The Kaiserslautern District Film Festival

The Kaiserslautern District Film Festival

KAISERSLAUTERN Film Festival 2011 Registration begins: Friday March 18, 2011 Awards ceremony: Friday, May 6, 2011 For more information or to enter visit: http://filmfest.kdschools.net

What: Kaiserslautern District Film Festival 2011 The Five Wʼs Who: All DODDS-E High and Middle schools may submit entries. Only high schools that can drive-in will be allowed to attend the awards ceremony that will be held on Friday May 6, 2011 at The Galaxy Theatre on Vogelweh Airbase from 1130-1430. Participating Kaiserslautern District Middle Schools will be allowed to attend the awards ceremony. When: Epiphany Contest Teams should register online now at http://filmfest.kdschools.net Epiphany Contest Begins: Monday March 21, 2011 @ 0730 Epiphany Contest Ends: Sunday March 27, 2011 @ midnight! General Contest Registration begins: Friday March 18, 2011 General Contest Registration ends: Friday April 8, 2011 COB Festival Awards Ceremony and Viewing: Friday May 6, 2011 (1130-1430) Where: Festival Awards Ceremony and Viewing Friday May 6, 2011 1130-1430 Galaxy Theatre on Vogelweh Airbase Why: This festival will allow students an opportunity to showcase their work and seek feedback for!improvement. It will also improve inter-school relations, and allow! an opportunity for each and every school to display their work. Other important information: Students should bring a bag lunch and eat before getting to the awards ceremony. Each student that participates will receive a Best Practices DVD with the top 3 entries from each category. Please respect all copyright laws when submitting entries. If you donʼt own the music, donʼt use it! (Itʼs not fair use unless you are providing a review) (If using a copyrighted song in the music video contest be sure to provide appropriate credits)! Please see http://filmfest.kdschools.net for additional information and submission guidelines

Kaiserslautern District Film Festival Awards Top individual categories (1,2,3, Runner-up) Overall (1,2,3, Runner-up) Best of Show Most Entertaining Funniest Students Choice Award Categories Trailer PSA Animation Short Film Documentary Humorous Production / Mockumentary Music Video News/Feature Story Show Opening Commercial The Epiphany Contest (Requires Separate Registration) Host Kaiserslautern School District

How To Enter the Kaiserslautern Film Festival 2011: Your Production must be submitted electronically as a.mov or.mp4 file to http://filmfest.kdschools.net Any questions pertaining to the contest should also be directed through the Film Festival Website. Entries must be submitted no later than Friday April 8, 2011. Epiphany contest entries must be received by Sunday March 27, 2011 at midnight. Any entry received after the submission deadline will not be accepted. Contestants submitting videos should try eliminate any personally identifiable information from their videos (i.e. school location, name, etc...) this is only a suggestion however and not required. Each entry will be assigned a contest number as they are received to eliminate judges bias.

!e Epiphany Contest A week long contest in which you and your group will create a 3-5 minute film built around a theme. When:! The contest will begin at 0730 CET on Monday March 21, 2011 All Entries must be submitted online by: Sunday March 27, 2011 at midnight What:!! You and your team will create a 3-5 minute video bases on a topic that will be released to registered participants via email on March 21. Who:! All DODDS-E High and Middle schools may submit entries. Only high schools that can drive-in will be allowed to attend the awards ceremony that will be held on Friday May 6, 2011. Kaiserslautern District Middle Schools will be allowed to attend the awards ceremony. Judging Guidelines: Official Epiphany Contest Guidelines will be distributed with the theme on Monday March 21, 2011. How to Register: Groups of 3-5 members may register for this contest via email. Groups who wish to participate must register at http://filmfest.kdschools.net prior to midnight Sunday March 20, 2011

Judging Guidelines 1. Camera Work a. Setup: Cameras are properly white balanced. Angles are practically used to obtain the necessary shot. A tripod is used whenever possible. b. Operation: Precise focus particularly on zooms. If used, and appropriate for the category, pans, tilts and zooms are smooth. Hand held camera work is steady. c. Compositional techniques: Rule of Thirds Head room Nose room. Composition is appropriate for subject's position and motion. Interesting but not obtrusive camera angles are employed. 2. Lighting a. When lighting is controlled i. Classic "Three point lighting" is employed (if students have access to such a kit). Balance of MAIN, FILL, BACK and BACKGROUND lights. b. When lighting is uncontrolled i. Attempt to find the most flattering light for the subject. Minimal glare. Avoiding harsh shadows. Not backlit (unless done purposely to protect identity). 3. Audio a. Sound is clear and free of extraneous hum, noises and echoes. Microphone placement is appropriate. Sound matches the video. Levels should be consistent and undistorted. Audio level and quality is consistent throughout. Sound sources are properly balanced. When appropriate to category, natural sound is used effectively. 4. Editing a. No jump cuts! Editing techniques used effectively. Mix of WIDE and CLOSE UP shots to convey message and add interest. Voiceovers and interviews are overlaid with b roll. b. Shot Length i. Shot long enough to convey information without becoming boring. 5. Technical Graphics a. FONT STYLE, SIZE, COLOR and ATTRIBUTES are well chosen and used consistently throughout the production. Digital transitions are used effectively without distractions. Graphics are properly placed. Hand lettering is well executed.

6. Special Effects a. FONT STYLE, SIZE, COLOR and ATTRIBUTES are well chosen and used consistently throughout the production. Digital transitions are used effectively without distractions. Graphics are properly placed. Hand lettering is well executed. 7. Creativity a. Material is treated in an interesting or unusual way without detracting from basic message. Feel free to be creative, but remember to be school appropriate with the productions. 8. Set Design a. If used, sets and backgrounds contribute to the presentation of the message. 9. Category Criteria a. *** PLEASE REFER TO INDIVIDUAL SHEETS PER CATEGORY ****

Public Service Announcement (PSA) or Promo A 15, 30, or 60 second messages to educate, inform or persuade a target audience. Time o Time is met EXACTLY: 15, 30, or 60 seconds (actual video should be :14, :29, or :59 seconds. The actual video footage for the piece should be placed between 15 frames of black at the start and finish to create the correct time. The 15 frames of black at the head and tail of the PSA are used for broadcast systems that are automated. Audience o Target audience should be apparent Material o Current and appropriate Message o Specific, current, meaningful Impact o Attention getting and effective

Trailer Entertaining Movie Trailer that is a minimum of 1:30 minutes but may not exceed 3 minutes. Categories o Use copyrighted footage and create a Foley/audio track o Use copyrighted audio and replace the video track with your own footage o Create your own video trailer from scratch Timing o Appropriate time given to each segment Graphics o Added appropriately but not overused Sound o Good balance and constant presence o Audio and video should sync Music o Appropriate use of music

Animation 1. Story Logic a. Animation should tell a logical story. b. Animation should have a central theme throughout. There is a point to the animation. c. Compositional techniques: There should be at least one camera used throughout the production. This camera(s) should be utilized to show all aspects of the story. 2. Background a. You may not use pictures found online for backgrounds or other items. All pictures need to be made by the student. 3. Audio a. Sound is clear and free of extraneous hum, noises and echoes. Adobe Premiere or other video editing program may be used to enter in the music. Only original music should be used. Be sure to keep copyright regulations in mind. 4. Speed a. The animation should maintain a well thought speed in order to make the story comprehensible. 5. Video Length a. The animation should last no longer than 5 minutes 6. Technical Graphics a. FONT STYLE, SIZE, COLOR and ATTRIBUTES are well chosen and used consistently throughout the production. Graphics are properly placed. Hand lettering is well executed. 7. Special Effects a. Extra consideration may be given for special effects 8. Creativity a. Material is treated in an interesting or unusual way without detracting from basic message. Feel free to be creative, but remember to be school appropriate with the productions. 9. Audience a. Target audience should be apparent 10. Impact a. Attention getting and effective

Commercial A 15, 30, or 60 second original material intended to promote or advertise a particular product, service, event, or entity. Time o Time is met EXACTLY: 15, 30, or 60 seconds (actual video should be :14, :29, or :59 seconds. The actual video footage for the piece should be placed between 15 frames of black at the start and finish to create the correct time. The 15 frames of black at the head and tail of the PSA are used for broadcast systems that are automated. Audience o Target audience should be apparent Creativity/originality o Original and imaginative ideas does not mimic other commercials Material o Relevant and appropriate effects and graphics enhance the production Message o Clear, specific and meaningful. Reaches target audience Impact o Attention getting and effective left with a clear, concise, strong impression

Documentary 10 minutes max Full production or continuous segment of an investigative or informative documentary video Topic o Relevant, current and interesting topic focused and developed throughout production Research o Evidence of understanding of subject Format o Sound bytes covered with relative footage Script o Video matches audio o Script well written and informative Impact o Attention getting and effective left with a clear, concise, strong impression

News/Feature Story Timing o Story does not exceed max time of 5 minutes Focus o Story sticks to one main topic and is focused Reporter o Voice is clear and strong, appears credible, strong presence Organization o Has an appropriate attention getting beginning Has a clear beginning, middle, and end o Video matches audio o Good overall pacing Story Content o Sound bytes are appropriate and relevant Script/Narration is in appropriate broadcast style o Good use of natural sound (audio weaving) o Shot sequences used o Titles and graphics used appropriately o B Roll well shot, appropriate to topic o Topic/Subject is covered thoroughly and appropriately Natural Sound is used Music is AVOIDED. Impact o Story is effective and memorable Story builds interest in the viewer

Humorous Production/Mockumentary 5 minutes max Any parody, satire, original scene, etc. designed to entertain or evoke laughter Creativity/Originality o Presentation is creative and original o Should evoke laughter Material o Appropriate and in good taste o Has a beginning, middle, and end. Message o Message developed throughout the production Impact o Attention getting and effective o Memorable

Show Opening 45 seconds max Student Produced opening for any student produced show Editing o Video flows with appropriate pacing o Transitions used appropriately Special Effects o Used appropriately. Doesn't take away from or overpower content Titles and Graphics o Titles are easily read. o Graphics enhance production. o Doesn't take away from or overpower content Music o Enhances production o Is appropriate for target audience Creativity o Production is imaginative and creative and attention getting

Music Video 5 minutes max Any original or approved copyrighted material presented in the form of a music video Editing o Production appears continuous no jump cuts o Pace of edits reflects pace and mood of song Organization o Well organized o Has a clear beginning, middle and ending o Not repetitive to the point it bores the viewer Content o Content appropriate and relevant audio and video Complement and reinforce each other o Original, creative, imaginative, holds audience's attention o Steady shots o Motivated movement o Varied shots Impact o The music video is effective and memorable; evokes feeling within the viewer

Original Short Film 5 minutes max Fiction or non fiction, humorous or dramatic original or public domain scripts all video must be original Editing o No jump cuts Organization o Well organized o Has a clear beginning, middle, and ending o Story flows well doesn t lose or confuse the viewer Content o Audio and video complement and reinforce each other o Original, creative, imaginative, holds audience's attention o Steady shots o Varied shots Impact o Effective and memorable; evokes feeling within the viewer