ESSENTIAL “DO’S” AND “DONT’S”

1. You may choose any subject and any genre for your video.
2. No videos that are judged “objectionable” will be considered for awards (see page 11).
3. No videos that have been entered in a previous Spirit on Screen Awards will be accepted.
4. Videos must be no more than 15 minutes INCLUDING titles.
5. Video entries must REACH the Venture Southland office by 5pm 19 September 2005. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
6. Entries that are received before Monday 15 August are eligible for an entry fee discount.
7. ALL entry forms must be filled in and signed.
8. The judges’ decision is final.
9. You must show the source of ALL music used in your entry and if copyrighted you must have written consent.
10. You may submit more than one entry but each entry must be on a SEPARATE tape and separate entry forms are required.
11. Entries must be submitted on either: DVD, miniDV, Dvcam or DVCpro25.
If you want your tape returned after the competition please enclose an addressed envelope with the correct postage.
12. Entry fees are non-refundable.
13. One entry fee means a video is eligible for several awards.

SPIRIT ON SCREEN TIMELINE

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Consent to Appear on Video
Persons who appear in your video must give their consent by filling out the form provided. This does not apply to individuals in crowd or group scenes who do not have a specific role in the video.

Awards
All entries will receive a Spirit on Screen certificate. The judges will nominate videos for awards under the various categories listed below. There may be up to three nominations for each award. An award may not be given for a category if the standard of entry is judged insufficient to merit an award. This does not apply to the Best in Festival award.
The winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony at Invercargill’s Civic Theatre in true “Oscars” fashion. The overall winner will receive $10,000 in cash. Winners will receive a trophy and prize money as listed below:

Category of Awards
Best in Festival $10,000
Best Student Video $4,000
Best Screen Play $1,000
Best Documentary $1,000
Best Animation $1,000
Peoples Choice $1,000
Best Performance $ 500
Best Camera Work $ 500
Best Editing $ 500
Best Sound $ 500
Best Special Effects $ 500
Film-in-the-Can $ 500

JUDGING
A panel of judges will assess entries. The panel will include technical experts, others from within the film industry and a well-known personality. Judges will be looking at the whole package when assessing a video; rather than inconsistent flashes of brilliance, they will be looking to see that technical skills match the artistic intent of the work and that it achieves the intended impact.
The judges’ decision is final.

BEST IN FESTIVAL
The best of the best, the video with the most wow factor, originality, enjoyability, consistency and technical skill irrespective of its genre.

BEST SCREENPLAY
This genre covers works of fiction ie: dramas, comedies and slice of life.

BEST DOCUMENTARY
As it says. A mockumentary could belong in this category or the screenplay – you decide on the entry form.

BEST ANIMATION
Says it all.

PEOPLES CHOICE
The Spirit on Screen Awards supports artistic and experimental video production with all types of work judged on their merit. The five entries nominated for this award however are specifically based on suitability for a general audience viewing at around 8:30pm. Peoples’ Choice will be narrowed down to the five best entries irrespective of genre, and these will be played on Sky Digital 90 with the winner decided by text voting.

BEST STUDENT ENTRY
The director/driving force of the video must be a student registered at a school or tertiary institute and the majority of those with roles in the video (see entry form) are also students. Best student video is also eligible to win any other category.

BEST PERFORMANCE
By an actor or presenter male or female.

BEST CAMERA WORK
As it says.

BEST EDITING
Says it all.

BEST SOUND
Meaning the whole soundtrack including music.

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS
Any artificial effects visual or audio that ENHANCE the work.

Entry Fees
Video for Waged $50.00
Early entry for Waged $40.00
Video for Unwaged $25.00
Early entry for Unwaged $20.00
‘Film-In-the-Can’ $20.00 (paid on the day)
Entry fees are NOT refundable. Cheques to be made out to Venture Southland.

Awards Ceremony
The Awards Ceremony will be televised live on Sky Digital 90 at 7:30pm on Tuesday 22 November. The venue is Invercargill’s Civic Theatre in Invercargill. The evening is a dress up occasion where it’s difficult to be too over-the-top!
For each award, a short clip of the nominated videos is shown and the judges’ decision read from a letter in true Hollywood style. All nominees should allocate a spokesperson to say a few words on receiving a trophy. For those nominees who are unable to make the ceremony, a live link by phone will be arranged and the winner contacted as the award is announced. Nominees who cannot make the awards will be asked to supply a photo for use in the ceremony.
For our planning purposes, please indicate on your entry form how many seats your crew is likely to require. You will be advised on costs and how to make finalised bookings after the close of entries.

Reading Cinema Screening in Invercargill
All entrants will be given the opportunity, at a small cost, to see their video on the big screen at Invercargill’s Reading Cinema. The screenings will be held in the lead-up to the award ceremony and you will be advised of times and dates after the close of entries.

Television Coverage
A one-hour package will be broadcast on Sky Digital 90, highlighting the best entries and including full coverage of the winning video.

‘Film-In-the-Can’ Competition
This fun contest will be held in the lead up to the awards. Film crews will assemble at Wachner Place, Invercargill at 12 noon on Friday 14 October.
You will be given a theme and then have one hour to make a 2-minute video on that theme. You may only carry out in-camera editing and the tape must not leave the camera. The entries will be judged and the winner announced at the awards ceremony.
There is a $500 cash prize and a trophy. Entry fee is $20 and is paid on the day.

Help With Making Your Video
A website offering freeware and shareware that you may find useful is
www.user-groups.net/shareware scroll down the page to the heading ‘Software News from Macworld Expo’, to find Garageband music software, I movie, Final Cut Express plus many more.

MUSIC SOUND BEDS – LICENSING, ROYALTIES
AND THE LAW

Before you choose music and special effects for your video, you must ensure that it is legal for you to do so. Just because you own a CD does NOT mean you can use music on that CD in your video.

The use of all copyright music requires a licence. When you apply for the licence (see Apra form below) you must state that your video may be screened at Reading Cinema and parts of the video that include the music may be played at the awards at the Ascot Park Hotel and on Southland Television. This means that you require a broadcast licence to the music and not commercial rights that apply to videos that will be sold.

It is unlikely that you will be given permission to use latest hits music without paying a royalty fee. CD’s that contain sound bed music, sound effects and jingles may also require a licence through Apra – check the small print on the CD and be sure you have free broadcast rights.

To avoid the complications and expense of licensing, see the following guide. Whether the music you use is under licence or not, you must state the source of all music in your video on the form provided.

Royalty-Free and Licence Free Music Options
There is an amazing range of music available for download from the Internet but this does not necessarily mean you would be able to use it in your movie.
Free Download does not mean free use! The composer/owner always holds the copyright and this needs to be checked and cleared before you proceed.

NOTE - Music obtained by using “free” file sharing programs will most likely be illegal.
Don’t forget that you will have local artists in your area who would be more than willing to get some free promotion by helping you with music tracks. And more importantly - you can make your own sounds or music tracks with a little help from your computer - see below.

Royalty-Free CD’s for Purchase
There is royalty free music available on CD ROMs via the Internet – buy for a one off payment then use for free. Read the license agreements! Most sites have a preview facility so you can try the music first – see the examples below.
Music you purchase is usually licensed to you, not owned by you, so you may use it but not pass it on, resell it or make it available for download

Examples -
Look on the page for a link to the license agreement.
http://www.musicloops.com/
http://www.soundrangers.com/
http://www.royaltyfree.com/
http://www.musicbakery.com/TabHome01a.htm

Actual Free Music loops and sounds
There are many examples of actual free and public domain sounds available on the Web – sometimes it takes time to find them as they are often used as teasers/tasters to get you to a site that sells music/sounds. You need to follow the links carefully.
If you have a bit of time, and preferably access to a fast Internet collection, you can put together quite a range of sounds/music.
Some examples are below. Remember to follow the links and READ!
http://www.musicloops.com/Cart/
http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/PIRsfx.html

Free Music Loops that go with Programmes
There are also sites with free music loops for use by themselves or with programs like Garage Band or Acid Music. There is much available if you search the web but you may also have to wade through advertisements.

Note that sometimes you will be offered a choice of music format (e.g. wav, mp3, aiff, ogg) and you may have to convert music files from one format to another so you can use them.

Examples -
http://www.bitshiftaudio.com/products/bbb/free_bee.html
http://www.looperman.com
http://www.breakbeatsonly.com/preview1.htm
http://www.platinumloops.com/free_loops.shtml
http://www.samplenet.co.uk/
http://www.samplearena.com/download.htm

Free Downloadable Sound Effects
Other sites have ‘free’ downloadable sound effects - check the usage rights! Most are ok for non-commercial use. Example of sound effect site http://www.a1freesoundeffects.com/

Internet Music Available with Artist’s Permission
There are many unsigned/independent musicians/groups who make their music available for free download on the Internet. This does not mean the music is royalty free but if you approach an artist they may be willing to let their music be used – in fact many may be keen for the publicity!

A huge range is available at http://music.download.com/ Click on ‘Music’ at the top.

Making Your Own Music
If you are an aspiring music maker, musician, or know musicians who can compose, you can record music directly into a computer and import it into your movie track. This usually requires a small amount of specialized gear but with free software available, anyone can give it a go.
For example Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) – for both Mac and PC is a free audio recording and editing program. Garage Band for OSX (free for Schools) and Acid Express (free) for PC are both music-looping (see below) programs that allow looping and recording music.

To record music, the computer needs an audio input. These can be added via USB if your computer does not have the appropriate input. A small mixing desk is very useful when audio recording. Number one rule is – if the sound going in is poor than it can be difficult to make it better!
Use a quality microphone! (I don’t mean ‘really expensive’!)

Music Looping
This is using ready made loops of music (or musical snippets) to make your own original sound track.

Garage Band for OSX comes with a bank of ready-made loops that even non-playing musicians can use to compose a music track.

Super Dooper Music Looper for PC is a reasonably priced program that also comes with a bank of loops that allow non-playing musicians (anybody!) to produce a music track. And they are great fun!!

These two programs need nothing else but the program and the computer. You work on ‘screen’ with a mouse. Acid Express is free but you will need to download the music loops (for example http://www.platinumloops.com/free_loops.shtml).

MEANING OF “OBJECTIONABLE”
For the purposes of this Act, a publication is objectionable if it describes, depicts, expresses, or otherwise deals with matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, or violence in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good.

A publication shall be deemed to be objectionable for the purposes of this Act if the publication promotes or supports, or tends to promote or support, ---
a. The exploitation of children, or young persons, or both, for sexual purposes; or
b. The use of violence or coercion to compel any person to participate in, or submit to, sexual conduct; or
c. Sexual conduct with or upon the body of a dead person; or
d. The use of urine or excrement in association with degrading or dehumanising conduct or sexual conduct; or
e. Bestiality; or
f. Acts of torture or the infliction of extreme violence or extreme cruelty.

In determining, for the purposes of this Act, whether or not any publication (other than a publication to which subsection (2) of this section applies) is objectionable or should be given a classification other than objectionable, particular weight shall be given to the extent and degree to which, and the manner in which, the publication---
a. Describes, depicts, or otherwise deals with---
i. Acts of torture, the infliction of serious physical harm, or acts of significant cruelty:
ii. Sexual violence or sexual coercion, or violence or coercion in association with sexual conduct:
iii. Other sexual or physical conduct of a degrading or dehumanising or demeaning nature:
iv. Sexual conduct with or by children, or young persons, or both:
v. Physical conduct in which sexual satisfaction is derived from inflicting or suffering cruelty or pain:
b. Exploits the nudity of children, or young persons, or both.
c. Degrades or dehumanises or demeans any person.
d. Promote or encourage criminal acts or acts of terrorism.
e. Represents (whether directly or by implication) that members of any particular class of the public are inherently inferior to other members of the public by reason of any characteristic of members of that class, being a characteristic that is a prohibited ground of discrimination specified in section 21 (1) of the Human Rights Act 1993.

In determining, for the purposes of this Act, whether or not any publication (other than a publication to which subsection (2) of this section applies) is objectionable or should be given a classification other than objectionable, the following matters shall also be considered:
f. The dominant effect of the publication as a whole.
g. The impact of the medium in which the publication is presented.
h. The character of the publication, including any merit, value, or importance that the publication has in relation to literary, artistic, social, cultural, educational, scientific, or other matters.
i. The persons, classes of persons, or age groups of the persons to whom the publication is intended or is likely to be made available.
j. The purpose for which the publication is intended to be used.
k. Any other relevant circumstances relating to the intended or likely use of the publication.

Full Entry Pack
Entry Forms Only