(Note: DVDs and checks should be mailed to PACTV, 4 Collins Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360. Please write "Contest Entry" on the package!)
Judging is based on six basic criteria: Content, Technical Quality, Creativity, “Local-centricity”, Style, and Overall Impact. Each of the 20 categories will be split into “professional” and “non-professional” divisions and judged separately, except for student programming, which is “non-professional” only. There are a total of up to 39 competitive categories. In addition, there will be four Outstanding Achievement Awards to PEG stations, based on budget, and a PEG Advocacy Videos category with two sections, one for short videos and one for longer ones.
1. Submit all entries in DVD-R format only – Entries must be maid online by August 12 at 5PM EDT. DVDs must be mailed (postmarked) by August 15, 2011. Please send by priority mail.
2. Entries may be any length, however judges are only required to watch 15 minutes of each entry. You may submit any part of a program or programs: such as the beginning and end, or beginning and middle, etc of a single program OR three to four segments from a series program, not exceeding 5 minutes for each segment (clearly delineate between each segment with a slate or fade). You must not re-edit the segments for the purpose of this contest, they must appear as they were originally cablecast. If you are cueing an entry to a specific part of the tape, it is your responsibility to convey information to the judges either on the video or with clearly noted supporting documentation as to the context of the cued excerpt. Entries will not be returned, do not send masters.
3. Outstanding Achievement for PEG Stations entry rules: This professional-only award recognizes access organizations in the NE Region. Please submit a 20-30 minute compilation tape with at least 10 different show excerpts of at least 2 minutes in length (clearly delineate between each segment with a slate or fade)! IMPORTANT: along with the video entry, state (1) if your organization is P, E, and or G or all that apply, (2) the number of staff, full and part-time, and (3) your annual budget for the entire operation (not just P, E, or G). We encourage support materials for the Access Center Compilation entries--be creative--presentation counts.
4. All videos submitted must have been wholly produced and cablecast on an PEG channel between September 1, 2010 and August 12, 2011.
5. Each DVD must have the ENTRY NUMBER (assigned upon completion of the on-line entry form), CATEGORY and P or NP (Professional or Non-Professional) written directly on it in PERMANENT MARKER. Printed support materials are also accepted for each video entry (reviews, promo materials, support letters, newspaper articles, etc.) .
6. Each entry must be paid by credit card on-line or accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. $25 for Alliance members or $35 for non-Alliance members, for each entry. New special category entry fee is $0.
Please make all checks payable to:
Alliance for Community Media, Northeast Region
If you “don’t know” if you are an Alliance member, go to www.alliancecm.org and check the members database.
Mail entries to: PACTV, 4 Collins Avenue, Plymouth, MA 02360
7. In each category, professional and non-professional entries will be judged separately. Is YOUR video a PROFESSIONAL or NON-PRO Entry?
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY
____ total cash budget for video project exceeded $200
____ I used equipment not usually available to other access producers
____ a crew member other than myself was paid
____ I make my primary income in the video media industry
____ in the past year I was paid for work on other media productions
____ in the past year a crew member was paid for a media production
____ I am an access center staff member, government access employee or media educator
If you checked three or more of these criteria, you have a professional entry
“Non-professional” means community volunteer producers, unpaid, unaffiliated.
8. All winners will be notified by mail shortly after October 3, 2011 . A list of contest winners will be posted on the ACM-NE Website – www.acm-ne.org – by October 23, 2010. All awards will be presented at the video ceremony on Nov. 11, 2011 in Springfield, MA.
9. Category awards will be in the form of engraved plaques for first place, and certificates for second and third place.
Reasons for Disqualification
- DVD-R that are not viewable for technical reasons. Judges will make every effort to view your entry. Please check your DVDs before they leave your possession.
- An entry that clearly violates a specific requirement of the category in which it is entered.
- Improper emendation for the purpose of this contest. Program or excerpts of programs should be entered in this contest as
they were originally cablecast. - Incorrect payment, or postmark of your entry after 8/12/2011: This is a REAL deadline, there will be no extensions really! Enter early and often!
- Failure to declare PROFESSIONAL or NONPROFESSIONAL status accurately
Note: No refunds will be made for any entry that is disqualified, or if any other error is made by the producer or submitter of any entry.
Indemnification and Rights
- The Alliance for Community Media, Northeast Region is not responsible for lost or damaged DVDs. To protect yourself, please
do not send masters. DVDs will not be returned. - All decisions made by the judging panels and the Northeast Region Festival Committee of the Alliance are final.
- To promote community media, the Northeast Region of the Alliance retains the right to distribute the winning programs on a
nonexclusive basis for a period of two (2) years. - The producer of the work is responsible for obtaining all approvals, clearances, licenses, etc., for materials contained in the entry and will provide such clearances upon request.
To volunteer to be a festival judge, or for answers to questions, contact:
Nancy Richard at Plymouth Area Community Television (PACTV)
at nrichard@pactv.org.
For more information about the ACM and ACM Membership, please go to the ACMs website, www.alliancecm.org.
The ACM-Northeast Region includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York. The region acts as a conduit for information between the states, and organizes conferences, workshops and events to advance community media in both the states and nationally. For more information about the Northeast Region, please go to our website - www.acm-ne.org.