The Official Unofficial Robotics Film Contest

[BuddyB309]

I want to host the Official Unofficial Robotics Film Contest sometime in the future. My Idea is to see what other people can come up with using a video camera, computer, and no copyrights restraints. If you need an example click here to view my video THE TETRA OF EVIL witch I made last year.

The rules would follow:

1. One entry per team, and the submitted material must be a FILM not some random stuff shot with a camcorder and music added to it. They must tell some sort of story. Films that are animations are acceptable.
2. Films may be no longer than 15 minutes long.
3. Robotics must be part of the film in some way. Either a game piece from this year or your robot from last year.
4. Use any programs you have and any music that you want.
Films will be graded on the following:

1. Technique: 10 points
2. Story: 20 points
3. Flow: 10 points
4. Use of 3ds max: 5 points
5. Keeping audience interested: 5 points

I don’t know when the due date will be or where teams will send their final product. (Hopefully to my teams website). I think this will be fun please comment if you think this is a good idea or a bad one.

[aaeamdar]

This certainly seems like an interesting idea. I suppose from your title TETRA o DOOM you mean it to be funny?

That was sarcasm (except not).

[dlavery]

I absolutely love this idea! The "Tetra Of Doom" was a fun film to watch, and a cool concept. Having an unoffical FIRST Film Festival could be a great way to get even more people involved with your FIRST teams, and a wonderful way to bring even more creativity into the whole community. Who knows, if we do this right, we might be able to have FIRST pick it up and make it part of the official program (and maybe get Disney, Universal and Warner Brothers to sponsor some of the awards! )

"Oh Mr. DeMille! I'm ready for my close up!"

-dave

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

I want to host the Official Unofficial Robotics Film Contest sometime in the future. My Idea is to see what other people can come up with using a video camera, computer, and no copyrights restraints.

Last time I checked, those were required by law...

Anyways, I love the idea, but I have a question. What are we shooting? A seperate story like "the Tetra of Evil" or a story that is our team's story of the trials, tribulations, heartbreaks, mountain dew or assosciated caffinated beverages, and lack of sleep that come with the building of a FIRST robot?

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

Last time I checked, those were required by law...

Anyways, I love the idea, but I have a question. What are we shooting? A seperate story like "the Tetra of Evil" or a story that is our team's story of the trials, tribulations, heartbreaks, mountain dew or assosciated caffinated beverages, and lack of sleep that come with the building of a FIRST robot?

Ah yes copyrights do apply IF you are getting paid from your production. We are not going to get paid or make money off of this competition. This would be equal to a bunch of friends getting together and making movies then voting on whos is better.

Copyrights dont apply to this because we are not making money.

[Conor Ryan]

Why Not solve the issue with maybe an open copy right license, such as Creative Commons, you can even select one that allows people to use it commercially, and even make edits to it. See this form. Or if you could do something else, you could ask for written permission for usage of it with its submission. Or you could have people sign a (digital) waiver with submission.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

Ah yes copyrights do apply IF you are getting paid from your production. We are not going to get paid or make money off of this competition. This would be equal to a bunch of friends getting together and making movies then voting on whos is better.

Copyrights dont apply to this because we are not making money.

Sigh, another common misconception brought about by the internet. They DO APPLY, just not to the same extent. For eductational purposes you may use 10% of a song, but with a maximum of 30 seconds. For more information, check out this link.

[Kyle Greer]

Hey guys,

Curtis is right, for non-educational purposes you can use up to 10 seconds of copyrighted music. If you have permission to use the music then just get it in writing. As for the contest I'm in. I had suggested the idea before but never went through with it. I'll be sure to keep checking for any updates.

[Barry Bonzack]

that was the first time I've seen that video, and I've got to say that was quite enjoyable, and used some classic gags. I encourage the idea of expanding the use students' talents in FIRST, and if this is a way to get more people involved then I'm all for it. This particular competition is still too creative and too much of a time investment for me, however if this also evolves into a "Team Promo Video" contest like mentioned in a thread before, then I'm all in.

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

Sigh, another common misconception brought about by the internet. They DO APPLY, just not to the same extent. For eductational purposes you may use 10% of a song, but with a maximum of 30 seconds. For more information, check out this link.

Bummer I was misleaded

[tiffany34990]

I really like this idea.. it's great to have more fun during the season

I can't wait to see what the FIRST community comes up with. it's gonna be great... good luck to all participants

[Reyner]

1466 is in!

(if we're not too lazy)

[BuddyB309]

All right. My team's website wont host it cause its school servers. Is there any team that would host the movies or any other idea that all the vids could get to one place for judging.

(There is Youtube.com that u can upload and teams could put a specific name like First_[team number] [some wierd digit code].)

Any suggestions?

[GryffonDurime]

Team Fusion (#364) is probably in. We've got a dedicated video-team, so this will be a fun way to learn and apply new skills. Even though our server is the school's, we've been lucky enough to be allowed to post videos. Our site actually accounted for a good 50-60% of the school's bandwidth, partially because the school's never had a proper site.

Would the competition be judged by an external group, or majority vote? Perhaps, if there's enough interest, we could even branch out into multiple categories.

I just hope the deadline can be set so that it doesn't conflict with the (already very full) schedule of FIRST.

[Ian Curtis]

Well these guys are probably a good place to start.