Film Production

FILM PRODUCTION is the process of making a film. The producer (student submitting the entry) is not required to appear in the film but if the student chooses a tripod may be used. All screenwriting, directing and editing must be done by the student producer. Digital slide presentations (PowerPoint) are not allowed.

To Portray Your Original Film

• Consider creating your film in using the following styles:

  • Animation: Demonstrates motion by sequencing still objects or using computer-generated graphics.

  • Narrative: Tells a fictional story developed by the student.

  • Documentary: Presents facts and information.

  • Experimental: Explores movement, light and montage.

  • Multimedia: Uses a combination of different contents (text, audio, still images, animation, etc.).

• To show a clear relation to the theme, develop a work of fiction or nonfiction and make use of plot and characters, visuals (setting, costumes, animation), sound and background music, editing, etc. 

National-Level Requirements

• Student Artist: All screenwriting, directing and editing must be done by the student producer. Only the producer (e.g., student submitting the entry) is recognized for awards. The producer is not required to appear in the film.

• PowerPoint: Use of PowerPoint presentations or other pre-made, template-based tools is prohibited.

• Lengths and Size: Videos must not exceed 5 minutes or 1,000 MB (1,000 megabyte).

• Cite Sources: If background music is used, it must be cited on the entry form.

• Formats: Accepted file formats: MP4, MOV, AVI. 

Reminders

• Entry Originality:  All entries must be original student creations and use original student footage/media/material. Any use of b-roll or unoriginal video elements must be minimal, if at all, and must be credited.

• Originality with Platforms: Digital slide presentations (PowerPoint) are not allowed. When using movie-making platforms (e.g., Scratch), the producer should heavily customize and transform graphics/materials to create new artwork and concepts.

Titles and artist statements can be useful in sharing details specific to your film that help capture your creative process and theme interpretation. Consider the following:

• Explore themes or metaphors used in the storyline, characters or setting.

• Discuss the significance of the film style (visual aesthetics, directorial approach/techniques, sound/music).

• Examine the film's genre, how it connects to the theme, influences the narrative and/or how you followed or broke from genre traditions.

• Analyze the role of sound design and music and how your choices convey the film narrative, the theme or your interpretation.

Digital technology and/or software may not provide the primary design and/or concept, but can be used to develop, enhance and/or present an entry. Entries may not be exclusively created with generative tools (e.g., AI) and/or composed exclusively of elements generated or provided by the technology platform.

Accepted:

• With significant student manipulation and customization, use of templates, graphics, etc. provided by a platform/technology.

• Assistive tools to add or remove objects to a photo or film footage or review original writing to find errors. 

Not Accepted:

• Without significant student customization, use of templates, formulas, graphics provided by a platform/technology without heavy student customization.

• Plot, characters and/or literary elements generated by a platform/technology.

Tips for creating, finalizing and saving a high-quality video file for your submission.

• Start and end with silence: Leave two seconds of silence at the beginning and end of your recording.

• Do a test recording: Record a short test and listen to it. Make sure the volume is not too high or too low.

• Remove background noise: Make the room quiet by turning off things like air conditioners, fans and phones.

• Clear background music: If using background music, make sure it sounds clear and doesn't drown out any dialogue.

• Position the microphone close: Place the microphone close to the sound source for clearer audio. Encourage actors to speak clearly and project their voices.

• Use the back camera: If recording with a smartphone, use the back camera for better quality.

• Keep the camera still: Use a tripod to avoid camera shakes. This helps keep all shots steady and allows for smooth movements.

• Film horizontally: Record in a horizontal position (side-to-side).

• Check the lighting: Be aware of the light you are using. Fluorescent lights can give a greenish or grey hue. High contrast lighting can create hard shadows, and overhead lights can be unflattering.

  • Use natural light: If you're in a room with overhead lights, try filming near an open window to add natural light.

  • Add soft light: Place a lamp or two nearby to soften the light and reduce shadows.

Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. Use of copyrighted material is not acceptable, including any copyrighted cartoon characters, material downloaded from the internet, copyrighted recorded music or copyrighted photographs or stock images, except for the following:

• Entries may include public places, well-known products, trademarks or certain other copyrighted material as long as that copyrighted material is incidental to the subject matter of the piece and/or is a smaller element of a whole. The resulting work cannot try to establish an association between the student and the trademark/business/material or influence the purchase/non-purchase of the trademarked good.

• If background music is used in film entries, it must be cited on the entry form (title, composer and performer).

• Film entries may include portions of existing copyrighted works, such as photographs, magazine or digital media clippings and/or type cut out of a newspaper, as long as those portions of copyrighted works are used to create a completely new and different work of art.