Scramble

For the Spring 2019 Music Video Scramble, 20 filmmaking teams were randomly paired up with 20 local musicians to create a music video from scratch within one 48-hour period. All finished music videos were screened at Saturn on March 4th to a sold out crowd.

JURY AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC VIDEO: “Heavy Rubber Gloves” by The Hollywood Horses, directed by Team Sparkle Pony (pictured)

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST MUSIC VIDEO: “Visionland” by C1ub:AM, directed by Nuthouse Media

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: “Green Lights” by Thyme Randle, directed by Morgan Grace Films

BEST KIND OF WEIRDNESS AWARD: “The Cigarette” by Qualifier, directed by GBFS

Special thanks to the music video jury!

Stephanie Bergara of Austin Music Video Festival
Dan Brawley of Cucalorus Film Festival
Alan Hunter – original MTV VJ, co-founder of Sidewalk and Workplay

Watch all the music videos here

For the Fall 2018 Spooky Scramble, each competing team received a random horror subgenre, a spooky prop to incorporate (in this case, a small bendable skeleton), and a line of dialogue (The Shining’s famous line, “Here’s Johnny”).

JURY AWARD FOR BEST FILM: “Two of Swords” by L’Goons (Monster Horror)

AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FILM: “Missing Person” by Over Fork Over (Silent Horror)

SPECIAL AWARDS FROM THE JURY:

Sickest Riffs Award – “Bug & Knife Fight Religion” by Badmouth Films (Religious Horror)
Best Use of Space – “Stay Away” by Team Haunted House (Haunted House)
Best Use of Skeleton – “Johnny Bones” by Line B (B-Movie Horror)
Best Special Effects – “Johnny Bones” by Line B
Best Use of Comedy – “Hang In There” by Vacant Manifesto (Torture Porn)
Best Performance – Michael Greene, Vacant Manifesto
Best Puke Award – “Killer Party” by Whale Wolves (Teen Horror)
Best Score – “Killer Party” by Whale Wolves
Best Use of Fake Blood – “Hang In There” by Vacant Manifesto
Best Cinematography – “Two of Swords” by L’goons

The Spooky Scramble jury consisted of Sidewalk programmer Corey Craft, horror screenwriter Jeremy Burgess, local filmmaker Chance Shirley, and Birth.Movies.Death. writer Justin Harrison.

Watch the Spooky Scramble short films here

For the Time Warp Scramble, each team was randomly assigned one genre and one time period to combine. Each team also had to incorporate a sparkly, light-up bow tie along with the phrase “It’s about time.”

JURY AWARD FOR BEST FILM: “Spoils” by Whale Wolves (Prehistoric + Horror)

JURY AWARD RUNNER-UP: “Bootleg Betties” by Time Bandits (1920s + Gangster)

AUDIENCE AWARD: “Spoils” by Whale Wolves

SPECIAL AWARDS FROM THE JURY:
Best Post Production – “Folklore” by Team Blüprint (Old West + Sci-fi)
Best Practical Effects – “Autophagia” by Broken Millennials
Best Intentionally Bad Special Effects – Tie – “Moonshine” by Vacant Manifesto (1920s + Sci-fi), “Revenge of the Mind Bear” by Kevin Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwich (1970s + B-Movie)
Most Hateable Faux-Reality Personality – Katrina from “Katrina” by Ghost Crew (2000s + Mockumentary)
Best Kitten In a Bow Tie – Titan from “Spoils” by Whale Wolves
Best Use of Terrence Malick as Inspiration: “Psalm to Psalm” by Over Fork Over (Religious + Art Film)

Special thanks to our jurors: Cameron McAllister of the Atlanta Film Society, Keith McDaniel, Knoxville Film Festival Executive Director; and Melodie Sisk, filmmaker.
Additional thanks to our tie-breaking juror: Zach Clark

View the Time Warp Scramble short films here!

For the Spring 2017 Scramble, each team was given not just one, but TWO genres to combine to create their short film masterpiece. Additionally, teams were required to include the phrase “Two heads are better than one” along with a mandatory prop- a salt shaker.

Jury Award For Best Film – “Double Jump” by Diabetic Hummingbirds (Genres: Romance + Coming of Age)

Audience Choice For Best Film – “Hunted” by Troop 5 (Genres: Sci-fi + Sports)

Special thanks to the jury: Charles Judson, veteran film festival organizer and programmer; Natalie Lentz, Senior Programming Associate for Cucalorus Film Festival; and Liz Manashil, filmmaker and film critic.

View the Spring 2017 Scramble short films here!

Date night at the movies – it’s a tradition as old as cinema itself. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, teams were randomly assigned a subgenre of romantic film and one random word to appear in dialogue, along with a rose to use as a mandatory prop. Congratulations to the award winners of the Sidewalk Date Night Scramble presented by Magic City Mingle!

Jury Award for Best Film – “Ignacio & Rosita” by Over Fork Over

Best Cinematography – “306” by Palace Prune

Best Writing – “Love: A Parable of Modern Anxiety” by Burned Toast Studios

Social Media Award – The AK-47s

Sponsored by Iron City, Birmingham Mountain Radio, and Mason Music

For the Sidewalk Scrambled Jam in Spring 2015, 15 filmmaking teams were randomly paired up with a local musicians to create a music video from scratch over the course of one 72-hour period.

All completed films screened at Iron City along with featured performances by Steel City Jug Slammers, Winston Ramble, and Nerves Baddington.

Special thanks to our jury: Sarah Orr (BMR), Brad Lyons (Mason Music), Alan Hunter (MTV, Sidewalk) and Kyle McKinnon (Filmmaker, Sidewalk Features Programmer)

In collaboration with Vulcan Park and Museum, the 2014 Sidewalk Scramble tasked teams with creating a short film showcasing different aspects of Birmingham’s iconic Vulcan statue. Film topics included Vulcan & Kiwanis; Memorabilia throughout the years; Vulcan’s Torch; Vulcan at the fairgrounds; and the artist Lonnie Holley.

Select films were included as part of the Vulcan Park summer-long exhibition “Vulcan Keepsakes: Iron Man Memorabilia from the Birmingham Community”.

For the 2013 Scramble, filmmaking teams were each tasked with adapting a randomly-assigned story from Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Classic tales such as “The Golden Bird”, “The Traveling Musicians”, “The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean”, “The Blue Light”, and “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” were adapted into 5-minute or less short films over the course of one 48-hour weekend.

A special, evil Scramble centered around some of the most iconic movie villains.

The Unusual Scramble assigned each filmmaking team with one genre that you typically don’t see in the zero-budget indie filmmaking sphere. Genres were: Soap Opera; Holiday; High School Movie; Supernatural; Musical; Sports; Noir; and Kids.

Awards:

Judges Pick 1st Place: “The Canary” by Appy Polly Loggies

Judges Pick 2nd Place: “We Never Talk Anymore” by Yay Us!

Each team participating in the Famous Last Words Scramble was assigned a sub-genre with associated props (Romance + jewelry and flowers, Mystery + camera, candles, and caution tape) as well as the famous last words of a dying character. From Oscar Wilde’s “Either this wallpaper goes, or I do!” to William Wallace’s “Freeeeedom!!!”, teams had to incorporate all these elements into a 4-minute film in one weekend.

Awards:

Judges Pick 1st Place: “Traces” by BooGaLoo

Judges Pick 2nd Place: “Enough’s Enough” by Kool Kats

Early Bird Award: “Traces” by BooGaLoo

Best Use of Assigned Sub-Genre: “Wisp” by Our Vanilla World

Best Use of Assigned Line: “Bloody Bayonet” by NGC2264

Best Use of Assigned Item: “New Arrivals” by Outlaw

Best Cinematography: “Enough’s Enough” by Kool Kats

Scrambling into the spirit of Halloween, teams were randomly given an inspiration item (duct tape, spatula, a bust of Napoleon, etc) along with a recently released horror movie and a sub-genre to base it on.

Awards:

Overall: “One of Us” by Outlaw

Funniest Film: “One of Us” by Outlaw

Best Cinematography: “Bait” by Silver Shamrock

Best Special Effects: “Our Daily Bread” by Our Vanilla World

Tommy Lee Jones of Birmingham Award: Sonny Backus

Winners:

(3rd Place) J.F.W

(2nd Place) American Wizards

(1st Place) Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Special Awards:

Directing: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Acting: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Editing: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Cinematography: J.F.W

Script: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Originality: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Creative Use of Item/Line: American Wizards

Special Award for Experimental Storytelling: Hi, We’re the Alabamians

Jury: Jana Harris, filmmaker; David Brower, cinematographer; and Chance Shirley, cinematographer and director

The very first music video scramble! 25 filmmaking teams + 25 local musicians = 25 music videos, all shot over the course of one 48-hour weekend.

Jurors: Alan Hunter (Sirius, Sidewalk, Workplay); Hurricane Shane (106.9 The Eagle); Mary Kay (95.7 Jamz); Sam George (Birmingham Weekly); & Jeh Jeh Pruitt (Fox 6).

The screening featured performances from Brent McCollough, The Arrangement, and The Alexa Rankin Band.

Awards:

Best Directing: “Theme For an Imaginary Revenge” by Frames Per Second, directed by Sledjester

Best Editing: “Theme For an Imaginary Revenge” by Frames Per Second, directed by Sledjester

Best Cinematography: “Theme For an Imaginary Revenge” by Frames Per Second, directed by Sledjester

Best Song: “Glue, Glitter, Glove” by Hustling Backwards

Best Video: “Glue, Glitter, Glove” by Hustling Backwards, directed by American Wizards

This special Student Scramble was only open to high school, and college students within the state of Alabama. Students were given 48 hours and a handful of inspiration items to craft their short film. Filmmaking critique was provided from the jurors.

Awards:

1st Place: Last Minute

2nd Place: Sprankle

3rd Place: Outlaw

4th Place: Jeff State

16th Scramble

Summer Scramble Assigned Themes: Armageddon, Failed Relationships, Poverty, War, Health Issues, Sports, Darwinism, Thievery, Addiction, Horror.

Summer Scramble Assigned Items: Measuring tape, ruler, duct tape, paperclip, ballpoint pen, rubber band, tweezers, gum, shoelaces, etc.

Awards:

1st Place: “Natural Selection” by Blue Mug

2nd Place: “Girls Will Be Girls” by Heinous Elite

3rd Place: “One, Two, Three” by Death by Flypaper

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “Natural Selection” by Blue Mug

Best Directing: “Girls Will Be Girls” by Heinous Elite

Best Cinematography: “War Room” by Thomas Brothers Productions

Best Editing: “One, Two, Three” Death by Flypaper

Select films here

Pick between: Comedy or Drama

Pick between ending: Happy or Sad

Randomly assigned sub-genre: action, sci-fi, horror, buddy movie, romance, silent, suspense, or mystery

Number of characters determined by rolling dice

Pair of dice had to be incorporated in the film

Jury: Brad Thomason, Alex Orr, Kyle McKinnon, & Rachel Morgan

Awards:

Division 1:

Best Use of Inspiration Package: “Rigor Mortis” by Thomas Brothers Productions

Best Directing: “Rigor Mortis” by Thomas Brothers Productions

Best Cinematography: “Rigor Mortis” by Thomas Brothers Productions

Best Editing: “Rigor Mortis” by Thomas Brothers Productions

Division 2:

Best Use of Inspiration Package: “Subject” by Fancy Hearing Cake

Best Directing: “Hollow Porcelain Fish Chamber” by Reining Nails

Best Cinematography: “Hollow Porcelain Fish Chamber” Reining Nails

Best Editing: “Hollow Porcelain Fish Chamber” Reining Nails

Special Jury Awards:

Best Bernie Impression: “Rigor Mortis” by Thomas Brothers Productions

Best Credit Sequence: “Board to Death” by Screaming Child

Best/Dumbest Use of the Dice: “Summer Holiday” by Heinous Elite

Most Ambitious Content: “Shadowing” by Sprankle Studios

Biggest Waste of Two Hot Lesbians Alone in the House: “She’s Driving Me Crazy” by Team Shout

The 2nd Annual Harmony Korine Award for Excellence: “Hollow Porcelain Fish Chamber” by Reining Nails

Most Improved Scramblers: “Film: The Movie” by Outlaw

Breaking the mold of previous 48-hour competitions, the Summer 2008 Scramble gave participants 10 full days to craft their project.

Each team randomly drew from 5 different camera angles that had to be used for at least one scene of their film. Options were: High, Low, Dutch, POV, and Bird’s Eye View. Teams also had to use a mixed cassette tape, a character named “Serena ‘The Ox’ Sarducci”, and a dream sequence.

Jurors: David Brower, cinematographer; Michele Forman, and Chance Shirley, cinematographer and director.

Awards:

1st Place: “Endless Empire” by Sprankle Studios

2nd Place: “Hard Justice” by Costly Sunglasses

3rd Place: “No Return” by Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Crème de la Femme Award: “Next!” by The Worthy Adversaries

Best Use of a Line from Star Wars: “Hard Justice” by Costly Sunglasses

Best Homage to Dr. Strangelove: “Hell is for Bastards” by Plainview Oil Company

Best Bible Beat-Down & Evil Priest Laser Eye Attack: “I, Woman” by Ponies, Shovels, & Darkness

Achievement in Directing: “Hard Justice” by Costly Sunglasses

Achievement in Cinematography: “Endless Empire” by Sprankle Studios

Achievement in Editing: “Hard Justice” by Costly Sunglasses

Best Use of Inspiration Package: “Endless Empire” by Sprankle Studios

Select films here

This Scramble did away with the usual “bring an item” schtick. Instead, each team drew, at random, a location and a TV channel. The location was to be used in at least one scene, and the TV channel was to be the big inspiration behind their film. Channels included: Lifetime, Spike TV, Court TV, Comedy Central, and SciFi. Teams were also required to use the phrase “We’ll sleep when we’re dead” along with the number 10, in honor of Sidewalk’s 10th year anniversary.

Jurors: Alex Orr, Mark Stolaroff, and Bill Schweikert.

Awards:

Division 1:

Best Directing: “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Sprankle Studios

Best Cinematography: “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Sprankle Studios

Best Editing: “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Sprankle Studios

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Sprankle Studios

Best of Division 1: “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Sprankle Studios

Division 2:

Best Directing: “A Commotion of Dogs” by Reining Nails

Best Cinematography: “Wagner’s Score” by Space Camp

Best Editing: “Spyke’s Super Awesome Lineup” by Heinous Elite

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “Spyke’s Super Awesome Lineup” by Heinous Elite

Best of Division 2: “Spyke’s Super Awesome Lineup” by Heinous Elite

Audience Choice:

Division 1: “The Preacher’s Daughter” by Sprankle Studios

Division 2: “A Perfect 10 Suicide” by Plainview Oil Company

Select films here

For the first time ever, we implemented directing styles as a requirement. There were 9 bins set up like a tic-tac-toe board and each team had to toss a golf ball to see which director they had to emulate. Each team also had a phrase and an “unlikely weapon” brought in by another team and given out at random.

Jurors: Skizz Cyzyk, Michael Grady, and Heidi Van Lier

Awards:

Division 1:

Best Directing: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Best Cinematography: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Best Editing: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Best Use of Inspiration Items: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Best in Division 1: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Division 2:

Best Directing: Space Camp

Best Cinematography: Sledjester

Best Editing: Space Camp

Best Use of Inspiration Items: Space Camp

Best in Division 2: Space Camp

Special Jury Awards:

Best Corporate Hell Prize: Bolt Action Sleeper Ray

Best Stunt Clothes Pin: Team Mayhem

Best Puppetry: Heinous Elite

Best Team Logo: Ponies, Shovels, & Darkness

Best Gardening Outfit: Roaring Creek Productions

Best Hooka: Team A

Select films here

Something new this time – each team turned in a script during registration, which was then randomly assigned to another team at the kick-off. We allowed teams roughly 25% leeway with their assigned scripts. Where else can you see your favorite teams tackle the brainchildren of their rival Scramblers? You’ll see Surrealists take on comedy, Morbid take on Kitschy, and all sorts of crazy shenanigans.

Jurors: JL Aronson, Adam Anderson, and Josh Cadwell

Awards:

Best Script Interpretation: “38mm” by Suction Horse

Best Directing: “38mm” by Suction Horse

Best Cinematography: “38mm” by Suction Horse

Best Editing: “Quarantine” by Moth Flavored Carousel

Best Script: “Happily Breaking” by The Script Killers

Best in Scramble – Producer: “38mm” by Suction Horse

Best in Scramble – Script: “Happily Breaking” by The Script Killers

Each team was assigned a tone (funny, ironic, romantic, surreal, dark, or uplifting) along with a required object (lego piece, bell, creepy doll, tin can, pregnancy pillow, clothing rack, license plate, beach umbrella, ash tray, headlight, hammer, propellor hat, poncho, easter basket, etc.) and a musical instrument to incorporate into one short film.

Awards:

Division 1:

Best in Scramble: “Continuity” by Unicorn Slayers

Best Inspiration: “Continuity” by Unicorn Slayers

Best Directing: “Continuity” by Unicorn Slayers

Best Editing: “And the Bell Rings On” by Consortium Films

Best Cinematography: “And the Bell Rings On” by Consortium Films

Division 2:

Best in Scramble: Reining Nails

Best Inspiration: Devalued Counterpart

Best Directing: “All Angels Have Rat Tails” by Reining Nails

Best Editing: “All Angels Have Rat Tails” by Reining Nails

Best Cinematography: “All Angels Have Rat Tails” by Reining Nails

Special Music Awards:

Best Original Score: “In Statum Damni” by Knowles! Funnel! Boom!

Best Usage of Music & Sound: “Scatterbrain” by Ponies, Shovels & Darkness

Most Imaginative Usage of Music: Staplegun Films

This Scramble was the first to be split into two separate divisions:

Division 2: The “ProScram” Division will consist of any teams that have previously won Best In Show during a Sidewalk Scramble, or have one or more professionals (someone who works in the industry for a living) serving as director, editor, or cinematographer.

Division 1: The “AmScram” Division will consist of all other teams. Anyone who considers their team a beginner or intermediate filmmaking team should register in this division.

Awards:

Division 1:

Best of Division 1: “Round Midnight” by Workshed Productions

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “Round Midnight” by Workshed Productions

Best Directing: “Round Midnight” by Workshed Productions

Best Editing: “Round Midnight” by Workshed Productions

Best Cinematography: “Round Midnight” by Workshed Productions

Best Wes Anderson Comedy: “The Whore That Wouldn’t Die” by Ponies, Shovels & Darkness

Special Jury Award for Innovative Filmmaking: “Hollow Porcelain Fish Chamber” by Reining Nails

Division 2:

Best of Division 2: “Don’t Worry” by Team Bloodjet!

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “Channel X” by Danger Ranger

Best Directing: “Don’t Worry” by Team Bloodjet!

Best Editing: “Don’t Worry” by Team Bloodjet!

Best Cinematography: “Don’t Worry” by Team Bloodjet!

Select films here

Teams were assigned an overall theme (celebration) and had to include a prop gourd, a horror cliché, and two randomly assigned nouns.

Sponsored by: AL.com, Starbucks, Birmingham Weekly, Bottle Rocket Post, & N House Digital Media

Jurors: Peter Gilbert, Gorman Bechard, & Michael Grady

Awards:

The Keep At It Award: Dream Weaver Kidz – frog / frog – a character falls while running

Best Extended Urination Scene: 33 Films – donkey / water – a character falls while running

Best Ben Affleck Impersonation: Outlaw – monkey / squeegee – phone lines don’t work

Most Likely to Make a Film for Dimension Films and Bob Weinstein: Death by Flypaper – lizard / skydiver – character forgets about threat

Funniest Film: Flying McDavid Brothers – mucus / corruption – power is out

Best Use of Alternative Fuel: Twelve Twenty Twenty Twelve – alien / dog – cat crosses path

Best Script: Flying McDavid Brothers – mucus / corruption – power is out

Best Performance: Kayla Parker (Zabumba Pictures)

Best Music: Flying McDavid Brothers – mucus / corruption – power is out

Best Cinematography (tie): Death by Flypaper & Los Muchachos

Best Use of Inspiration Items: Flying McDavid Brothers – mucus / corruption – power is out

Best In Show: Zabumba Pictures – xylophone / freezer – a mysterious old artifact is found

Select films here

The Scramblers this time around have an additional reason to be fast and furious. The University of Alabama Center for Public Television and Radio will be documenting the drama behind the scenes. The documentary will center around three teams participating in the competition. It will be directed by Max Shores, a producer and director on staff at the CPT&R.

Inspiration items: Object, either Sunrise or Sunset, a body of water (pool, river, creek, ocean, etc.), a genre, and one style element from that genre.

Sponsors: AL.com, Starbucks, Birmingham Weekly, Bottle Rocket Post, & N House Digital Media

Jurors: Gabe Wardell, J. R. Fritsch, & Skizz Cyzyk

Awards:

Best Use of the Word “Stouche”: “Quest for the Orb” by Flying McDavid Bros

Best Acting: “Drive” by The Stickmen

Best Editing: “Chlorofun” by Team Bloodjet!

Best Cinematography: “Swedish Title” by Insomniactive

Best Directing: “Brax to the Max” by  Team Soppy Suit

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “Quest for the Orb” by Flying McDavid Bros

Best in Show: “Quest for the Orb” by Flying McDavid Bros

6th Scramble

This special iScramble, sponsored by Starbucks and Apple, was open to college students only. All movies made during the iScramble must have been edited on iMovie. There were 15 iBooks available on a first come first-served basis to be loaned for the weekend to teams who do not have their own access to iMovie. Each team represented one school.

Inspiration items:

Activity: Camping (same for each team)

Character: Babyface (same for each team)

Object: different for each team- i.e. a blue piggy bank

Plot Point: different for each team- i.e. man recovers suitcase

Prizes:

Best Use of Inspiration Items: iLife ’05 (Garageband, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, & iTunes) plus 2 Garageband expansion packs

Audience choice: Final Cut Express HD

Best in Show: Apple Production Suite (Final Cut Pro HD, Motion, DVD Studio Pro)

Jurors: Tommy Davis, Chance Shirley, & Robert Rugan

5th Scramble

Select films here

Inspiration Items:

Prop: Fresh Fruit

Three dialogue lines: “Make a Wish.” “I already did.” “Make another One.” (must be the first 3 lines of the film, in order)

One Color (must be significantly used in production design)

Production Requirement: 30 continuous seconds of no dialogue

Awards:

Best in Show: “Ripples” by The Stickmen

Audience Choice: “Birthday Wish” by HFI

Best Use of Inspiration Items: “Ren” by Team Trittico

Best Directing: “Chrysalis” by Happy Nowhere

Best Cinematography (tie): “Chrysalis” by Happy Nowhere & “Ripples” by The Stickmen

Best Story: “No Bad Ideas” by Two Heads Aren’t Necessarily Better Productions

Best Actor: Kyle Holman, from “Chrysalis”

Best Actress: Shannon Neil Hodson, from “Chrysalis”

Most Fun & Unique Soundtrack: “Rent Romp” by Team Trittico

4th Scramble

Select films here

3rd Scramble

Select films here

Jurors: Curtis Hannum, Andrew Bujalski, Amber Benson, & Hanelle Culpepper

Awards:

Best Comedy Award: “Happy Nowhere”

Best Directing Award: Piddle Productions

Audience Choice: Bloodjet

2nd Scramble