Television News

BET Launches Rap-It-Up Short Film Competition

Submitted Entries Must Focus on HIV-Related Topics, African-American Themes; BET to Produce and Televise Winning Selections in May 2008

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- BET announced today plans for its inaugural Rap-It-Up Short Film Competition in partnership with The Black AIDS Institute and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. The purpose of the competition is to highlight the issue of HIV/AIDS, HIV prevention and the impact of HIV/AIDS among African-American communities in the United States. African Americans account for the most people estimated to be living with AIDS, and for more HIV-related deaths than any other ethnic group in the United States.

"BET is proud to partner with The Black AIDS Institute and the Kaiser Family Foundation, who are both committed to curbing this disturbing trend," said Kelli Richardson Lawson, BET's Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications. "This competition offers a great opportunity for creative individuals to gain experience and exposure in this industry while creating films that educate audiences on the devastating affect of HIV/AIDS; and to hopefully encourage people to get tested and to make informed and responsible choices about their sexual practices."

The contest is open to participants of all races/ethnicities, but submissions must address the issue of HIV/AIDS in urban communities and strongly reflect African-American themes. Individuals are encouraged to submit screenplays, treatments or story outlines that could later be produced into a 20 to 25-minute short film for television. Two winners will be selected from the pool of submissions and BET will contribute up to $25,000 toward the production of the winning short films. The winning films will be shot on Digital Video (DV) format and will televise on the BET network around National HIV Testing Day, which is June 27, 2004. The winning films will also be submitted to independent film festivals around the world.

The winners will be chosen by a selection committee made up of prominent African Americans from the entertainment industry, which include Lee Daniels (producer of Monster's Ball, The Woodsman), Paris Barclay (director/producer of NYPD Blue, The West Wing), Shari Frilot (Programmer, Sundance Film Festival), Gaylene Gould (Programmer, Toronto Film Festival's Planet Africa Series), Jeff Friday (founder, American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and executive producer/distributor, One Week) and Nina Henderson Moore, BET's Executive Vice President of News, Public Affairs and Program Acquisitions.

There will also be an advisory committee of distinguished individuals appointed to provide creative support, but will not be directly involved with the selection process. They include renowned actors Danny Glover and Hill Harper, actor/director/producer Robert Townsend and two prominent Congresswomen -- the Honorable Maxine Waters (D-California) and the Honorable Diane Watson (D-California).

Following is more detailed information regarding contest deadlines and the selection process:

Contest Timelines: Entries are to be postmarked and submitted by
February 27, 2004. Finalists will be announced
on March 30, 2004. A production meeting will be
held from April 5 - 7, 2004 with contest winners
to assess crucial timelines and potential
resources needed. Production on the winning
projects will begin in mid-May 2008 and the
short films will televise on BET on or around
June 27, 2004 (National HIV Testing Day).

Application Guidelines: The application package should consist of a
completed application checklist; applicant's
resume; a "Statement of Purpose" defining contest
interest; a screenplay or detailed treatment and
story boards for proposed 20 to 25-minute film; a
brief summary of the submitted screenplay; a
signed legal waiver; and a list of any confirmed
cast and/or crew that will be involved with the
project.
*Applications are available for download on
BET.com at www.bet.com/rapitup or can be obtained
by mailing a legal-sized, self-addressed stamped
envelope to BET; Rap-It-Up Short Film
Competition; Attention: Loretta Edwards; 1235 W
Street, NE; Washington, DC; 20018.

Contact Information: Completed application packages should be sent to
Rap-It-Up Short Film Competition; c/o BET;
Attention: Loretta Edwards; 1235 W Street, NE;
Washington, DC; 20018. Contest questions may be
sent via e-mail to AIDSFilm@bet.net; or directed
to a toll-free number at 1-800-711-1630

ABOUT BET

BET, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the nation's leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs programming for the African-American audience. The BET Network reaches more than 78 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is a dominant consumer brand in the urban marketplace with a diverse group of branded businesses: BET.com, the Number 1. Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks -- BET Jazz, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, specializing in a full range of event production services, including event management, venue selection, talent recruitment, sound, lighting and stage production; and BET Books, the nation's leading publisher of African-American themed romance novels under the Arabesque Books label, and publisher of new imprints Sepia and New Spirit.

RAP-IT-UP is BET's award-winning, multi-faceted national awareness and grassroots campaign addressing HIV/AIDS. Through public service announcements, free HIV-integrated programming on the BET network, school forums and community events across the United States, HIV/AIDS testing, a toll-free health line (866-RAP-IT-UP), and an internet presence at www.rap-it-up.com, Rap-It-Up addresses the leading killer of African Americans ages 25-44. National partners joining BET in the effort are the Kaiser Family Foundation, Cable Positive, The Black AIDS Institute, Magic Johnson Foundation, LIFEbeat, AIDS: Act Now!, and the National Medical Association.

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