The Road Dogs Video Trailer Contest
I just loved Elmore Leonard's new book, Road Dogs, which is set in Venice, and which includes a mention of my pal, Tibby Rothman, editor of the Venice Paper, which tickled her to no end (she showed Elmore and Gregg around some of the houses on the Venice Canals where the book ended up being set).

The book, which is coming out in May (I got an advance copy because I'm sleeping with the author's researcher), features Jack Foley, the great character you might know best from the highly under-rated movie, Out of Sight.

Road Dogs won't be out until May, but you still have a chance at entering the Road Dogs Video Trailer contest, sponsored by Harper Collins, with Entertainment Weekly. Amazingly, they've put up the first eight chapters of the book at this link.

The details of the contest:

The best video book trailers are like movie trailers: designed to build interest in a creative work. The main difference is that a movie trailer already has visual images to work with but in a book trailer, the trailer's producer needs to convert the written word into visual images. The trick is to convey a sense of what the book is about without giving anything away and compelling the audience to want more.

We're looking for a 30-120 second video that captures the spirit of Elmore Leonard's book and offers a compelling interpretation of Road Dogs. It should have intrigue, edge, and energy.

You should submit your video book trailer by May 1st. The winning video will be selected by Elmore Leonard and announced on or about May 12th. The winn ing video will be featured on HarperCollins.com, ElmoreLeonard.com, and EW.com. The top five videos, selected by HarperCollins and ElmoreLeonard.com, will be featured on EW.com sometime between May 1-12.

One Grand Prize Winner will receive:

- One (1) Amazon Kindle pre-loaded with the entire Elmore Leonard Library ($676.97) - One (1) Signed copy of Road Dogs

Four runner-up winners will receive:

- One (1) Signed copy of Road Dogs

Elmore's judging this thing, by the way, so here's an insider tip: Barry Sonnenfeld, who directed Elmore's Get Shorty, shot the actors right. No reactions shots of characters mugging for the camera. They say their piece straight -- and very important, and Elmore would tell you this: the characters don't know they're being funny.

Another insider tip -- I suggest you don't show the characters on camera. I mean, not unless you can wrangle George Clooney for your shoot. And even then. Imagination, a video camera, and the Venice Canals...my suggestion.