Old mag tries new trick: Granta and Flavorpill launch short-film contest

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I admit, I don’t know diddly about Eleanor Catton’s book ‘The Rehearsal.’ But it’s described as titillating, as a novel ‘toying bravely with narrative and form to conjure the hormonal aftermath of a high school sex scandal,’ which is enough to spark my curiosity.

But apparently Granta and Flavorpill are taking another route. Today, Granta, the venerable, 100-plus-year-old British literary journal launched a short-film contest with Flavorpill, the less-than-10-years-old online arts and culture venue, around the book.

We’re seeking out film or digital shorts that touch on the broad theme of “life as performance.” We’ll be posting our favorites on Flavorpill through the month, with the winner to be decided by a high profile judging panel and announced at the School of Life on July 23 and worldwide through Flavorpill.

An interview with author Catton on the contest page discusses the novel’s engagement with form, so maybe its beyond-bookishness was something of an inspiration. But exactly why Flavorpill and Granta got together to do a short-film contest -- around this book in particular -- isn’t entirely clear. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

What is clear is that while the contest is worldwide, the winner will be feted in London, because that’s where the wonderfully innovative School of Life is located.

-- Carolyn Kellogg