Video Required for Chairmans

[Madison]

Originally Posted by 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?

I'm interested in seeing how this plays out, if the rule remains unchanged.

We are fortunate to have been awarded a RCA last season. The students that were involved in making that happen spent far too much time and energy doing so -- and so did I -- and adding to that workload will put them over the edge. Some of those students have come to the mentors on our team and told us that they're completed disinterested in participating in the RCA process again. They'd rather just build a good robot and have fun on the field. I'm inclined to agree with them.

[waialua359]

Putting in an effort to compete for a CA does indeed take time. More like a committee of students, teachers and mentors that focus on documenting all phases of a team. But like you said, at some point, it takes away from the focus on construction and engineering learning experiences, especially if a team is small.
I think the effort is worth it though, especially if a group of judges recognize you for your efforts with the RCA.

[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?)

[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 ...

[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.

[Andrew Schreiber]

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.

As a mentor on one of those inner city teams, I can second this notion. This year alone we, as a team,will be running Michigan's only Vex tournament, had 100% of our team working at the rookie regional, ended up being short mentor wise because we all worked Kettering Kickoff, and we also had 75% of our team and all but 2 mentor (who were unavailable) show up to help at the FLL tournament. But for all that work we don't own a video camera as a team. One of my fellow college students has brought in her personal camera to use. So, to say that just because a team is struggling and doesn't have the resources as some of the "higher caliber" and therefore shouldn't be considered for CA is outright wrong.

The above being said, I like this idea. I hope it will allow us to get some new kids out of interest in making videos.

[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?

[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...