After all this time the final act of the contest has taken place – the winners got their cheques!
The vote has finally taken place.
Just before the Spotlight Films Tuesday showing of Nebraska on May 27, 2014, at the GEM Theatre we showed both the entries to the audience on the BIG SCREEN. Then we went around with a pair of ballot boxes and they cast their votes.
The results: 68 votes cast. Megan Kienas got 45 and Helen Durham got 23.
Which means Megan garnered 66.176% and Helen 33,82%.
In my speech to the audience I stated that I would round the kitty up to an even $1000.
That means Megan will get a cheque for $661.76 and Helen will get one for $338.24
A number of Thank Yous need to be given here:
Thanks to Spotlight films for letting us intrude on their evening.
Thanks to the GEM Theatre for helping out with this.
Thanks for Lizanne Eastwood and Lorraine Davies-Van Boeyen for being ‘on board’ and the helpful input.
Thanks to both Lorraine and Helen for donating money to the prize kitty. Lorraine put in $300 and Helen put in $100.
And thanks to Lorraine for the materials, photocopying and putting up with my lunacy
And last, but not least, a BIG Thank You to Megan and Helen for all their hard work and the fine productions they have wrought.
Both the movies looked great on the big screen and everyone enjoyed seeing them.
It’s the last half of January and you should be down to final production. You’ve had many months to work on it and a few seasons to collect media from – time is close on to show us what you’ve got!
Over 50 people are registered with the site … now we’re curious how many of you have been working on something to show.
Well we’re more than curious – we need to know how many videos and how long they are so we know how much time the viewing and judging will take. And seeing as I never set up a mechanism where you could ‘officially register an entry’ I have to canvas you. If you have an entry (or two or three) please let me know.
In a few days we’ll use the feedback we’ve gotten to determine the date and time for the judging.
– Les
PS: If you’re not making a video but want to help be a booster you might think about donating to the prizes.
We could use swag or money. All the money donated goes to prizes for the media makers.
The costs of this website and miscellaneous printing and such are donations from myself, Les Johnson, and from Lorraine at Select Office Products. The Paquet’s at the Gem Theatre are donating place and time for the viewing and judging by you, the people of Grand Forks.
Lizanne Eastwood and Helen Durham have been good supporters of the community and are supporters of this effort as well. We hope there are more of you out there … if you want to help fill in the above form with a 0 in the duration, an ‘other’ in the media type and use the comments for further info.
This gives some late comers time to think and everyone to get Pretty Fall and Exciting Winter footage. Think about it … Halloween’s coming, Fall leaves, Christmas Parade, seasonal decorations on houses, Fireworks!!
So I put another promotional video up today, regarding one of those events that happens in Grand Forks: Farmers’ Market.
See how easy it is to make simple videos?
I’m willing to bet you could make something much better … to help promote the town and fun surroundings. Prove me right and you could win money and accolades from your friends and neighbours 🙂
I know of at least one contestant that has been waiting for Release Forms … well they’re here – finally.
I’ve uploaded 4 forms for your use. Which one you use depends on what or who is being filmed or used.
For people who appear in your production there are two forms.
More things appear in videos than just people … there’s places and sometimes there’s music or artworks or pictures. And often these are not things you have created or own, so to keep it all strictly legal and above board we asks that you get signed releases for these as well.
If you are shooting on a location that is somebody’s private property that is not your own you should get their permission in writing on the Location Release Form.
If you are including material created by another person or company (like an artwork, pictures or music) you should get their permission in writing using the Material Release Form.
You might think this is just paperwork that you can skip or do later – please don’t keep thinking that. Get the permission in writing before you shoot anything or anyone or you might find that permission may be hard to get later. If they refuse to sign afterwards you have to go and do it again with someone, place or thing later and that just adds work to your project. Worse – you might later on end up using some of that material you gathered that you didn’t get releases for. That might get you (and us) in trouble – that’s bad especially since this is a non-profit, community spirited project. So we will be asking to see these things in order to allow your entry in the contest.
Not sure if something needs a release? A simple rule to follow is: get one signed anyway.
Another positive thing that these forms add is they force you to think about details that you might not otherwise consider going into the project (or shoot). And you know what they say about details, don’t you? Those are the things that come back to bite you later if you do not take care of them up front.
One of those details is this: What is your movie / music piece called?
These forms are modified versions of forms found on the site kino-eye.com
And it begins … accumulating the prize money that is.
We’ve opened an account at the Grand Forks Credit Union called Show Off Grand Forks. The first two deposits are from:
That’s $800 so far … and more to come.
This should be a community effort even though the idea sprouted in just a couple of heads. So I’m putting out the call to any and all: HELP PLEASE.
I’ve only ever run one contest before so I’m guessing there are things I’m not even aware I’m not considering. And I can’t do everything myself – don’t think that’s a good idea anyhow.
So what do I mean?
Gee … there’s a list for now (April 26, 2013). I’ll add to it as things crop up.
Feel free to comment on this or, if you’d rather keep your suggestions private, you can send me your comments, suggestions and criticisms by email to help (at) showoffgrandforks.com. Or stop me in the street …
What do we mean?
We want to Show Off Grand Forks to people who are looking for places to visit on their travels or settle down with their families. And, if you live, work, play or go to school in Grand Forks or the valley we want your help.
Why would you do that? Because you can win cash prizes.
You have the whole summer to work on this … the contest will be in September (we haven’t hammered out the actual day yet). So think about all those things you like to do in the summer that visitors might as well. And how to best show them off in video.
It’s a contest so who is judging? At this point we’d like to make that you. And everyone in Grand Forks. That way no one can say the judges were completely biased – we expect you and your friends to be biased but with anyone who lives, works, plays or goes to school here being able to have a vote we’re hoping that the biases will even out and, as they say, the cream will rise to the top. We still have to figure out the best way to do that but we’ve got the summer to work if out.
Don’t have a camera? Don’t know how you’ll set it to music? Then you might have to lean on your friends and collaborate – community is collaboration after all. BUT if you don’t have the gear you need we might be able to help you with that: we won’t shoot it for you but we can lend you equipment and show you the rudiments of how to use it (and not break it ;). After that you’re on your own …
If you’re reading this and think it might be a good idea but can’t see yourself as a contestant … maybe you can see yourself as helping in some way. The prize money is being put up by locals (businesses and individuals) to support locals. They could always use more, wink wink. We could use help with managing this project. People who are willing to contribute their Ideas, Experience and Time would be greatly appreciated. We’re still working out the details on how the judging will happen, what we’ll do with the results and how to best market them. See yourself in one or more of those roles? Those who contribute in any way will be recognized and given credit.
Oh yeah, before we leave you to it, there’s a few little things to get out of the way. Like the legalities for instance.
IF you’re submitting your content we need to have a non-exclusive right to use it in our finished product. That means we don’t want to own your stuff, it still belongs to you, but we need to be able to use it with no strings attached. We won’t be selling your video or music but we’ll be using it to sell our town and area.
IF people’s faces appear in your video then we need you to get signed releases from them allowing you (and us) to use their image in your / our project. IF they are under 19 years of age then those releases need to be signed by their parent or legal guardian. No releases means your video cannot enter the contest.
IF you have music then we need written permission from the copyright holder allowing you / us to use it. If you created it then that’s your permission on paper. If you found it on the web then we need a link to it with a link to the page that states it is available for use and giving permission.
Coming Soon:
We’ll provide PDFs of release forms for you to use and links to places on the web where you can find royalty free, useable content (though we think the judges will look more kindly on stuff created here by you and your friends). Soon you will be able to look for entry packages at the Gem Theatre, Select Office Products and Grand Forks Secondary School. These will have entry forms, release forms, format guidance and contact information.
Once again: Why would you do that? Because you can win cash prizes. Well, we also hope you have a sense of community spirit that infects your creative side as well
Now get your thinking caps on and start being creative.