By Lauren Zeugner
Staff Writer

Lights! Camera! Action!Do you have dreams of directing the next big box office blockbuster?  Then tap into your inner Quentin Tarantino, Steven Spielberg or Frances Ford Coppla, grab your phone and start filming.

Chautauqua-Wawsee is hosting its first ever film festival featuring the Syracuse community with videos from the community. “This is an opportunity for the entire lakes community to become involved by sharing their videos,” said Mark Knecht, Chautauqua project leader. “Essentially this will create a short movie about our community; we’re excited that the Pickwick Theater has agreed to be our venue!”

Videos can be of individuals, friends or family having fun on the water, biking or around their home. All videos should be two minutes or less long and should be family friendly. Videos also need to be shot in landscape or horizontal rather than portrait or vertical.

Once you’ve shot your video, head to the Chautauqua-Wawasee website, www.chqw.org, or Facebook page and click on the link to submit it along with your contact information. The link does provide a standard release form. Knecht stated everyone appearing in the video must fill out a release form when the video is submitted, in order for it to be considered for a prize. Deadline to submit videos is July 29.

Once submitted, Ryan Snyder and Matt Wurtrich, who recently created the Snyder Wurtrich Production Company, will edit all the videos together.“I just think it’s fun,” Knecht said. “I want to do things that are fun. Everyone has a camera with them.” Knecht said he hopes people will submit all sorts of videos highlighting the community.

Anyone is eligible to submit a video. Prizes will be awarded for the best video in categories such as: fun with pets, tubing fun, relaxing this summer, family fun, biking fun and others yet to be defined.

Once all the videos have been edited together, the community will be invited to attend the premiere screening at the Pickwick Theater from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday. Aug. 7. Admittance to the movie is free. Those wishing for concessions will have to pay for them.

Questions may be directed to Debbie Yankosky at (574) 377-7543.