Contest Winner!

Posted on October 31, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

Imagine my surprise at receiving an email informing me TAZM Pictures’ entry in the video contest, “A Family Struggles with Going Green,” sponsored by Reelinsights.com, was selected as the Grand Prize Winner! This marks my second attempt at the documentary format, which is a challenge to do well – at least I think so.  The first attempt was on the Aschiana charity in Afghanistan. This was also the second video in which I collaborated with musician Dan Cooper. The first collaboration is still in Judging over at the Lonely Planet.

The contest was an interesting format, run to support an even more interesting business model for Snippies. The really cool thing is, if you take the time to read their instructions and FAQ carefully, they pretty much tell you how to do the whole thing – your job is just to find them the interesting people and viewpoints and assemble the pieces.  In order for them to confirm a “potential winner” (which my film currently still is) you have to send them all the releases a documentary would normally require, in addition to 30 minutes of relevant, pertinent raw footage.  The prize money is basically a purchase of this raw footage which has been highlighted in your video, which they then use for market research products.  In other words, this contest is accessible to anyone who knows someone interesting, knows the basics of operating a camcorder, and can edit video.  If you plan to enter one of their monthly contests (next month’s prize is $2000), wait a couple of months – I’m currently trying to figure out who is “the most generous person I know” (the theme of next month’s contest, which has already opened!  Check it out!

To reinforce the point that you, too can win one of these contests, here’s the winning video:

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Two More Contest Entries

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

TAZM Pictures is back in the video contest business – double trouble, hopefully!

I’ve re-tooled an old video from Washington DC – in fact, this is the video that inspired me to start this site (with some friendly encouragement) – and entered it into Lonely Planet’s video contest.  Check out that one by clicking on the link for “gallery” on their YouTube channel (previous link) and selecting “cities” and “go.”  The contest is being administered by the same company that sponsored the Lowe’s contest I sent 3 videos for, but they’ve noticeably relaxed their standards.  In spite of the fact that copyright music are forbidden, and professional film companies are barred from competition, quite of the videos entered break both rules.  After the Lowe’s competition I sent them some “free” feedback (no response) about their refusal to entertain some entries while at the same time refusing to respond to queries from entrants, and it seems they are now leaning the other way – accepting any and all entries in the initial phase, and probably planning to shorten the list in the future.  Contrast this with the contest sponsored by The Learning Games Network (where my daughter won a SWEET laptop and iPod), where the sponsors went out of their way to give feedback throughout the contest, and even included a nice card with each prize.  Anyway, I’m glad to see they’ve taken a different approach and am interested to see who will be chosen as finalists (the judges will do that) on November 1.  Amazing prize package for that one, especially for aspiring filmmakers like me!  I can use your votes for the video (if nothing else, to make a good impression on the judges).

Second contest is Reel Insights’ monthly contest – this one is “A Family Struggles with Going Green.”  They have had a fairly forward-leaning publicity stance, seeking me out on Twitter (they are @reel_insights) and encouraging me to join.  The deadline was extended to Sunday night (as I write) and my video will join at least two others in the quest for a $1500 prize.  This is an interesting contest, where they give you detailed instructions and suggestions – very helpful if you’re not that experienced in documentary.  The idea is you produce a 3-5 minute video along the lines of their theme, and if you win, they ask for 30 minutes of raw video footage – basically this amounts to a purchase of raw footage from your 3-5 minute highlights.  Pretty stringent requirements for individual and property releases, really forcing you to think about every frame and giving an appreciation of what is required to produce a professional documentary piece.  Check them out – maybe we’ll see a video from YOU in an upcoming contest!

Both videos and contests also represent a new partnership with a musician who has agreed to team up from time to time in producing soundtracks.  See what you think!

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eCompliments Contest Winner

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

Well, the smoke cleared and…the TAZM Pictures entry on the eCompliments video contest ended up in 12th place.  Things were going well; just as it looked like we would drop off the bottom (the lowest-ranked video was dropping off the “marquis”, one per day) the work publicizing the video on Twitter started making a difference.  It moved from 22nd all the way up to 7th.  Then out of nowhere comes a video about a high school (not bad, actually) and then some celebrity you may have heard of but I haven’t comes in at the last minute and blows everyone away.  It was unfortunately considering some of the causes winners would have donated to.

But it confirms my observation that the best video is not necessarily the one that wins.  The person who can rustle up the most votes will be the one that wins.  So I was bummed when we slid back to 12th, but it’s all part of the “game.”

A few days after the contest, eCompliments sent me an email with the following text:

Thank you contestants!

We will be running a new contest with new rules in January. Some of the anticipated changes include:

  • A panel making the determination of  the winner based on a combination of factors, including the number of votes;
  • The video requirements will be more tightly focused on “compliments” and “sharing the good”; and
  • There will be a grand prize and prizes for second and third place.

So be sure to check back at that time!  We can’t wait to see your creativity again!

Share the Good,

Video Contest Team

eCompliments.com

Which is kind of cool because it addresses all the concerns I – and probably many others – had with the contest.  So I hope I can count on the same support we got from the Twitter-verse, friends and family in the next one.  See you in January!

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Editing Your Own Videos

Posted on September 18, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

People often ask me for recommendations on what to use to edit their own videos.  My first suggestion is of course to hire me to do it for you!  But barring that:

As far as platforms – computers – video editing can be relatively resource-heavy, depending on your format.  If you intend to edit HD video (and you will eventually if you do this for awhile) you will likely need 4 MB of memory, as well as a decent amount of video memory.  A relatively well-equipped desktop should do fine, but if you plan to work on a laptop, don’t skimp.  So if you’re buying a computer, get as much on-board and video memory as you can afford, and consider external storage – 500GB to 1 TB – it’s cheap.  You may think getting a large hard disk in the computer itself is enough, but you’ll want to keep your footage and your products somewhere, and no internal hard disk is going to last you very long in that regard.  I use a home server with 1.5 TB of redundant (RAID 5) storage because I have lost too much footage from crashes, and HD uses a lot of space.  The software that comes with my Sony camera catalogs everything and I can search by date.  And if you buy a Sony camera, you’ll need that program because your other programs won’t give you a proper thumbnail for AVCHD files.  Also having a firewire input can be helpful, although more and more they’re using USB.

If you’re buying a camera, make sure its output works with your computer (ports).  Stay away from cameras that store on DVD because they’re too big, and the DVD format includes a lot of loss up front.  I recommend a flash-based camera or a hard disk camera so you can drag files to your computer.  If you use miniDV the quality is supposed to be better, but you have to play it back while your computer captures it. 

Then you can look at software.  Make sure, first of all, that your software works with the output your camera produces.  You can use what’s already on your computer (Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie) but you wil eventually want to do something that program can’t do.  There lots good programs for under $100 – check out http://www.videomaker.com/article/14142?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email&utm_content=tip_enews_2009_09_3&utm_campaign=traffic for a recent review.   The cool thing is that many vendors offer “trial version” downloads, usually for a month or so.

And finally, if you want to do decent work, strongly suggest a tripod and an external mike.  Even if you don’t use an external mike to record video, a decent USB mike will be useful for voiceovers during editing.  Strangely, I have found the mike that comes with the video game “Rock Band” to be a pretty decent mike.  The computer mikes I have tried pick up too much hiss and pops.

Now all that’s needed is your own creativity.  I’m afraid I can’t help you there 🙂

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A Video Contest to Support the Troops!

Posted on September 16, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

After some recent small successes, we’re taking a shot at the eCompliments video contest offers a grand prize of $10,000 for the highest-rated video (as voted by the public) that compliments any person, place, thing, business, organization…you get the picture. As of this writing we’ve got 90 votes, behind the front-runner with well over 1,000 (how do they DO that???). You have to admit the winning video (Complimenting Strangers) is pretty clever though. These guys run a YouTube channel that has a quarter MILLION subscribers. Mediocre Films or something. And the troops (my topic) are falling less into favor these days – but hopefully not that much!. We’ve agreed to donate ALL of our winnings to a deserving military charity: The Fisher House, and thanks to some troop supporters our there on Twitter and elsewhere we have managed to scrape our way up from 28th place, to (almost) 8th! Which is a good thing, because every day that passes, another contestant is dropped from the bottom.

Some folks have reported problems in voting, but be persistent. I couldn’t register the first couple times around either (of course I voted for myself!). But I guess the registration keeps folks honest.

A bit about the video:  it’s a collection of imagery I took over the course of a 6-month deployment to Afghanistan, back when things were a little safer.  I wanted to solute all 42 nations’ troops, but unfortunately I was there with US Forces at the time so that’s what I got.  Lately when I go to Afghanistan we don’t get out so much to get such great shots.  My daughter narrates the script we put together to try and get our sentiments out in the 60 seconds we are given, and then at the end I made up the music, recording multiple tracks with a guitar – and an (!) accordion.  I think it sounds kind of patriotic, borrowing from a few well-known tunes 🙂

Hopefully you have a moment to give your support.  Although we have a long climb ahead of us, we’re not quite ready to give up! So if you have a moment, check out: Salute to the Troops in Afghanistan; and it only takes a couple of clicks and a confirmation on your email account to give us a vote.  A vote for this video is a vote closer to $10,000 (after taxes) for Fisher House!

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In search of raw materials…

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

Those of us who aspire to make video on a budget that is significantly less than, say $100 million have our own challenges.  One of these is finding raw materials – legally – to incorporate into our work.  Music is the obvious shortcoming- unless you’re also a songwriter and musician, you probably can’t afford to pay the prices you’d like in order to practice your craft.   But what about sound effects?  Stock video?  Even with the growth of low(er) cost licensing sources, you almost have to be a copyright lawyer to navigate all the fine print!  Challenges include:

– Maybe it’s possible to get permission to use music, even for a small fee – but determining who owns the music is often tricky.  Using your own performance of a song someone else has written won’t work.

– Depending on where the video will end up, the “strings” attached in the licensing scheme may have unforeseen consequences.  Are you using something with a “creative commons” license?  If so, that means your derivative product – i.e. your video, has to have the same license.  Are you willing to do that?  If so, you might try a couple of my favorites: Jimmy Gelhaar or Kevin Macleod’s sites.

– photos and video are even trickier, as they’re more prevalent on the ‘net.  Think it’s up for grabs because it’s already posted on an internet site for all to see?  Think again!

Fortunately there are options.

– Some video editing programs include “sample music” that you are free to use.  Be sure and check the fine print!

– There is music in the “public domain” you can use.  This can vary by country, so a little research is needed.  Whose laws apply?  But many classical pieces fit in this category.

– If you’re really into video editing, there are sites that sell music – often on CD – that you are free to use as you wish.  One such site (no endorsement by NATO implied) is Digital Juice.  There are others!  Some examples of sites that provide free music and / or sound effects are:

And if you’re looking for generic footage to integrate into your video, you might check out this helpful post from VideoMaker magazine – they list “9 of the best public domain video resources.”

Good luck, and happy editing!

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Another Contest!

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

While eagerly awaiting results of the $25,000 prize for TaxSlayer.com’s video contest (I’m not holding my breath) I entered 3 videos in the Lowe’s Spring Dream video contest. Sadly, they only accepted 2. Check out the site at http://www.youtube.com/lowes, and select “gallery.” There are 5 categories and 6 available themes, and each category will be awarded an awesome prize package from Lowe’s. Voting starts May 16, not clear on exactly how this is going to work. But every YouTube user can vote once a day!

The TAZM entries are below – the first two were accepted by Lowe’s, the third not. No idea why not – I think it’s kind of lame that they don’t tell you, too!

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TAZM Pictures has entered a video contest!

Posted on April 17, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

Whether you want to use our services or not, we can sure use your support in a YouTube video contest!  TAZM Pictures has entered two videos in a contest for Taxslayer.com that carry a grand prize of $25,000.  Winning this contest will help us improve the kinds of services we can offer with our young business!  The top twenty videos, as determined by RATINGS, will go into a pool from which TaxSlayer will select a final winner.  If you have a YouTube account, be sure and rate our videos!

Our entries are:

and

Thanks for your support!

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The importance of music

Posted on April 17, 2009 by Tom (Admin)

Music can be the make-or-break element in any video product.  The skill with which this tool is wielded can make all the difference.

For example, a trip to YouTube or other video sites will reveal a number of homemade videos in which the creator obviously just chose a piece of music that he or she likes, without considering its relevance to the content, or its role in creating the mood of the piece.  In other cases, music choice may be more appropriate, but the images are not synchronized to the rhythm of the music, or splashy transitions interfere with a calm piece of music.  The music you choose, and the way you apply it, can help create emotions, guide the pace and tone of the images, or do all sorts of other things.  Imagine imagery of your kids playing in a pool on a summer day, slowed down just a bit, and the sound replaced by dreamy music.  This technique will only enhance the effect with time – years later it may bring a tear to your eyes!

Unfortunately, copyright can be the source of major headaches.  Maybe you want to make a video that incorporates your favorite song from that period in your life.  Often the musician will have no objection – but the labels are struggling with declining music sales and they persist in the notion that your use of “their” music further detracts from sales rather than creating interest.  How often have you watched a movie and then paused through the credits to find out what that really great song was you heard in one of the scenes?

If you make a home video that uses commercial music, the “copyright police” are unlikely to come after you.  However, if you decide to publish the video on YouTube, or worse, use commercial music in a web video that promotes your business, you can wind up in hot water.  Fortunately there are a number of “royalty-free” sites on the internet (use the search term “royalty free music”) whose creators will allow you to download their music and use it any way you wish.  Typically there’s just one minor catch:  they tend to be “copylefted” – copyrighted under the “Creative Commons” movement.  Usually this means you can use the music – even burn it to CDs and sell it for a profit – but any derivative work must be released under the same “copyleft.”  And you typically have to give credit for the music – a small price to pay for someone who has offered his or her creative talent to support yours.  Check the creator’s web site to ensure you fully understand their licensing rules.

So great – you’ve got all this music to choose from now!  The catch I referred to earlier is that no matter how much of the creative work in the finished product is yours, a video that incorporates Creative Commons licensed music can never be fully yours.  You can’t sue someone if they use your video for their own purposes or “mash it up” into another product.  Something to bear in mind.

If you’re thinking of entering your work in a video contest, this can be an issue.  Read the fine print in the contest rules – often entering the contest means you will have to give up your rights to the work, and transfer these rights to the contest sponsor.  No problem right?  Unfortunately, you don’t have the right to transfer the license for your Creative Commons music, because of the requirement to maintain the same “copyleft”!  So use royalty-free music with care, and don’t get disqualified on a technicality.

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