Spike Lee Teams With Nokia for YouTube-Style Film

April 25, 2008 — -- The newest Spike Lee production may have your name in the credits. The famed director has teamed with Nokia to create a short film made entirely of user-generated content. By using mobile devises to record, photograph and upload material, amateur filmmakers across the country can take part in this new endeavor.

Both Nokia and Lee seek creative and original content. However, the task is not without guidelines. The film will have three acts centered on the theme of humanity. The content submitted for each act will be based on assignments posted on Nokia's production Web site: http://promotions.yahoo.com/nokiaproductions/

Once the assignment is posted, users will have four weeks to create and upload their work.

Combining the popularity of YouTube and the vote-off drama of reality TV, Nokia allows participants to vote for their favorite submissions as well as edit and add music to other people's work. Once the finalists have been selected, Lee will choose three winners for the final product.

Nokia Production's Web site features a live blog from Lee as well as tips from the director on how to make a winning cell phone film. For those who don't feel comfortable behind the camera, the site also welcomes ideas for films through text messages.

The innovative project is already under way with submissions for the first act due May 15. The final film will be released later this year.