And if you braved the cold temperatures and came out to the FiLMLaB kickoff Tuesday night at TaborSpace, then you are probably already working on your story ideas for the 2016 short screenplay contest. You’re a step ahead of many Willamette Writers who didn’t come out and didn’t help choose the FiLMLaB contest prompts for 2016.

Really, I can’t blame you. It was bitter cold and if I didn’t have to be there myself, I probably would have elected to stay home on the couch with a good book and a blanket. We’ve posted updates on social media, but – in case you missed it – our audience got to vote on two writing prompts: a physical prop and a characteristic.

After much laughter and very serious discussion we had our results.

These are the FiLMLaB Contest Prompts 2016

Writing Prompt #1 (The Prop): all writers submitting to the 2016 FiLMLaB Contest must include as part of their story the 1977 Slim Pickens LP. If you feel the need to damage this classic album, rest assured we will manage a stunt LP. How to use it is up to you, but woe to the writer who leaves it on the shelf.

Writing Prompt #2 (The Characteristic): all writers submitting to the 2016 FiLMLaB Contest must include as part of their story a character who is obsessed with time. It does not have to be a central plot point or feature of your main character, but one of the four (allowed) characters must exhibit this characteristic. It is not enough to tell us they are obsessed with time, you must show us.

Easy pea-sy, right? No Bug Eyed Bill to mess with your head and keep you up nights; no location to tailor your story to; not even a conference theme to try and work in. Write what you want, but keep these things in mind:

• Follow the rules
• Minimize subplots
• Keep it visual

The LaB doors are open!

Good luck!