 years of cinema experience.

From the top ten, the judges will pick a Judges' Choice winning entry which will be made into a one hour drama broadcast on MTV Australia. A second winner, the Viewers' Choice Award, will be selected by the public in a national campaign entitled You Be the Judge.
 
You Be the Judge gives the public the opportunity to view all top 10 entries on the OPTUS ONE80PROJECT website, Optus One80 Project. Optus mobile customers can also view and vote for entries via the Optus Zoo portal on their compatible 3G mobile [1] or by SMS-ing the word "One80" to 966 or "iOne80" for iPhone customers. The Optus mobile site is free to browse and free to vote for Optus customers.
 
In addition, those voting online at Optus One80 Project will have the opportunity to select the ‘vote and win' option to win a BlackBerry Prize Pack valued at $1,500. Optus mobile customers [2] who vote via their compatible 3G mobile will receive an Event Cinemas discounted movie ticket.
 
Votes can be cast between now and Monday 5 April, 2010.

The finalists will also screen at The Garden in Hyde Park on the evening of Sunday 18 April as part of a free entertainment gala hosted by MTV's Erin McNaught. Made over to look like a classic New York Cinema, Hyde Park will have plenty of seating, NY-style pizza courtesy of Doughboy, and free popcorn for all. Bring a picnic and your friends and enjoy the talented efforts of these young filmmakers, as well as an acoustic performance by Welsh rockers Stereophonics, and sets by New Zealand DJ sensation P-Money, who will be joined by live vocalists and MCs.
 
The OPTUS ONE80PROJECT is a joint initiative between Optus and MTV Networks Australia, in association with BlackBerry® and Event Cinemas.

To vote for the 2010 Optus One80Project top ten entries, head to Optus One80 Project.

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