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Official 2012 Entry Rules

Eligibility Criteria

• Student productions are those that are produced, directed, planned and technically executed entirely by students. The involvement of parents, teachers and professionals is limited to non-creative roles (ie. technical advice, funding).
• Only students from grades 4 through post secondary are eligible. For mixed grade students, entry level is determined by the highest grade of all students involved with the production.
• Non-students may be used as actors and for voice-overs as long as they were directed by students.
• Productions must have been completed within 14 months of the deadline.
• Total running time, including credits, is no longer than 10 minutes for Grades 4-12 with the exception of the category LONG FORM which accepts entries from grades 8-12 in any style with a running time between 10-30 minutes including credits.
• Post Secondary - 30 minutes maximum including credits for all submissions.
• Individuals may enter as many productions as they wish; however, EACH ENTRY MUST BE ON A SEPARATE DVD AND REQUIRES A SEPARATE ENTRY FORM. Each school WILL submit a data compilation DVD containing all entries in Quicktime format (screening & judging purposes).

Entry Deadlines

All entries must be received by March 30st, 2012 @ 4:00 pm, complete with fees and entry form.

No late submissions will be accepted.  If you miss the deadline, you may be able to submit next year.

Entry Fees

$25 per entry

Please make cheque or money order payable to B.C. Media Educators.

Entry Categories

Animation entries - consist primarily of animated scenes created via stop-motion, cel drawings or pixilation - judged in one of three categories:

1. Elementary and Junior Seconday

2. Senior Secondary

3. Post Secondary

Elementary entries:

• Awards will be given to the top 5 Elementary entries regardless of category type. (all entries will be viewed and judged on their individual merit).

Junior and Senior entries:

• Public Service Announcement - advertises or endorses a company, product or idea. Includes commercials and public service announcements. (30 or 60 seconds).
• Documentary - informs/educates viewer about a person, place, event or subject. Presents facts or opinions without dramatizing.
• Music Video - visuals created to accompany a song or musical composition.
• Narrative Drama — story where overall theme is serious and dramatic.
• Narrative Comedy - story where overall theme is comedic - includes mockumentary.
• Experimental - a production that breaks away from conventional genres and experiments with standard narrative and/or stylistic elements.
• Extreme action Lifestyle (skateboard, ski, snowboard, bike - Warning: Jackass style movies are not considered action lifestyle).
• Promotional - promotes a non-profit organization/event or PSA over 60 seconds.
• Long Form (10-30 minutes any style) - 1 age category (junior/senior only).

Mentored entries:

Awards will be given to the top 3 entries where mentorship was involved.  A

mentor is anyone other than classmates and a classroom teacher assisting the

production of a video.  Special teaching/learning opportunities like

ReelVue and Summer Visions Film Institute are valued, but require their own

rules for adjudication.  Entries will be viewed and judged on their merit

regardless of category type.  (Note: it is suggested that mentored PSA’s may fair

better when submitted in the post secondary PSA category).

Post Secondary entries will be judged within these categories:

• Public Service Announcement - advertises or endorses a company, product or idea. Includes commercials and public service announcements. (30 or 60 seconds)
• Documentary - informs/educates viewer about a person, place, event or subject. Presents facts or opinions without dramatizing.
• Narrative (dramatic or comedic) main intent is to tell a story
• Experimental - artistic or expressionist production that breaks away from conventional genres
• Music Video - visuals created to accompany a song or musical composition

Technical Requirements

Film and video productions must be submitted on DVD (1 entry per DVD).  Please submit one data DVD with all school entries in Quicktime format for emergency playback and judging and screening purposes.  Compilation DVD can be regular format BUT is best as a data DVD with all films in Quicktime format.  PLEASE CHECK THE INDIVIDUAL COPY TO ENSURE IT  PLAYS PROPERLY! All  copies will be kept by the film festival.  By entering the festival, you are granting BCSFF non-exclusive rights to retain an archive copy of your production for the non-profit purposes of exhibition, promotion and education.  All entries may be used on a compilation video made available at cost to media arts educators to use for educational purposes.

Copyright Warnings

Entrants are encouraged to create productions that consist entirely of original material, including music, graphics, visuals etc. YOU MAY BE DISQUALIFIED IF THE PROPER PAPER WORK IS NOT ATTACHED TO YOUR ENTRY FORM.  See details on next page. By entering the B.C.Student Film Festival, you are declaring that the material in your production is either entirely original or, you obtained proper, legal permission to use someone else’s copyrighted material.

• For popular songs, you must submit copies of express written consent from both the publisher and the record company which state your name, the name of your production, the title of the song, the names of the composer, performer and publisher and any specific limitations on the use of the song.
• To use images from books, newspapers, television, videos, video games etc., you must have written permission - unless they are incidental to the shot (see below).
• Material available on the internet is not considered to be in the public domain. Material is only in the public domain if it is older than 50 years, and/or the copyright holder has explicitly given up all rights to the material.
• The “Fair Use Clause” in copyright law applies only to very limited and specific uses; it does not apply to any material shown to the public in our festival.
• Historic footage ie. footage from World War II must be checked thoroughly for the copyright holder….check the video for a publishing company. This company will need to be contacted to obtain permission.

• Visuals that are incidental to the shot are exempt from having to provide permissions.

For Example:   Branded clothing that people are wearing as a natural part of their every day wardrobe, cars that appear in the shot, products that people use, images that people are watching on TV that are incidental to the shot.

THE USE OF ANY MATERIAL WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PREMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER IS ILLEGAL.

• Documented proof indicating permission to use such materials must accompany your entry. This means copies of all letters of permission.
• If using copyright cleared music, original music, or “buy out library music”, please include a description of this on the entry form.

Adjudication Process

Entries will be screened before the festival by adjudicators (film industry professionals) who will select the winning entries. Winning filmmakers will be notified prior to the festival.  Special awards will be announced at the awards gala event during the festival itself.

In addition, entries will receive a rating of 1 - 3 stars depending on the level of the work submitted along with written feedback from the adjudicators.

Entry Forms and DVD’s

Submit an entry form with each DVD entry. On the actual DVD itself as well as the cover, please clearly print the

• The Title of the production,
• The School,
• The Names of the Filmmakers,
• The Category of Video,
• The Age Category.
• ie. “The Stars”  (Mulgrave) - Alan Bright, Sally Shine   Junior Secondary   Documentary

It is preferred that all labels are word processed.

Send Your Entries to:

Carl Hofbauer, Adjudication Chair

Brookswood Secondary School

20902 37A Avenue,

Langley, B.C.  V3A 5N2

Email:  chofbauer@sd35.bc.ca

Ph.:      604-530-2141 xt 257

Fax:      604-530-5132

For more information, please visit: www.bcsff.com

Schedule

2011 Workshop Registration Form

John Banovitch:
Title: Directing
Code: JBDIR
Learn about directing with this award-winning director, actor and cinematographer
who has worked on feature films, television series, documentaries and TV commercials.

Title: Cinematography
Code: JBCIN
What impact does a filmmaker’s lighting and camera choices have on the telling of a story? Learn more about the technical and creative concerns of cinematography.

 

Terry L. Brown:
Title: Just Add Water ~ Amphibiography for Everyone
Code: TLBH20
Learn how to safely take your camera beneath your local pond, ditch, stream, ocean or fountain, without getting wet!  Tips about simple, inexpensive techniques and equipment, some of which you probably have at home.  Classroom & outdoors session, weather permitting. Please bring your own camera and waterproof boots/shoes.

 

Kim Hudson:
Participants may wish to choose either or both of these 2 writing workshops…
Title: Introduction to the Virgin’s Promise
Code: KHINTRO
A Virgin is anyone who dreams of bringing their authentic self to life. The discovery of a gift inside you that makes you valuable, separate from how others want you to use your life. This archetype offers a rich area for story telling with a unique structure. Explore the beats and consider how it relates to the Hero’s journey.

Title: Billy Elliot as an Archetypal Virgin Story
Code: KHBE
Follow the beats of a Virgin Journey as we watch the movie Billy Elliot.  This movie plays off the feminine against the masculine in every scene as it moves through Billy’s quest to know his unique gift and bring it to his world. A wonderful example of Virgin story structure and the powerful expression of an archetypal theme through symbols and metaphors.  Participants may want to see the movie in advance of the workshop.

Pearl Louie:
Title: Adventures in Makeup Land
Code: PLMU
A two-time Emmy-nominated makeup artist gives insights into the fascinating world of  makeup and makeup special effects.  There will be a short photo presentation, complete with demonstrations of many of the tools, equipment and products used in the trade. Attendees will  learn  how to apply simple  gelatin and blood effects. Informal & open to everyone.

Debra Margolis:
Title: Intro to Script Supervising/Continuity
Code: DMSS
Working with almost every department on the set, the Script Supervisor is on the front line of film production. This introductory workshop will give you an understanding of how a film is shot, and help familiarize you with every aspect of Script Supervising.

Claudia Medina:
For these editing workshops, participants are encouraged to bring a laptop with Final Cut Express or Pro if they have access to one (not mandatory)…
Title: Introduction to Final Cut Pro Editing
Code: CMINTROD
At the beginner’s level, this editing workshop will cover the technical basics, shortcuts and overall familiarization with the Final Cut Pro interface, from capturing footage to
final output. Also, the art and craft of editing will be explored through
hands on experience cutting scenes and exploring possible editorial choices.

Title: Intermediate Final Cut Pro Editing
Code: CMINTERM
At a more advanced level, this editing workshop will covering the techniques and shortcuts with the Final Cut Pro interface, from capturing footage to
final output. Also, the art and craft of editing will be explored through
hands on experience cutting scenes and exploring possible editorial choices.

Mike Schoenhals:
Title: 3D Animation for Film Visual Effects
Code: MS3D
Add some fantasy or exciting effects to your story. Students will learn modeling through hands-on activities using Animation Master, an easy to use all-in-one 3D software package.  The basics of keyframe animation, lighting and rendering will also be taught.

Michelle Staples:
Title: One Theme, Five Questions, Five Minutes
Code: MSONE55
Make a film from five questions and five minutes of footage. Groups will be given one theme, five questions and will be assigned a genre. Groups will have ¾ of the workshop time to complete their films and will then present them to each other for feedback.
Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop camera with editing software if they have access to one (not mandatory).

Robin Webb:
Title: Stunts
Code: RWST
Showing the world of stunts and how to perform them SAFELY. How to pursue a career in the industry. Also a brief look at the FX that stunt performers need to be aware of. A popular choice at many BC Student Film Festivals over the years!

Aerlyn Weissman:
Title: Hot Design Agile Production Workshop
Code: AWHD
Most people at some point will be part of a creative team, working together in a multi-skilled and diverse group. Manage resources and foster creativity in a resilient, open, focused way. Avoid problems before they become critical. We’ll look at tools developed in the video game world that smooth the path from group ideas to viable action and great results -- helping keep your project flowing and your team in tune.

Title: Green Screen
Code: AWGS
“Chroma key compositing” is a popular tool for still photo or moving images. Learn to light, shoot and work with digital tools and open the door to a fresh, creative approach. An accessible way to create special efx. This workshop will be of interest to actors, directors, technical staff and producers who wish to understand the creative possibilities and technical requirements of using green screen techniques.

 

Adjudicators