Video Required for Chairmans

[JYang]

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.

From my interpretion of the section, the video will be turned into judges at the competition (sort of like the extra documentation turned in except this is required). However, the video will have no impact in the selection process at the regional and championship level.

GL to all teams!

[artdutra04]

This is a positive addition to the Chairman's Award criteria, as it really helps reinforce the ideas behind the Chairman's Award essay with concrete video proof. Any journalism major can tell you that by picking and choosing from among a select few [normally synonym] words, you can completely alter the reader's perceptions of the content, for better or for worse. (Read an article on Fox News (or Drudge Report) then MSNBC (or Huffington Post) about the same news event and you can see this in full swing).

I also like the widescreen requirement, as the trend of the last few years has been for all video to move towards the widescreen format.

...Although it would have been a lot more helpful to teams if they announced this new criteria immediately after the Championships last year. It could have helped the "year-round" teams who could have had the advance notice to film their summer activities.

Just remember, each robotics team does not have to own a video camera to shoot video widescreen video. Chances are that at least one parent of a student on every team owns a video camera capable of shooting video in widescreen, and it's not hard to borrow them for events.

[Rosiebotboss]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

...Although it would have been a lot more helpful to teams if they announced this new criteria immediately after the Championships last year. It could have helped the "year-round" teams who could have had the advance notice to film their summer activities.

Rememeber, if you have still pictures of your summer camp, robot demo, trade show booth, etc... you can always edit them into a video format.

[Alivia]

Video required for Chairman's?!?!
I'm totally psyched!
Videos are kinda my thing.
(Sorry. Film crew geek right here. haha)

As far as teams without a video camera, please do not worry!
Like others have stated, a picture slideshow with voice overs is just as effective (if not more so) than actual video.
While I was on my high school team, most of the work I completed was done through this method.
My final year I made a slideshow that recognized our mentors for being the heroes that they are. It was still shots with voice overs from students on the team.
I made most of my mentors cry, proving that stills are just as effective.


Also, another little sidenote. Many digital cameras these days come with the ability to shoot video. While it may not be the highest quality, it could help a team that wishes to shoot video but lacks the funds for a new video camera.

[Rich Kressly]

Alright, I've been reading and rereading this for a few days now and ...

...color me totally stupid on this one. I think corresponding video is a GREAT idea for any team that has this inclination and/or has the time and resources to provide such a product, but making this a requirement is totally nonsense IMHO. Unless I'm reading this wrong, and I totally hope and pray I am, this will ultimately decrease the number of judged/completed CA entries submitted from FRC teams. If I'm not reading this wrong, my team will not be eligible to win a Chairman's Award unless we submit a video in wide screen format on DVD, correct?

Please, please, please tell me I'm wrong. If I'm not I'd REALLY like an opportunity to talk to the folks who wrote this particular rule. This will only serve the purpose of having more teams say, "Well forget it, too much to bother with so we won't do it." Which in turn leads to fewer teams writing the actual submission, which in turn leads to fewer teams that take the time to focus on the overall program and it's community impact, which in turn leads to more "robot-centric" teams that build a machine to win on the field and maybe they do the bigger-picture stuff and maybe they don't.

GAH ... I like seeing video stories on a big screen too, but this is NOT the way to go about getting them. Please, please, please tell me I'm reading this wrong.

And don't think for a minute this is about "me and my team." 1712 will put a video together because we were already working on one and we're planning on having copies with us at the regional anyway.

...but silly me, I thought this was about changing as much of the culture as possible - not to ensure wide screen multimedia at events or elsewhere. In a year where everyone's lives are already upside down with new control systems and the fact that we're apparently only getting one of them - ever, I'm not too keen on adding to teams' plates - not even a little.

Is the Q&A open for clarification? If it isn't and there's someone here that can explain this to me in a rational way that tells me why we all HAVE to do this as a requirement of submission, I'd appreciate it.

Nowwwwwww...... there is one way I'd see this as a net gain, if the rule had more detail. If the criteria stated that the video had to match, verbatim, the text in the actual submission, with video and/or pictures to go with the words and we all had to post to Youtube ....... THEN I'd do a 180 and become the biggest fan of this rule you would ever see.

In fact, teams considering not submitting should consider this less painful approach because the last thing I want to see is fewer submissions. Simple narration over top the visual support works.

Normally not this puzzled or flustered,
-kressly

[rees2001]

I too have read through his and I cannot understand why FIRST is forcing the video issue? It seems as though somebody in FIRST has the idea that video is the way to reaching more people and thus getting more people interested in FIRST.

Look at the President's Circle for the past 2 years. 2007 had less applicants than planned award recipients. This year they had to extend the deadline because of an apparent lack of submissions (5 to date).

Is it us, or is it FIRST that seems to not understand? Is FIRST raising the bar too high in a year they are already making changes? I understand that making a video is a lot of work but, is it really that much work? specially for teams that think they are CA caliber. It does seem as thought they are separating the "haves" and the "have-nots". I too think the DVD format makes it harder on teams that don't have the resources.

I know it seems like I'm all over the place on this video thing. I like the idea but it may require some tweaking.

[JaneYoung]

As one who has worked with a team that purchased a video camera due to persistent nagging, erm, encouragement by a certain blonde mentor *cough* - the camera can break. When purchasing or borrowing a camera, take every precaution not to incur damage. Also, don't assume that everyone knows how to use one - that isn't necessarily the case. A proper storage place, check-in/check-out/keeping the battery charged system - would also help in this area.

[Wayne C.]

if this is a REQUIRED video I guess it fills a need for videos that isn't being filled elsewhere in FIRST....

personal opinion- a team that is a great movie producer isn't necessarily a great FIRST robotics team and if this requirement is being announced this late how does one capture all the good stuff done up until now?

overall the CA is becoming simply another little contest these days- not what it should be. A worthy team's merit should be evident throughout their year without a catchy presentation or video performance.

[Mike Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

if this is a REQUIRED video I guess it fills a need for videos that isn't being filled elsewhere in FIRST....

personal opinion- a team that is a great movie producer isn't necessarily a great FIRST robotics team and if this requirement is being announced this late how does one capture all the good stuff done up until now?

overall the CA is becoming simply another little contest these days- not what it should be. A worthy team's merit should be evident throughout their year without a catchy presentation or video performance.

These days? I distinctively remember that many years ago you were allowed to submit a video for The CA. Actually I am pretty sure you could have submitted many different submission forms for The CA award even MS PowerPoint presentations

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by "Big Mike"

These days? I distinctively remember that many years ago you were allowed to submit a video for The CA. Actually I am pretty sure you could have submitted many different submission forms for The CA award even MS PowerPoint presentations

Mike, I hate to call you old but this is going to be my 7th year in FIRST, and as long as I've been in FIRST, we've never submitted Chairman's videos...

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by "Big Mike"

These days? I distinctively remember that many years ago you were allowed to submit a video for The CA. Actually I am pretty sure you could have submitted many different submission forms for The CA award even MS PowerPoint presentations

Correct, prior to 2003 you could submit in any format you so pleased provided it was readable/reviewable in a certain amount if time. 2003 it became "four pages hard copy" and remained that way or similar (I think we emailed them for one or two years) until firstawards.org came into being and now we have a character limit.

In 2003 many of us thought CA was headed the multimedia route, after BUZZ 175 did such a great job with its video, but much to many people's surprise it became just four pages. Then, with firstawards.org, all of the formatting and graphic involved with the four pages went away and it became what it is today - a character limit with four pictures.

Presumably this whole evolution has helped take the "glitz" out of the process, and quite frankly save time for teams so they can concentrate on content and substance. Since this new video requirement supposedly isn't part of the judging process in any way the "glitz" is still out of the judging process (well unless you use the video in your actual presentation). However, since this is a requirement to be considered it is something that will take time and resources. That whole disconnect (not judged, but required) is something I really need to see clarification on.

[waialua359]

Although the concept is great and our team actually produces a video every year, i think this should have been decided from the ending of last season.
the whole format issue will create more logistical problems for teams that are year round, such as ours.
It would have been nice to know a lot more in advance, that's all.
It is indeed confusing a bit on what is required, but not required.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

Mike, I hate to call you old but this is going to be my 7th year in FIRST, and as long as I've been in FIRST, we've never submitted Chairman's videos...

Videos were a long while back. Before the teams were re-numbered.

I know this because at FIRST Place this summer, I was working as a camp counselor, and took on a separate project of my own- since I was living in NH for a month without knowing too many people in the area, I had free time.

That project was looking through all the old Chairman's videos that were stored at FIRST Place and numbering them to the correct teams so that FIRST can make copies, contact the teams, and see if they wanted them back for their own team history. Unfortunately, a great number of them were damaged from flooding a few years back, and a lot of great FIRST history was destroyed, but there are still a few '03 totes full to the brim with Chairman's Award videos.

[OZ_341]

I agree with many of the concerns addressed here. But also have an additional concern.

I would like to know what is the very specific purpose of the video. If it is not for the purpose of judging, then please let us know what it is being used for. This was not detailed for the teams.
How will this mandatory video be used (or not used) is very important. Are we going to make a video that will not be judged or viewed? Will it just go into storage somewhere? Will they display all of the Chairman's videos?

We are a team that is strong on video, but it boils down to resources and where they should be placed.

We were just getting ready to make a major update of our "Team in a Box" DVD. An update that will take months and the better portion of our media team, if we do it with care. Should we scale down a project that will help other teams and redirect resources to the Chairman's Video? We would have to do this to qualify.

Which ever way we decide to go, our kids are going to put their hearts into it. I guess I have a hard time directing kids to put their hearts into a project that may not have a defined purpose other than to guarantee entry into a contest. More than anything else, the student that make this video wants someone to watch and enjoy their work. (plain and simple)

So I would love to see some clarity on the purpose of the video. This clarity will help us to direct the energy of our most valuable resource, our students.

[rogerlsmith]

About a year or so ago, after we launched FIRST Objective, I made a suggestion to our community that teams make videos out of their Chairman's Award presentations. FIRST Objective is heavily based on videos, and our intention is to use these videos to show the world what FIRST is all about. I figured that if teams made videos that showcased everything they did throughout the year, it would be a great way to get schools to start new teams.

After suggesting teams make videos from CA presentations, I didn't get a lot of great feedback from our little community. I still feel that this is a great opportunity for teams to tell everyone what they do and why. With a video, you're not only telling the judges, you could be potentially telling the world.

With that said, I don't think it is unreasonable for FIRST to require teams to submit a video. Come on, it doesn't take a lot of $$ to put together some sort of video, and it would be great for more people to see what we do.

As an engineer, I've had to work in situations where I had to produce something without all the necessary tools. That's just life... deal with it.