GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community Television’s fourth annual Lights! Camera! Greenfield! film contest is back this week with a familiar goal as in past years, and that is that everyone — regardless of skill level — has fun.

“That’s the only thing,” said Ian Hamilton, program coordinator at GCTV. “Obviously having a quality movie is great, but just seeing people have fun on camera, coming out to see the movies live — that’s the real goal.”

The two-week competition, which launched for the first time in 2019, invites teams to produce a short film using three random prompts, according to Hamilton. The kickoff event, during which Hamilton will explain all rules and technical expectations, will take place both remotely (GCTV.org/live) and in GCTV’s lobby at 393 Main St. on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Last year, competing teams worked with the prompts cool, shape and food. The upcoming contest’s themes will be unveiled on Thursday.

“They turned out really great,” Hamilton said of the films. “It was really nice to actually be able to show them in the theater. … We ended up with 12 or 14 movies.”

In its fourth year, Hamilton said the contest is beginning to expand beyond the borders of the city.

“It’s called Lights! Camera! Greenfield but that doesn’t mean you have to be from here or include Greenfield in your movie,” he explained. “We want people to be able to make the movie wherever they’re comfortable.”

Hamilton said in addition to Greenfield, he’s received registrations from residents of Whately, Ware and Northampton. He emphasized that while there are contests like this one “all over the place,” not all offer the two-week timeframe granted by GCTV.

“I know how tight schedules can be for people,” he said. “We want to reach out to people who’ve never made a movie.”

Hamilton emphasized staff at GCTV are available to offer technical help and equipment is available by reservation.

“We’re a public access station; we have the training ... the technical skills to help you along the entire process if you need it,” he said. “If you want to go at it yourself, you can do that as well. We want people to see a completed project and hopefully feel good about it.”

To register for the contest, visit gctv.org/lcgsignup. A free screening of all completed films is expected to take place at the Garden Cinemas on Monday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

]]>