If you know someone who has mad skills in filmmaking, entering a film contest could erupt their status into Spielberg stardom.

Hawaii Volcanoes’ “Digital Mountain ’09: It’s My Park!” invites students to submit an original 3-minute video on what Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (on the Big Island), means to them. All eligible videos will be shown at the “Digital Mountain ’09: It’s My Park!” film festival on the weekend of September 19.

“We’re delighted to provide this free opportunity to our neighboring
communities and hope after this first year we’ll be able to reach out to
even more communities,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando.

Incoming seventh graders through recent high school graduates may enter. If you don’t have a camera or any access to the park, no problem. The program will provide the digital video cameras and have scheduled dates to pick participants up in Puna (July 13, 16 and 18) and Ka‘u (July 17, 19 and 20) and bring you to the park.

"We felt strongly that taking the training on the road was critical," said
DM•IX co-executive producer, Roland Joseph Torres. "We had a vision of
doing on-site workshops and when Friends of the Future offered their
Technology Bus, it turned into an exciting reality."

The program also provides professionals from the film and TV industries to help participants shoot, edit and finalize their film.

Participants will learn film-making while and storytelling about Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, with their entry entitled, “It’s My Park.”

The premiere showing of the students’ films will take place in the park on
the weekend of September 19. Contest winners will be awarded prizes like JVC Digital Camcorders, I-Mac Computers or other electronic devices.

DM•IX is sponsored by the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park,
Hawai‘i Natural History Association, Ka‘u Rural Health Association, Pacific
Media Trust and Learning, Friends for the Future, National Park Foundation,
Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Lyman Museum, Pacific Tsunami Museum,
KapohoKine Adventures, Hawai‘i Forest and Trail and Hawaiian Walkways.

To learn more about “Digital Mountain ’09: It's My Park!” or to register
on-line go to digitalmountain-hawaii.com or call (808) 985-6166 or (808) 985-7373.