Hell’s Half Mile presents
HHM Film Slam
Gather a team, receive a set of required creative elements, and make an original short film during one fast, focused production weekend.
Register Your Team See How It WorksAt a glance
2026 Event Details
Kickoff
Date and time: To be confirmed
Location: To be confirmed
Film Deadline
Date and time: To be confirmed
Submission: Online upload method to be confirmed
Premiere
Date and time: To be confirmed
Venue: To be confirmed
Entry Fee
2026 fee to be confirmed.
Previously $50 per team.
Team Limit
2026 team limit to be confirmed.
Previously limited to 10 teams.
Film Length
Previously 3–7 minutes, plus up to one minute of end credits. Confirm for 2026.
The process
How the Film Slam Works
Register and assemble your team
Choose a team name and team leader, submit the registration form and fee, then recruit your cast and crew. You do not need to be a production company to participate, and team sizes may vary.
If individual participants still may request help finding a team, add that option to the 2026 registration process.
Attend the kickoff
At least one member from every team attends the official kickoff to receive the event packet and required creative elements. Historically, teams received two random genres and selected one. Every film also had to include an assigned character, prop, and line of dialogue.
Create the film
All writing, rehearsing, production, editing, sound work, and rendering must happen during the official competition period. Teams control their own schedule, locations, cast, crew, and equipment.
Submit by the deadline
Upload the finished film and all required paperwork using the official submission method. A film received after the deadline may be screened, but historically was not eligible for judging or awards.
See it on the big screen
Submitted films premiere for an audience at the official screening, followed by awards and recognition for outstanding work.
The challenge
Required Creative Elements
Each team creates an original short film using the elements announced at kickoff:
Genre
Two random genres are provided; the team chooses one as the film’s primary style.
Character
An assigned character must appear in the film.
Prop
An assigned prop must appear in the film.
Dialogue
An assigned line must be spoken or otherwise used as directed.
Runtime
Historic rule: 3–7 minutes, excluding up to one minute of end credits.
Deadline
The completed film and required materials must arrive by the official deadline.
Before kickoff
What Teams May Prepare
Allowed in advance
- Organize cast and crew
- Scout and secure locations
- Secure cameras, sound gear, lighting, and editing equipment
- Gather general wardrobe, props, and production supplies
- Prepare release forms and a paperwork plan
Must wait until kickoff
- Writing the script
- Rehearsing the film
- Film-specific costume and set design
- Shooting
- Editing and sound design
- Rendering and final delivery
Production weekend
A Sample Team Schedule
| Kickoff night | Review the required elements, brainstorm the story, write the script, assign roles, and gather costumes and props. |
|---|---|
| Production day | Rehearse, record principal photography, monitor audio, and back up footage. |
| Second day | Complete pickup shots, begin the edit, select properly licensed music, and review missing material. |
| Deadline day | Finish the edit, check required elements, export the film, verify playback, complete paperwork, and upload early. |
Delivery
Film Submission Requirements
- Runtime: Historic rule was 3–7 minutes, with opening credits counting toward the seven-minute limit and end credits limited to one additional minute.
- Format: MP4 was previously preferred. Confirm resolution, codec, audio settings, file-size limit, and naming format for 2026.
- Slates and credits: Archived rules required specific opening and ending black slates plus HHM Film Slam credit language. Supply current exact wording before publication.
- Delivery: Archived events used a designated Dropbox folder. Replace this with the official 2026 upload destination and instructions.
- Deadline: Films must be fully uploaded by the stated deadline. Teams should allow time for export, upload, and playback verification.
- Late policy: Historically, late films were screened but were not eligible for judging or awards. Confirm this remains the policy.
Clearances
Required Paperwork
Teams are responsible for obtaining permission for every person, location, recording, and third-party element used in the film.
Team Leader Agreement
Historically signed and returned at kickoff.
Team Roster
Lists participating team members and roles.
Cast & Crew Releases
Required from everyone appearing in or contributing to the film.
Location Releases
Required for non-public filming locations.
Music Releases
Required for music not created by the team or otherwise properly licensed.
Materials Releases
Required for artwork, effects, footage, photographs, and other protected materials.
Recognition
Judging and Awards
Eligible films are reviewed for their use of the assigned criteria, creativity, originality, artistic merit, storytelling, and technical presentation. Additional recognition may include acting, use of criteria, sound, editing, or other standout achievements.
Historically, registration fees funded two cash prizes: two-thirds of the collected entry fees went to Best Film and one-third went to the runner-up. A Judges’ Choice film was also selected for an additional Hell’s Half Mile screening.
Eligibility
Core Rules
- All creative work specific to the submitted film must take place during the official competition period.
- The film must be original and the team must own or have permission to use all included material.
- Every required character, prop, line, and genre element must be included as directed.
- Participants are responsible for safe conduct, legal access to locations, and appropriate treatment of people and animals.
- Careless or unsafe conduct may result in dismissal or disqualification.
- Films may not contain unlawful, defamatory, privacy-invading, pornographic, or unauthorized copyrighted material.
- HHM may disqualify or decline to screen content that violates the official terms.
- Archived rules prohibited public distribution before the premiere. Confirm the 2026 social-media and promotional policy.
- Submitted entries and documents were historically not returned.
Official Terms and Liability — content required
The archived site contained a longer legal release, liability, indemnification, website-use, and permission statement. That language should be reviewed by HHM and current legal counsel rather than copied into the 2026 page unchanged.
ACTION Insert approved 2026 official terms here or link to a separate terms page.
Practical advice
Filmmaking Tips
- Build a reliable team and assign clear responsibilities.
- Keep the story achievable within the available time.
- Scout locations and confirm access before kickoff.
- Make a short shot list or storyboard before filming.
- Rehearse scenes before the camera rolls.
- Monitor sound while recording; poor audio is difficult to repair.
- Back up footage throughout the weekend.
- Leave enough time for editing, export, paperwork, and upload.
- Plan meals, water, rest, and transportation so the team can work safely.
- Finish a complete film first, then use remaining time for refinements.
About the event
HHM Film Slam
HHM Film Slam is a Hell’s Half Mile Film & Music Festival event designed to give filmmakers a focused production challenge, a public screening, and an opportunity to collaborate with Bay City’s creative community.
Archived producer contact: Tammie Stimpfel, HHM Film Slam Producer — info@hhmfilmslam.com
Take part
Register Your Team
Choose a team leader and team name, then complete the 2026 registration form. Registration is not complete until the required form and entry fee have been received.
Registration Link — Confirm URL
Internal use
2026 Approval Checklist
| Event format | Confirm 48 or 72 hours. |
|---|---|
| Dates | Kickoff, film deadline, premiere, and registration deadline. |
| Locations | Kickoff address and premiere venue. Archived copies conflict between 701 and 721 Washington Avenue, Suite 203. |
| Registration | Fee, team limit, registration URL, and team-matching policy. |
| Film rules | Runtime, required elements, opening slate, required credit language, and pre-premiere distribution. |
| Technical delivery | Upload platform, file type, codec, resolution, audio, file naming, and size limit. |
| Paperwork | Current forms and one unambiguous deadline. |
| Late entries | Confirm whether late films screen and whether they remain ineligible for awards. |
| Awards | Categories, judging criteria, prize structure, and festival screening. |
| Contact | Producer name, email, organization language, and active URLs. |
| Legal | Obtain approval for official terms, releases, liability, and content eligibility language. |