April Fools - DVC Starts Today! Theme announcement - GO GO GO GO GOOOO!!!!!
 

What, you really thought we were going to start it on April 2nd?


The DV Challenge starts TODAY!

Starting right.... NOW, you have until May 3rd at MIDNIGHT, to write, shoot, edit, and upload your film to a video hosting site (Vimeo or Youtube), and email the link to us at thedvchallenge@gmail.com

So, the theme for this DVC is... a prop!

And that prop is: Food

So, you can make your film about anything you like, as long as you use a food prop throughout. It should be one specific item of food, not food in general. For example, a film about people chasing a runaway meatball would suit the theme, but a short set in a grocery store or restaurant would not. Part of judging will be based on how well you use your prop. (note: this is food only, not drinks)

If you are new to the contest, please go see: The DV Challenge for specific rules/details.

Since we have more than a month to complete these, we are extending the time limit to 5 minutes (+ credits but not titles), so use it wisely!

And remember... the prize!
For our extended challenge, Guy Cochran and dvcreators.net have donated a
Reflecmedia 8'x8' Chromatte Package! Reflecmedia in action - Chroma key made easy on Vimeo
This includes everything you need to create a Green Screen set - fast!
* Litering
* Controller
* 8'x8' Chromatte curtain
* adapter ring to fityour specific camera.
Last year these were $3800!
Here is Guy using it with the Canon 5D Mark II Chroma key with the Canon 5D and Reflecmedia on Vimeo
If that isn't incentive to get your butt in gear, nothing will.


Happy filming!

Dylan & Lorinda

Wow
 

good thing I checked....BUT it could be wrong do to the date...


Note to Craig: Sorry! I meant to quote you on this post and edited it instead! Oops...hope there wasn't something else here... :) -Lorinda

Nah, that wouldn't be as funny. :)

I guarantee you, today *IS* the start day! Sure, I may lie to you, but Lorinda wouldn't!

Question: Can people sign up for this after the theme is announced? I had a few friends who were teetering on the fence today?

That's terrible! Making some poor Italian guy run all over town just so we can win some expensive prize.

I like the food idea; go figure my fat ass already has several stories in mind. If the theme also involved sitting around playing video games my film would clean up in the voting.

That's the trouble with teetering on the fence--sometimes you get a sliver in your butt.

;)

The door isn't closed yet so tell 'em to get on in and join the fun!

Good for you guys who checked today. I'm laughing about the ones who won't look 'til tomorrow! Actually, I've been laughing to myself ever since Dylan said, "What about starting a day early for an April Fools Day joke?" :)

Sign up usually closes when we announce the theme. However, since we said it starts tomorrow, we'll accept sign ups until 9am tomorrow when we normally would have announced it. It will then be closed!

Once again, unexpected, galvanizing and. . . well. . . a challenge! Looking forward to competing. Thanks!

alright! i have the script written already and started story boarding! this is gonna be goooooood.

Come On
 

No one really writes a script or does story boarding! You have to wing it like the real big boy pro's, with the big boy pro camera's.. 8^)

my HMC will eat you alive =O

Hey Dylan, in the old days when we only had a few days to make our films... we didn't have time sit around and BS like this....

Yeah, but isn't this more fun!?

I think the next one should be a 48 hour challenge.

48 hr
 

start friday morning at 6am and must be turned in Sunday at 12 Midnight would be great...

I support the 48hrs idea perhaps even as a separate challenge from the 2weeks/1mo one. Let's call it "The Quickie Challenge" :)

Food in shot
 

Does the food we choose need to always be in shot ?

Andrew, we'll see what Dylan says, but I'm sure not going to be concerned with having the prop in every shot. I think that could ruin it. Of course, I don't have an idea yet so that may change. I think he said something about it being predominant throughout the film. That doesn't mean every shot to me.

One issue we all probably need to remember is branding. My friend thought up a great idea; trouble is it would involve saying the brand name of the product over and over, plus showing it [the brand]. That's always been a no-no for films unless you get permission.

The word from Dylan: No.

What about the branding ? do we need to stay away from any brand names. I am presuming that if the brand wanted it taken off youtube, we would loose our admission into the comp

Check out this article:
BBC - Film Network - legal guide: content clearances

As for the DV Challenge, this is what Dylan has said about it:
“…if your characters walk past Starbucks, that's fine. If your characters are all drinking Corona, no problem. It doesn't enhance the movie or make the story. If it DOES make the story, like using copyrighted music, then it should not be allowed.”

Cuisine ? OK
 

Food is good !

B.

What Lorinda said. If it isn't a core element of your script (like it isn't ABOUT McDonalds or Starbucks) we don't care. However... use brands in your films at your own risk. If they get pulled from Youtube or Vimeo... you're out of competition. :) So, I strongly suggest you avoid them if at all possible: frame them out, mask them off with tape, or keep them out of focus. Makes life easier.

I know this is very off topic, but is there a way to see the previous submissions/winners videos? I have been looking through the forums, but there are no links anywhere?

Yes, there is one link especially for that, though it hasn't been updated in a while. It's a sticky at the top of this forum.
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/dv-challe...lease-see.html

As for more recent challenges, scroll down in this forum. Every time you see "DVC #**Finalists" or "The Winner of DVC #**" threads that's where you'll find submissions and the winners.

If you're going to sign up you'd better hurry. I'm fixin' to close it today.

Thanks for the help Lorinda. But I won't be singing up. I never made a video before and don't have any real equipment yet. Still looking at what I want to do so I can get the right equipment. Maybe next one.

Sorry this post disappeared, Bradley. I think I've got a gremlin in my computer. Weird.

Anyway, good luck in your search and we'll look for you next round. :)