GENERAL FILM SUBMISSION FORMAT: All Film and Video submissions for VISUALIZATIONS 2006 may originate in any visual motion media format from 16mm or Super 8mm film to Standard or Digital Video and/or computer-based media, but all entries must be submitted on either 2 DVDs or 2 ½ inch VHS cassettes using NTSC format with a ten second pre-roll before each selection. Each DVD or VHS cassette must be
individually labeled with information including category, title, running time and copy number (1 or 2 of 2). Entries for the Critical Essay and Film Treatment categories must be in printed form and must meet the specific guidelines for their chosen category. Each entry (all categories) must be accompanied by a properly completed and signed entry form and cover sheet or it will not be accepted. Detailed criteria for each category are listed below and all entries should conform to the specific category guidelines included herein.
Please do not submit the original/master copies of your work,
as submissions will not be returned.
ANIMATION—Films or videos entered in this category must
use some form of animation as an integral part of the work. The entire entry
need not be animated, but the animation should be a main feature of the work
as it will be judged on the basis of the animated sequences. All types and
genres of animation are acceptable, including—but not limited to—stop
motion, cell, multi-plane, illustrations, live action, claymation and computer
generated.
The film must be written, animated, directed, edited and produced by the student(s)
listed on the entry form.
Entries will be judged on creativity, filming, editing, appropriateness of
animation style and overall integrity.
Entries may not exceed 10 minutes including titles and credits.
EXPERIMENTAL—This category is for films and videos created
as fine art, formal experimentation, or for personal expression. Experimental
film often expands or critiques the medium, its forms, approaches, techniques
and content.
The film must be written, edited, directed and produced by the student(s)
listed on the entry form.
Entries will be judged on creativity, use of medium, editing, exploration
of central idea/theme and artistic integrity.
Entries may not exceed 30 minutes including titles and credits.
DOCUMENTARY—Films or videos entered in this category
should effectively chronicle an event(s), person(s) or process in an objective
and factual/non-fictional manner. The documentary should have a well
developed theme and structure, appropriate lighting and camera work, editing
suitable for the subject matter and a clear sound track.
Any use of archival or non-original footage, materials, or sound must be properly
noted in the entry’s end credits and must have been legally obtained
and utilized with the appropriate release/permission for said material.
At least 50% of all footage utilized must be original material shot by the
student(s) listed on the entry form.
The documentary must be written, edited, directed and produced by the student(s)
listed on the entry form.
Entries will be judged on creativity, cinematography, editing, development
of central theme and overall integrity.
Entries may not exceed 30 minutes including titles and credits.
NEWS SEGMENT—Entries for this category should reflect
the highest levels of broadcast journalism and be:
1) objective, 2) properly attributed, 3) balanced, 4) well written, 5) interesting, 6) newsworthy.
News stories should be shot and edited well with attention to sound quality
and visual integrity.
Entries should include complete scripts (anchor lead, reporter tracks and
transcriptions of all sound bites).
The news segment must be written, edited and produced by the student(s) listed
on the entry form.
Entries will be judged on journalistic ability, videography, editing and appropriate
use of visual elements to tell the story.
Entries may not exceed five minutes.
COMMERICAL/PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT—Entries to this
category should promote a specific product, organization or corporate image,
or provide a useful public service announcement. The product, organization
or corporation need not be known or real, but may be a fictional construct.
PSAs should be concerned with a real public service issue or an issue for
which no PSAs are currently produced. Commercials/PSAs should be creative
and reflect innovative strategies of good copy, sound, and visual utilization.
Entries should be effectively shot and well edited with quality sound mixing.
The commercial/PSA must be written, edited, directed and produced by the student(s)
listed on the entry form.
Entries will be judged on creativity, filming, editing and effective use of
visual and audio elements to promote the product, organization, corporate
image, or public service issue.
Entries may not exceed one minute.
NARRATIVE/OPEN—Entries to this category may be either
narrative/fictional films or open format pieces, i.e., entries that do not
easily to fit into any other listed category—for example, a film that
mixes mediums such as live action and animation or documentary and experimental
computer-generated imagery.
The film must be written, edited, directed and produced by the student(s)
listed on the entry form.
Entries to this category will be judged on the following three criteria equally
weighted:
Conceptual Originality—clarity and innovation in expressing the central
original concept and/or theme;
Coherent Development—intelligible and appropriate structuring, creative
editing which serves the concept and/or theme, effective dramatic development
of main concept and/or theme;
Technical Ability—(skillful use of cinematography, editing and sound).
Entries may not exceed 30 minutes including titles and credits.
CRITICAL ESSAY—Entries to this category must be in essay
form and may cover any aspect of film or television criticism (history, style,
comparative analysis, genres, theory, etc). The essay may be scholarly or
personal in style, but it must be an original work of non—fiction prose,
and it must be addressed to a general reader. All quotations, sources, works
cited and the bibliography must be properly documented and listed using the
MLA standard or another academically accepted citation format where applicable.
All essay submissions must meet the following technical requirements:
Evaluation Criteria: Judges will look for lucid, critical arguments supported by compelling evidence, honesty of expression, a good command of the English language, a solid understanding of the cinematic themes and/or concepts being critiqued, originality of ideas, and freshness in the articulation of those ideas.
FILM TREATMENT–Entries to this category must consist
of a written film treatment — or pitch – an abstract version of
a screenplay or film project idea. This is a treatment of your original feature—length
film concept and/or screenplay, not the screenplay itself. The treatment should
provide a brief, but compelling summary of your idea for a film; that is,
this is your pitch, which you could give to a studio or a producer. It is
important to be as specific as possible.
Clearly describe the film you would want to make using the following format:
TITLE — The title of your proposed film project should appear at the
top of page 1;
PITCH—A one-sentence description of the project. The pitch should be concise,
yet compelling, and most importantly, original.
PURPOSE — A one paragraph overview describing the intent, theme and message
of your film.
PLOT/STORY DESCRIPTION — A one—to—two page (absolute maximum) detailed
summary of your film's plot (narrative) or structure (documentary or experimental).
Provide a straightforward chronological summary of your film, from beginning
to end. You should only describe exactly what will actually be seen on the
screen.
Entrants must submit three (3) printed copies of the treatment. No email submissions
will be accepted.
A signed and completed cover sheet must be attached to each of the 3 copies
of the entry.
Evaluation Criteria: Judging will be based on creativity, originality, and
the compelling nature of your Pitch, Purpose, and Plot Description. You should
pay close attention to the assigned lengths of each. Be concise, yet complete.