You are invited to make a short 6 to 10-min film based on one of the 11 stories from the "Visions of Life" anthologies. Each story is based on a painting in the Crow Woods art books. Ideally, one film will be selected for each story. The event will be held at the Wilmette Theatre and shown online after the physical event.

The stories are as follows: As films are submitted, I will indicate here which stories are chosen in case it influences your story selection.

1. The Predicted End of Will by Paco Aramburu's
protagonist must confront whether knowing one's destiny is desirable or inhibiting. The story is inspired by Flora of the Subway, oil on canvas, by Bruno Surdo, a painting featured in the 3D section of Living Artists.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Predicted End.pdf

2. My Turn by Linda S. Buyer
deals with a wife who finds out at her husband's 90th birthday that he fathered a son before their marriage, and all her friends knew about it. The story is inspired by Garlic, oil on canvas, by James Michael Ostlund, a painting featured in The Chicago Art Scene.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-My-Turn.pdf

3. Disappearing Act by Elizabeth DeSchryver
is about a young woman on the eve of her wedding. She is from a Catholic family and she hasn't told her mother that she is pregnant. After taking a DNA test, she finds out that she's part Jewish, upending her self image. The story is inspired by Sparkle, oil on panel, by Katherine Grossfeld and Gift, oil on panel, by Susan Hall, both featured in Living Artists; and Study of a Winged Figure, oil on canvas, by John Rush, featured in The Chicago Art Scene.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Disappearing-Act.pdf

4. Elvis Has Left the Building by James Flanigan
is a humorous story about an aging busker trying to find a new career. The story is inspired by Imitation a la King, pastel on paper, by Eric Semelroth, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Elvis-Has-Left.pdf

5. Family Portrait by Joanne Freeman
brings out old family grudges when a dutiful daughter returns home to visit her Italian mother. The story is inspired by Girl with a Violin, oil on canvas by Mary Barnes Gingrich, a painting featured in The Chicago Art Scene.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL-Family-Portrait.pdf

6. The Age of Reason by Barbara Joyce
follows a Catholic school child's experiences of faith from her first Communion to her later questioning the patriarchal policies in Catholicism as an adult. The story is inspired by Muslim Madonna, pastel on paper, by Eric Semelroth, a painting featured in Living Artists. Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Age-of-Reason.pdf

7. Superman by Julie Justicz
deals with the struggles of a mother after her son attempts suicide, from endlessly replaying the incident to endlessly worrying if it will happen again. The story is inspired by Superman, oil on canvas, by Sandra Dawson, an artist featured in Living Artists. Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Superman.pdf

8. Print Services by Ann Kammerer
is about an alcoholic's denial despite being fired, his girlfriend leaving him and his landlord evicting him. Will his new job give him a second chance? The story is inspired by Moving Toward the Light, oil on canvas, by Michele Maria Mitchell, a painting featured in The Chicago Art Scene.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Print-Services.pdf

9. Just Float by PJ Minton
is about a father's attempts to mend his relationship with his estranged daughter. The story is inspired by Just Float, oil on canvas by Irene Ryan Maloney, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL-Just-Float.pdf

10. Soft Music by Marie Thourson
is about a daughter who visits her mother who has Alzheimer's, and how they find a way to enjoy their time together. The story is inspired by Mind of Her Own, linocut on woven paper, by Izumi Yoshitani, a painting featured in Art Scene: Chicago 2000.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-Soft-Music.pdf

11. A Pact, So We Can Fly by Colby Vargas
is written from three points of view: a roller coaster attendant, the most timid of four friends who make a pact to jump off the coaster together, and the father of the pact leader. The story is inspired by Tomorrowland, alkyd on linen, by Mary Henderson, a painting featured in Living Artists.
Read the story at https:/crowwoodspublishing.com/VOL2-A-Pact.pdf

The short films will be judged by Collin Souter, film reviewer for WGN, and programmer for Chicago Critics Film Festival, plus a number of authors and artists in the anthologies. The winners will have the opportunity to add a 1-min video introducing self once the winner of each story is announced.

Cash Prize:
1st Place: $100
2nd Place: $60
3rd Place: $40
Honorable Mention (2): $20

Entry filename should contain the title of the short film and your initials. The title, the story it's based on and the author, and an image of the art and the artist's name should be at the beginning of the film. More than one film can be submitted.

Notes related to the art:
1. Your short film does not have to show the painting in a scene even if the painting is hanging on a wall in the story.
2. You can drag the image of the art for the beginning of your film from the Crow Woods page, https://www.crowwoodspublishing.com/film20.html

The audio levels should be adjusted so that there would be no peaks above -6 dB to avoid distortion.

Language: English