NEWS STORY
A video package, containing interviews, b-roll, natural sound, interviews, voiceovers, and optional reporter stand-ups, presenting a clear and fact-driven style (including who, what, where, when, why, and how) that gives a timely account of a recent, interesting, and significant event or development in your school or community. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max team size: 4 students
FEATURE STORY
A video package, containing interviews, b-roll, natural sound, interviews, voiceovers, and optional reporter stand-ups, presenting an interesting look at an event, community occurrence or person. Features should contain less of a news angle and need not be timely, rather be driven by human interest. The story should be an in-depth look at a particular subject, event, or location that keeps the audience’s attention throughout, delivering a compelling narrative to create a lasting impression. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max team size: 4 students
NAT PACKAGE
A feature story solely driven by sound. These should not include reporter track or voiceovers, rather tell a complete and compelling story using only interviews/soundbites and natural sound. Topics may range from news to features. These stories should feel complete, even without a reporter closing, so they should close with a strong sound bite. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max team size: 4 students
SHORT FILM
A short-form movie with a clear, compelling story that can be any genre (drama, comedy, horror, etc.) or form (documentary, live-action, animated) of filmmaking. Like feature films, short films tell closed-ended stories with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Title slate and credits are required and count toward your total run time. Entry Time Limit: 3 minutes or less | Max team size: 6 students
COMMERCIAL
A 30-second creative piece meant to sell a product or service. These can involve actors and live action, or can be completely made up of graphics. Creativity, proper lighting, framing (when applicable) and sound will be considered. It should send a strong message to the audience through narrative, visually, or both to catch the audiences attention while also promoting the product. Entry Time Limit: Exactly 30 seconds | Max team size: 6 students
MUSIC VIDEO
A music video is a visual performance of a recorded song, accompanied by cinematic imagery, visual effects, or musicians performing to provide a dramatic visual interpretation of a song. A music video should capture the essence of the song’s message through compelling visuals and storytelling. Entry Time Limit: Full length of provided song | Max team size: 6 students
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
A 30-second creative piece highlighting a current issue in society. It should include a mention of the issue, a statistic to support why it is a societal problem and a call to action. These can involve actors and live action, or can be completely made up of graphics. Entry Time Limit: Exactly 30 seconds | Max team size: 6 students
VERTICAL SHORT FILM
A short-form story shot and edited in 9:16 ratio exclusively for vertical distribution on social media, with a clear, compelling story that can be any genre (drama, comedy, horror, etc.) or form (documentary, live-action, animated) of filmmaking. Like feature films, short films tell closed-ended stories with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. Title slate and credit are required and count toward your total run time. Entry Time Limit: 2 minutes or less | Max team size: 6 students