Carson horror film competition starts Sept. 20

Northern Nevada filmmakers interested in an upcoming short film competition in Carson City will find an advocate in event organizer Lyric Burt, who exudes an infectious love of film.

The 37-year-old Reno resident is co-founder of Silver State Storytellers, the nonprofit overseeing the annual Carson Creepy Short Horror Film Competition. Burt and partner Taylor Wilson picked up the mantle of the competition from previous organizers.

“We couldn’t let it die,” Burt said Tuesday at the Brewery Arts Center on Carson’s west side.

The competition officially starts Sept. 20, which is the registration deadline. Film submissions are due by Oct. 4, and a screening and awards ceremony is slated for 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at BAC. A full list of rules for entries can be found online: https://nvstorytellers.org/carson-creepy-short-horror-film-competition-team-registration-2023/. Tickets for the screening can be found at BAC: https://www.breweryarts.org/.

Filmmakers registered for the event will be provided three prompts: a prop, a sound effect and a line of dialogue. Films must be between 5 and 9 minutes long. Though the competition is for horror, organizers are asking participants to keep content in the PG-13 range.

“I will say that the rules state that we do want to keep this a somewhat family-friendly event,” Burt said. “So, we are asking filmmakers to stay within a relative PG-13 rating system … some gore, some light curse words, but don’t overdo it.”

Lyric Burt, organizer of a short horror film competition in Carson, in the Brewery Arts Center theater Sept. 13.

 

Burt grew up in Reno, went to college in Portland, Oregon, and studied theater production. Coming back home, Burt found work with Reno Little Theater. In 2019, Burt and Wilson started a media firm focusing on videography and digital marketing, working with nonprofits and organizations like Sierra Nevada Ballet.

It was during the pandemic that Silver State Storytellers was born.

“We want to provide artists with the resources and funds that they need to bring their creative visions to life,” Burt said. “We are especially interested in stories that are going to showcase and talk about the rich culture and diversity and beautiful landscape of the Silver State.”

Burt described how theater and film are different.

“What I love about theater is that it’s ethereal, and it’s only there for a moment,” Burt said. “And what I love about film is it’s pretty much everlasting. You have it forever… We’re still watching the very first films ever made. Those have never gone away.”

Burt and crew know their way around a film competition, having won Carson Creepy in past years. Burt’s 2019 entry, “Hungry,” was based on a prompt of a peanut butter jar.

“’Hungry’ was an homage to one of my favorite B ‘80s movies called ‘The Stuff,’” Burt said. “It’s a B horror movie where these people are eating essentially marshmallow fluff from outer space, and it’s turning them into these melting zombie people.”

Burt said the spirit of the upcoming competition is one of fun.

“It’s absolutely fun. That is the number one goal here,” said Burt. “And to inspire people to be creative.”

However, some serious film buffs will be judging the competition, including Emily Skyle-Golden who runs the Cordillera International Film Festival.

“They’re on their sixth year in Reno, and it’s like Reno’s Sundance Film Festival,” Burt said.

Burt also discussed favorite films. Burt’s top film of all time? “Sunset Boulevard.”

“I just love the vernacular in that film, the way that people talk,” Burt said. “The dialogue is excellent.”

Favorite horror film?

“’A Nightmare on Elm Street 3,’” Burt said, decisively.