e-Video Challenge

Lights! Camera! Action!

Are you a budding filmmaker? Do you have a passion for movies?

If so, then here’s your chance to take part in this year’s eV Video competition!

High-school students from across the metro area are invited to take part in the eV Video competition by producing a documentary on the challenges involved in designing and building an electric vehicle.

We want you to dig deep and tell us the all the stories from behind the scenes and with cash up for grabs, why wouldn’t you give it a shot?

[ Entry Forms]

Entry Requirements

Topic

The challenge of designing and building an electric vehicle is all about teamwork and learning through problem solving.

We want you to create a documentary that gives insight into the highs and lows of your school team’s process – how did they meet the challenge? What were their ‘smart moves’? Did they ask the ‘right’ questions to be able to find a solution? Did they solve all the problems or use ‘work arounds’ to overcome issues? How did the team hold up under pressure? Where did the bright ideas come from?

It’s up to you to ask them all the hard questions and tell us the behind the scenes human story.

Style

Video clips have taught us how a story can be told in the space of a song so go for it, have fun, break the rules of film-making…just make it work! We are looking for creativity and insight.

Although documentaries have changed in style over the years, with the lines blurring between drama and documentary, they still hold true to the power of the personal characters, the social project and the strong story lines. Of course, how you tell the story is also important.

The current trend in Science Documentary’s is that it needs to be all about stories rather than providing an explanation of how something works – so challenge the intellectand the emotions using whatever documentary style you think suits your topic, resources and situation.

Feel like you don’t have access to editing facilities or to lots of special effects to make this work? It doesn’t matter, don’t let this stop you as this will be taken into account during the judging.

Length

Documentaries must be no more than five (5) minutes.

Edit hard…keep it tight…less is often more.

Format

For judging purposes VHS format is required. DV or DVCAM can be utilised for screening purposes, if you have access to these formats.

Screening

On the day of the races there will be a screening room set up so that everyone has the opportunity to see each other’s work. The winning video will be screened publicly after the formal announcement of the winner.

Budget

Please submit your budget so it can be taken into account. It should not exceed $500 and it must demonstrate that music copyright license fees have been covered, how many tapes were used and approximate time spent (although this would not be costed).

Who can enter?

The video must be produced entirely by high school students who form part of an organized school program, community group or club, whilst being supervised by the teacher/adult during 2006.

Prizes

To be announced

Judging Criteria

Content/Story:

• To what extent are the video ideas consistent with the brief and stay on topic?
• To what extent is the story captivating and easy to follow?
• To what extent do the characters and their story offer the audience insights into the nature of the challenge and how it affects the team and individuals?
• To what extent does the story and story telling shift the audience perspective or move them emotionally towards a better understanding?
• To what extent have the characters/participants been ethically treated (permissions from participants and their parents must be demonstrated)?

How well has it been technically realised - Production Values:

• These will be based on technical and creative skills rather than format or professional equipment and facilities. Teachers may outline what equipment limitations the students worked with.

Cinematography:

• To what extent is there technical merit (framing, angles, movement, exposure etc)?
• To what extent is there a consistent style, mood and atmosphere created by the visuals?
• To what extent has available light been used well or how well was the production lit using lights (modelling, colour temperature etc)?

Sound Recording:

• To what extent has the sound-scape been captured and designed to add to the video?
• To what extent is the recorded sound clean with a good voice to noise ratio?
• To what extent has sound perspective been used?

Editing:

• To what extent has the editing contributed to the achievement of the whole video?
• To what extent are cuts, effects, style been motivated or used appropriately to the material or approach of the whole video?
• Is the pacing or rhythm appropriate to the content and/or music used?

The “WOW” Factor

• To what extent is the approach or artistic vision original, innovative or distinctive?
• To what extent has a creative, thoughtful or distinctive viewpoint been captured that would suggest a critical engagement with the topic and material?
• To what extent is there impact or insight that might create debate, surprise turns and engaging emotional story-telling?
• To what extent was there good access to great characters?