Quick takes.

PHILIPP Barnett, aspiring producer and Los Angeles Film School student, had it all together: actors, writers, a director, and an assortment of set workers and camera operators. All he needed was a story.

"We received a sealed envelope," Barnett recalled through the fog of 48 sleepless hours. "Inside it said, 'Steve makes a life-changing decision using his Magic 8 Ball.'"

In the video, the protagonist, Steve, decides to rebel against a culture in which people make all their decisions in consultation with Magic 8 Balls, the toy that offers pat answers to life's murky questions.

The exercise was part of a contest sponsored by Long Beach-based Pioneer Electronics USA to promote the company's DVD recording drive.

Over the next few weeks, students from more than a dozen other schools will make their own short films. The winner will be announced in January at a trade show in Las Vegas, with the top school getting $10,000 and two runners-up receiving $5,000 each.

"It's the idea of extreme filmmaking," said Andy Parsons, a senior vice president at Pioneer."

Barnett said his 30-member team completed its project without major snags, although there were some challenges to overcome, such as finding Magic 8 Balls.

"The good thing about having a film school in the middle of Hollywood is that you can get anything you need, even in the middle of the night," he said.