Why Nokia Music wants filmmakers to go underground

New York’s one of the world’s most diverse cites. What better place then to showcase New American Noise, Nokia Music’s documentary on the US’s incredibly diverse underground music scene. Today, as part of Social Media Week, not only will this fascinating documentary get a screening, but the filmmakers and artists featured will be also talking about their experiences.

Sounds from the underground

New American Noise shines a light on the underground music scene in six American cities. By detailing the incredible diversity of musical subcultures, it gives an unprecedented insight into the lives and passions of today’s music fans. This concept has been so well received that Nokia Music has now teamed up with Sundance London (2013) to expand the concept globally.

In New American Noise, we got a unique insight into the strip clubs of Atlanta, the indie scene in Portland, genre mixing soul music from Detroit, the sensation of New Orleans’ sissy bounce, underground alternative rap culture in New York City, and electro music created in LA’s valley. Now we want to see what’s happening in your city.

Make mobile movie magic  

The brief is simple: To showcase the amazing, the unusual and the unknown music happening underground around the world. Filmmakers need to simply upload a short video trailer (15 to 60 secs) visualizing the underground music scene in their chosen city. Think of this trailer as an audition, which showcases your concept. If your idea is chosen, you’ll receive two Nokia Lumia 920s and a $5,000 budget to shoot your film. What’s more, both films are guaranteed a special screening at the Sundance London Film & Music Festival (2013) in April, and one lucky grand prizewinner will walk away with $5,000 and a Nokia Lumia 920.

The world’s best smartphone camera

Why do we want you to use the Nokia Lumia 920? Well, for a start we believe smartphone technology has the power to democratize film making like never before and we want you to be at the vanguard. What’s more, smartphones challenge you to think differently about filmmaking and give you a unique opportunity to try something different.

Nonetheless, to get the best possible result, you need the best possible smartphone camera, and time after time the Nokia Lumia 920 has been awarded that accolade. It’s not just the PureView technology, Optical Image Stabilization and Carl Zeiss lens that make it such an amazing imaging smartphone, but its incredible versatility too. To showcase that to its best effect, we want you to work your movie making magic.

So what are you waiting for? Join us making short film history by entering the Nokia Music Short Film Competition today.