Submissions For Eyes On L.A.: Hat Stories Contest Due 8/14

Cell Short Takes is sponsoring the Eyes on L.A.: Hat Stories Contest, which ties in with the current run of ReGina Taylor’s award-winning production of Crowns at Pasadena Playhouse.

ReGina Taylor's Crowns is a soul-stirring musical that pays tribute to African American women and their Sunday hats. Each hat collects stories of life affirming markers cupped under each brim, rites of passage ranging from weddings to funerals to baptisms. Crowns explores the lives of the "hat queens," six women in the South whose stories of love, loss, identity and sisterhood are woven into the hats that crown their heads and the songs that speak their truth. It is a reflection on where we come from and the women who helped to raise us. It is recognition of what is passed down.

Cell Short Takes is looking for favorite hat stories from Los Angeles County residents over the age of 18, who are legal residents of the United States or D.C.  Contestants are to submit their Eyes on L.A.: Hat Stories in cell short takes format by mail, postmarked for receipt by Friday, August 14, 2009.  Cell phone short takes are films shot entirely on cell phones lasting between 5 and 10 minutes in length.  Short takes will be viewed and voted on by your peers and the Cell Short Takes online community.

“The Cell Short Takes contest was created in conjunction with the Pasadena Playhouse production of Crowns based on the premise that each hat proclaims a life.  Telling stories helps bridge generations, bridge communities, bridge lives,” said Regna Taylor.  “Like the play, inspiring people to tell their own 'hat stories' is an opportunity to share stories from your own life – or –  that have been passed down to you by family or friends.”

Prizes for Eyes on L.A.: Hat Stories:

- One (1) First (1st) Place winner will receive a total aggregate cash prize in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1000), payable by cash or check in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

- One (1) Second (2nd) Place winner will receive a total aggregate cash prize in the amount of Four Hundred Dollars ($400), payable by cash or check in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

- One (1) Third (3rd) Place winner will receive a total aggregate cash prize in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100), payable by cash or check in the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

Please note that if a winning cell short take was submitted by more than one (1) credited Entrant, the total aggregate cash prize will be shared between the credited Entrants.

How to enter:

Contestants for Eyes on L.A.: Hat Stories Cell Short Takes Contest must submit by mail:

1. A completed and signed entry form (for each entrant)
2. A signed Voluntary Participation and Contestant Release (for each entrant)
3. A copy of the short take on DVD
4. A brief biography (for each entrant)
5. Stills of the short take on CD or DVD

All submissions should be mailed to (postmarked for receipt by Friday, August 14, 2009):

ReGina Taylor
P.O. Box 801867
Santa Clarita CA 91380

Entries must be uploaded to the contest website at www.cellshorttakes.com. All details, rules and forms are available for download at www.cellshorttakes.com by clicking on the "Download Forms Here" link.

Crowns, adapted by ReGina Taylor from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry, directed by Israel Hicks, is currently playing at Pasadena Playhouse (39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena) through August 16, 2009.  The Los Angeles premiere of Crowns is co-produced by Ebony Repertory Theatre (Israel Hicks, Artistic Director and Wren T. Brown, Founder/Producer) and Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director, Stephen Eich, Executive Director and Tom Ware, Producing Director) in association with ReGina Taylor. The co-production, which had its Los Angeles premiere at Ebony Repertory Theatre’s home – the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, opened on May 8, 2009.

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