Local youth are reaching out to aspiring movie-makers across town as they launch the second-annual Scares for Cares Movie Event to raise money for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
The idea is to help those going through a hard time by scaring people’s pants off through film.
Los Gatos residents Nolan, 13, and Quinn Harr, 11, used to put on haunted houses to fundraise, but they had to innovate last year due to coronavirus restrictions.
“I got onto my computer and I started saying to my friends, ‘Hey, do you want to help us make a movie for the Children’s Hospital?,’” Qunn said, recalling how they ended up starting a film festival. “I was in two of them. It was really exciting.”
The deadline to submit movies for this year’s event is Oct. 8.
Then, on Oct. 16, the movies will go live online, and viewers will vote on their favorite flick by making a donation—of any amount—on the website.
Hospital officials confirmed that 100% of donations will go to support the Lucile Packard Children’s Fund.
For the inaugural online festival, they set a goal of $2,000.
“The kids raised over $7,000,” their mother Lani said. “It blew us all away.”
They’re hoping to hit $10,000 this time.
Children are required to write and direct the short movies, although parents are allowed to help with some elements, such as filming or background acting.
Creativity is encouraged.
Last year’s entries displayed a wealth of spooky celluloid techniques.
From the bouncing flashlight beam in “The Scare Witch Project,” the brooding melancholy of the detective storyline in “The Candy Thief,” the frenetic chase in “The Search,” and the memorable horror tropes of “The Crow,” the project proved a fun and engrossing activity for children helping children.
Nolan has fond memories of the first film fest.
“I was in ‘The Scare Witch Project,’ which was probably the biggest one,” he said, referring to the money it raised. “I was also kind of in ‘The Crow.’”
(He played the crow.)
Nolan says there seems to already be even more interest this year.
Some of last year’s projects may look pretty slick, but Quinn says that should dissuade novice filmmakers from taking a stab at it.
“We’ll support you in this process of making the movie,” she said. “You’re free to go for it. We’re always here to help you edit, and also film.”
Because ultimately, she says, it’s about giving support to the children who have to go to the hospital.
“Every movie counts,” she said, stressing that even the entries that don’t take the top prize make a difference. “So, that might get 20 or 30 dollars, and that’s OK, too.”
For information, visit scaresforcaresmovies.godaddysites.com or contact sc************@gm***.com.
