News Blog: Mobile phone Oscars?

The school is offering a $5,000 prize for the best 30-second movie shot on a cell phone, according to an Associated Press article.

"Historically, we've always had students thinking bigger and bigger. It's gone from radio to television to the movie screen, to the era of blockbuster films. All of a sudden, things have reversed and everything is getting smaller," said Dean Dianne Lynch.

The latest move to mobile in film is part of a larger, international trend, the article points out. MTV launched a comedy series this fall called "Head and Body" created exclusively for cell phone users; Zoie Films held the world's first cell phone film festival last year; and Forum des Images in Paris held in October its first Pocket Film Festival.

Moving to the small screen poses some particular challenges for filmmakers.

"There are definitely visual limitations," said Sudhanshu Saria, a senior in filmmaking from India. "You have to be able to tell a quick story. You can't really make it character-based."

No pun intended.