Video Required for Chairmans

[Beth Sweet]

So according to the 09 manual, regional Chairman's potentials now have to submit a video in addition to their regular presentation.

http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...e%20Awards.pdf

Anyone else have thoughts? I'm a little nervous, because we really don't have a video camera...

[Cynette]

Wow! Now I wish I'd listened on the FIRST Senior Mentor Phone Conference on the Chairman's Award.

On the camera dilemma, our High School actually loans us a camera to use to document our build season and competitions. So I recommend you start there. Maybe they even have a few budding cinematographers who will take on the project!

[rees2001]

"Although it is a requirement of submission, it is not a requirement for the judging process for 2009."

What does that mean? It is part of the section but makes no sense.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by rees2001

"Although it is a requirement of submission, it is not a requirement for the judging process for 2009."

What does that mean? It is part of the section but makes no sense.

Let the Q & A begin?

But yea...our team kinda sorta doesn't have a camera, and our school is not apt to loaning us one, we've tried before. So what about teams in this situation?

[Beth Sweet]

For an additional comment, the manual doesn't actually mention when the DVD is submitted. It can be assumed, based on the description, that a hard copy is required, but do we hand it to the judges when we go in? Do we submit it to pit admin the first day of competition. It says that the DVD has to have the event submitted to on it. Do Michigan teams have to make a new DVD for State Championship? Do we bring just 1 copy of the DVD to competition? 1 copy per judge?

A lot of questions are left unanswered in the manual about this

[Billfred]

Of note: http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...20Criteria.pdf

Color me interested. Video gear has gotten dirt cheap--you can get a Flip Mino HD for under $250, and most computers these days offer some rudimentary form of creating videos and burning DVDs. (If nothing else, network! Surely some person/business/school in your metropolitan area has a Mac with a SuperDrive they'll let you use to edit this.) The 16:9 aspect ratio requirement might trip up teams borrowing older equipment, but even iMovie '08 can alter the format.

All in all, I think it's a challenge any reasonable contender for the Chairman's Award shouldn't have much trouble with.

(Perhaps 842's prior acts set off some light bulbs in Manchester?)

[Madison]

Originally Posted by rees2001

"Although it is a requirement of submission, it is not a requirement for the judging process for 2009."

What does that mean? It is part of the section but makes no sense.

It seems to me that they're requiring teams to submit a video that, should they win the award, will be played as part of the ceremonies. It does not appear that, unless you play your video during your scheduled interview, it will otherwise enter into the judge's decision making process. Nothing, of course, explicitly mentions this. This is FIRST, after all.

[AdamHeard]

I'm crossing my fingers for a cheapish video camera in the KOP for this very purpose. It seems reasonable to me.

With 973 switching to two robots, higher quality supplies and the cost of a 2nd control system, we are likely to be strapped for funds.

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by Billfred

All in all, I think it's a challenge any reasonable contender for the Chairman's Award shouldn't have much trouble with.

I respectfully disagree. There are a lot of teams with limited money who are doing some great things. Especially the innercity teams, the ones who are not getting STEM as much in school and really need FIRST, those teams are being put at a major disadvantage.

Madison, thank you for that interpretation, it makes a lot more sense than anything I was thinking...

[GaryVoshol]

Hey, didn't Google or someone donate a camera in the KoP a few years back? Maybe ...

[N7UJJ]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Of note: http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...20Criteria.pdf


All in all, I think it's a challenge any reasonable contender for the Chairman's Award shouldn't have much trouble with.

Actually, this can be quite an opportunity.

If nothing else, put photos in a slide show and do a music/voice over. No video camera required. The video can't be over 3 minutes. A one minute video would qualify, wouldn't it? Here are some examples we made for our underwater competition. Note: no video camera was used:

NURC mission 2008
NURC mission 2009

or think big...
Contact a local TV station or cameraman or producer or an ad agency or someone in the movie industry... That would be super cool and it would certainly be an example of how a Chairman's team is involving the community!

There are tons of parents who video their kids. They may not want to "lend" the camera out, but they may be willing to "help" produce and mentor you.

How about an animated video?

Maybe piecing together some public domain videos or footage from past games?

Hmm, can we use material from FIRST promos? Since it is copyrighted by FIRST, I would think it would be OK to use their footage to make a video for their use. (I'm not a lawyer so my opinion doesn't mean much)

The best part is that the Chairman's video sub team has a real job to do NOW and can be finished before Christmas!

Since the DVD has to be submitted (but not judged?) have fun and be creative. Maybe we can post our videos on Youtube and we can have an unofficial FIRST Oscar award?

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

I respectfully disagree. There are a lot of teams with limited money who are doing some great things. Especially the innercity teams, the ones who are not getting STEM as much in school and really need FIRST, those teams are being put at a major disadvantage.

The aforementioned Flip camera costs less than two Victors last year; you might even fare better if you're willing to wake up at dark:30 on Black Friday. Editing and burning software is nearly ubiquitous--if the school doesn't have it, I'm willing to bet that teams are no more than two degrees (friend of a friend) removed from it. If that doesn't work, get to Googling or calling down the yellow pages to see if there's a local production outfit that would help in your efforts to create a three-minute video. If that doesn't work, I've got a MacBook with iMovie '08 and iDVD. Let's go.

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Hey, didn't Google or someone donate a camera in the KoP a few years back? Maybe ...

Google did indeed donate a still camera in 2006. I don't think video cameras (particularly ones capable of DVD-grade output) are down enough in cost to get donated, but the way that prices are plummeting makes me think we'll see it before a water game.

[ebarker]

Originally Posted by N7UJJ

Actually, this can be quite an opportunity.

This is a GREAT opportunity and as Allan said, you do not need a video camera.

Ken Burns produced 11 hours of a show called "The Civil War". Back then there were no video or motion film cameras. Most of the show is static pictures brought to life. Slow zooms, pans, scrolls.

Well timed presentations, thoughtful and voiced V.O.s (voice overs). He has since produced a lot of other series using similiar techniques.

We recently produced a 30 second PSA that has at its root a single picture. (no narration) here for inquiring minds

Our next video will be a short, running about 4 or 5 minutes, but composed of about 30 pictures, and a moderated VO script. No video.

I've become a fan of this technique because it forces students to really think about what they want to say and how they want to say it.

If you watch professional news videographers, where ever possible they work to shoot short thoughtful shots. a few seconds here, a few seconds there. 99% of the time on a tripod.

So don't worry if you don't have a video camera. A group of good photos, and something like moviemaker which is on most pc's will get the job done.

Best Regards

[rogerlsmith]

Here again I don't think video quality is as important as quality of the content. If you must have video, you could get this web cam for $29. I doubt that there is any team that couldn't come up with that...

[BornaE]

Originally Posted by rees2001

"Although it is a requirement of submission, it is not a requirement for the judging process for 2009."

What does that mean? It is part of the section but makes no sense.

I think that the winners video will be shown during the awards ceremony. Also FIRST is asking all the teams to submit a picture of their robots in TIMS as well, probabbly for the awards ceremony.