Round 8 FAQ

[cinema-mod.livejournal.com]

Everything you wanted to know - and possibly some things you didn't - about spn_cinema Round 8. Note: even if you've participated last round, please read this over to refresh your memory and to also learn about a few changes to the claiming system and participation in general.

What is this challenge?
spn_cinema is an SPN/RPF fanwork challenge, where films serve as the basis of fic, art and audio-based fanworks. To find out about important dates, check the profile page.

Who can sign up?
Any author, artist, podficcer, or fanmixer can sign up. For the purpose of this FAQ, 'art' in this case refers to all illustrated art, manips, graphics, videos, etc. 'Audio' refers to both podfic and fanmixes. Otherwise, 'fanworks' is used to cover the spectrum of allowed mediums.

I don't have a livejournal account. Can I still participate?
We got you! Claims will be open for anonymous comments; your claiming info must include your preferred platform where you will post your work. The mods will then work with you to get your piece posted to the community on your scheduled day. If you are working in a collaboration and your partner(s) have a livejournal, then it is preferred they post for your collective pieces. In short, so long as you have a platform to post and will be responsive via email with the mods, you are welcome to join us!
[more about posting and other participation FAQs below]

I signed up last round but didn't complete my fanwork. Am I banned from this round?
Nope! Feel free to sign up with the same film, or something entirely new if you wish.

How do I sign up?
A claiming post where you select the film you'd like to recreate will go up on Saturday August 26, 2017, at 10 AM CST.

Can I collaborate with another person(s)?
Sure thing! Just let us know on the claim post that you're collaborating with others. Only one of you will need to claim your desired film! Please note that if any combination of author/artist/podficcer/fanmixer claim the same film and do not wish to collaborate with each other, that's fine!

How long must my fanwork be?
Fic: word count minimum is 1000 words, with no maximum word count - you can write as much as it takes for the story to be told.
Art: at least one fanwork with a size of at least 400x400px (for all art discluding vids) or a length of one minute (for vids); there's no maximum.
Podfic: record a fic with a word count minimum of 1000 words, and there is no maximum.
Fanmix:, at least 10 songs, but there is no maximum. Your mix must also include cover art with a size of at least 400x400px.

What pairings/ratings are allowed?
Any pairing is allowed, as is gen. The only thing we ask is that at least one of your main character(s) and/or main pairing(s) come from Supernatural canon or are actors who have appeared in at least one episode of Supernatural. (For example: Sam/OFC is great, Sam/OMC is great, OFC/OMC is not; Jared/Jason Momoa is great, Jared/Danneel is great, Danneel/Jason is not. Likewise, a gen fic focusing on the Novaks is great, a fic focusing on Bela is great, but a fic focusing on a babysitter Dean had when he was three and never appeared in an episode is not.) NOTE: Artwork featuring children of the cast is not allowed, and it is preferred that their names not be used in fics.

Are crossovers allowed?
Yes! Go wild with your fusions!

What film can be claimed?
Any film that's been released (in theaters, straight-to-video, or made-for-tv) and is listed in IMDB.com is up for grabs, as are any upcoming releases with enough of a plot summary/preview to help base your fanwork on. No genre is off-limits!

Can the same film be claimed twice?
No. Each film can only be claimed once per medium (story, art, and audio) per round. In addition, only one claim per medium is allowed for a single film and their remake(s). For example, if someone claims "Rear Window," another person may not claim "Disturbia." Films that make up a franchise will be treated as individual films, however, so if somebody claims "Batman," somebody else may claim "The Dark Knight" under the same medium. You may, however, claim films that have been done in prior rounds.

How many films can I claim?
We want everybody to get a chance at claiming the film they'd like to do first, so you are limited to one claim to start. However, once round one of claims ends, we will open a final round where you can claim one more film if you'd like. Any films claimed in the first round cannot be claimed in the second round (unless claimed under an unclaimed medium, of course).

Can somebody claim a film for me?
Yes! Just be sure that they put your name and contact information, and not their own to specify it is a proxy claim. If that same proxy is also claiming their own film, each claim must be in a separate comment.

I claimed a film that's part of a franchise - am I confined to that one film?
For the most part, yes. You can incorporate aspects from related films, but the bulk of inspiration should come from your claimed film.

How similar does my fic have to be to my claimed film?
This is up to you. If you want to basically retell the plot with the new characters and new dialogue, that's fine. If you want to take parts of the film and weave them together with your own original scenes to make a story, that's fine as well. You can even take one scene from the film and let that inspire your entire story. A word-for-word retelling of the film is not allowed.

I've posted a fic - or a Work in Progress (or WIP) - a few weeks ago that's based on a film. Can I claim that same film and use it for this challenge?
No. Any story that has already been previosuly posted, even as a WIP, is not allowed in the challenge. However, if your story has not been posted anywhere, feel free to finish it and submit it, providing you manage to claim the proper film.

I want to do art! What are my options?
You have three options here:
1) work on your own and create art for the film of your choice.
2) pair up with another participant and create art that accompanies their fic, podfic, or fanmix.
3) create art for an existing piece of fic, podfic, fanmix that covers a film. Note that you must obtain permission from the original creator (if not you) to address their piece.

I want to do audio! What are my options?
Podficcers have two options for participating:
1) record an already written and posted fic based on your claim. If the fic was not written by you, you must receive permission from the author to record their fic.
2) collaborate with an author and record the fic they're writing for this challenge.

I want to do a fanmix! How does this work?
For fanmixers, your options are a little wider:
1) create a fanmix for an already written and posted fanart based on your claim, providing you receive the author's permission to do so.
2) collaborate with an author and create a fanmix based on the fic they're writing for this challenge. 3) work alone and create a fanmix based on your own ideas of your source material (aka, if the movie was actually called "When Jared Met Jensen," what would the soundtrack sound like?).

How long do I have to finish my fanwork?
Posting begins November 6, 2017.

How do I submit my draft?
Drafts are due to the cinema mod email account by Monday October 2, 2017 at 12am in your time zone. More information regarding drafts and submissions will be posted to the community closer to this date.

How do I post my fanwork?
Each participant will be responsible for posting their own piece in their preferred platform (livejournal, dreamwidth, tumblr, personal website, etc.) then post links to the community to connect the audience to their work(s). If you are working in collaboration with other participant(s), only one needs to post to the community with links to each person's personal posts. More information regarding posting will be added to the community closer to the November.

When is posting?
The cinema mods will create a posting schedule within a week of drafts being submitted (by Monday October 9, 2017). Posting will begin on Monday November 6, 2017.

Are drafts required?
Yes. Drafts are due by Monday October 2, 2017 at 12am in your time zone. Drafts do not have to be complete but must show substantial progress to show that you are more likely than not to complete the challenge. (And honestly, we are pretty loose with our standards on drafts, we just want to see progress and an intention to stay committed to completing the challenge and posting in November)


If you've still got a question that hasn't been answered, ask here and we'll help you out!