The 2001 slogan for Coca-Cola has new meaning for Derek Meyer, VCU Mass Comm class of 2007. After graduating last spring, he entered Florida State University to pursue his MFA in filmmaking. Recently he was selected as one of ten finalists to produce a 50-second film about Diet Coke. He joins talented filmmaking students from USC, FSU, Chapman University, Columbia University and New York University, the homes of the winners of the last five “Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Awards.” Created in 1998, Coca-Cola invites students from participating film schools across the country to submit entries of original scripts and storyboards. Ten finalists are selected, receiving $7,500 to produce a 50-second film to be viewed before the featured showing at certain theatres across the nation. Winners also receive $10,000.
Once submitted, the films are then reviewed by the “Red Ribbon Panel of Judges” that includes actors such as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, along with screenwriters, directors, and entertainment executives. The winning film is shown in more than 21,000 movie theaters for four to eight weeks.
We’re pulling for you, Derek. Make it real!
