19th Annual Video Contest Winners!

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  Grand Prize - Overkill

  Jeff Petersen
  Granger, IN
  Camcorder: Panasonic AG-HVX200
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro 5
  Prize: Sony HDR-FX1 HDV Camcorder ($3,700)

  Our grand prize winner, Overkill, features a remarkable array of special effects and a keen sense of humor. Be sure to check out our interview with producer Jeff Petersen on Episode 51 of the Videomaker Vidcast.

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  First Prize - Perception

  Jeffrey B. Teitler
  West Hartford, CT
  Camcorder: Panasonic AG-HVX200
  Prize: Trilab Digital hotcakes ($2,023)

  Another dark entry that makes you wonder what you just saw, Perception takes First Place. We interviewed Jeffrey Tetler on episode 52 of the Videomaker Vidcast.

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  Second Prize - Rozwell

  Hodges Usry
  Augusta, GA
  Camcorder: Panasonic AG-DVX100B
  Editing Software: Sony Vegas 5
  Prize: Sony Media Software Bundle (Vegas, Vision Series 1-4, Seminar Series, Cinescore) ($1,650)

  Hodges Usry is our next Short Video Contest alumni (last year's entry: Sorry) who also won a prize this year. See more about Rozwell, which was based on a true story, on episode 53 of the Videomaker Vidcast.

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  Third Prize - Creation

  Stephen Strosin
  Los Angeles, CA
  Camcorder: Panasonic AG-DVX100A
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro 3
  Prize: JVC GZ-MG505 HDD Camcorder and Share Station ($1,500)

  Strosin has fun with a custodian who makes the most out the situation after his personal audio device's batteries die. You might recall Strosin's winning entry from last year, Unplanned. Don't miss our interview with Strosin, which appears on Videomaker Vidcast epsiode 54.

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  Fourth Prize - U Gotta Choose

  Frank Farrell
  Red Bank, NJ
  Camcorder: Sony DXC-D30 and PVV3
  Prize: Avid Xpress Pro ($1,000)

  Farrell skillfully targets his audience with a message of healthy eating they may not otherwise get, with U Gotta Choose. Learn more about it in our interview with Farrell on Videomaker Vidcast epsiode 55.

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  Best Event Video - The Wedding of Lorna & William

  Danny Sayson
  Richmond, BC, Canada
  Camcorder: Sony DSR-PD150
  Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
  Prize: Studio 1 Productions 12-pack of animations ($899)

  Danny Sayson, a previous contest winner for his popular Soo Jerky commercials, is back with a great wedding video synopsis.

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  Best Drama - Taken

  Aaron & Molly Zavitz
  Omaha, NE
  Camcorder: Sony HVR-Z1U
  Prize: SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 4-Filmmaker Edition ($549)

  A dark video with a character becoming reflective over the course of being held hostage.

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  Best Music Video - SonsofDay: This Place

  Max Lopatin
  Washougal, WA
  Camcorder: Canon XL2
  Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5
  Prize: Serious Magic Ultra 2 ($495)

  This straightforward, but well-produced, music video was shot at Longview, in Washington State. Lopatin notes that the production van they used almost got stuck in the sand.

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  Best Sports Video - What Does It Take...To Be A Champion

  Jeff Walrich
  Mableton, GA
  Camcorder: Sony DCR-TRV19
  Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5
  Prize: Pinnacle Studio 10.5 ($70)

  Walrich is a coach who has produced this highlight video of one of his wrestlers. It's appropriately fast-paced and utilizes a hard-hitting soundtrack.

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  Best Student-Produced Video - Chef John Folse Culinary Institute's Recruitment Video

  Matthew Noel
  Houma, LA
  Camcorder: Canon GL2
  Editing Software: Sony Vegas 5
  Prize: Magix Movie Edit Pro 11 ($60)

  At the time of the production, Noel was a student at the Institute. His skill set has earned him a staff position at the Institute, where he now instructs food photography.

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  Best Documentary - Living Stone Village

  Andrew Lam
  San Jose, CA
  Camcorder: Canon XL1
  Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
  Prize: Provista Airlift 18 Tripod and Domke F-804 Super Satchel ($687)

  A poignant look at an agency for abandoned children in China focuses culminates with the implied adoption of a child by foster parents.

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  Best Senior Videographer - Side Effects

  Bert Kersey
  Fallbrook, CA
  Camcorder: Sony DCR-TRV900
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Express
  Prize: Pinnacle Studio Plus Titanium 10.5 ($100)

  A funny production complete with backwards effects (something he has been doing for some 30 years), Kersey shot video of himself for Side Effects. Additional rotoscoping was done in Photoshop.

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  Best Young Videographer - Striving After Wind

  Colton Davie
  Dayton, TN
  Camcorder: Canon XL2
  Prize: Nero 7 Ultra Edition ($100)

  This short video was originally produced for dvinfo.net's DV Challenge, a one-week contest.

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  Best Action Video - Mokele-Mbembe

  Clint Loveness
  Malibu, CA
  Panasonic AG-DVX100
  Camcorder: Adobe Premiere 6.5
  Prize: Photoflex FlexDrop 2 Chromakey Panel ($494)

  Two opportunities came together for Loveness - A chance to use CGI along with the availability of a great location. Out of this comes this teaser trailer.

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  Best Animation - Pencilman Meets Pencilgirl

  Sean Sanczel
  Tampa, FL
  Animation software: Maxon Cinema 4D
  Prize: Zaxwerks ProAnimator ($695)

  Another entry to Sanczel's Pencilman series (He's Got a Point was shown on the Take 20 segment of Videomaker Vidcast episode 18). This time our man in yellow has a lady!

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  Best Avant-Garde Video - Resonance

  Craig Givens
  Haltom City, TX
  Camcorder: JVC GZ-MG70U
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro HD
  Prize: Glidecam 4000 Pro Camera Stabilizer ($499)

  This very interesting video included compositing performed with Apple Motion.

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  Best Corporate Video - Stewy's Skate Park

  Brock Suska
  Waconia, MN
  Camcorder: Canon GL2
  Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
  Prize: ikan V7000 LCD Monitor ($349)

  A departure from the usual cut-and-dried corporate video, Stewy's Skate Park adds in some pop-up text to highlight certain features of the park. Approximately 4 hours of location shooting add to the video.

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  Best Religious Video - A Song for the Wounded

  Andy Huber
  Castroville, TX
  Camcorder: Canon GL2
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Express 2
  Prize: Avid Liquid 7 ($500)

  A Song for the Wounded was shot at a local church, and utilized a chair to execute the dolly shots.

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  Best Commercial or Public Service Announcement - Laundry Line

  Tricia Hoffman
  Boise, ID
  Camcorder: Canon GL2
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro
  Prize: Azden 200ULH system ($875)

  An elegantly simple commercial for a cable system's public access channel shows that you don't need a lot of ingredients to put together a compelling announcement that will get noticed.

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  Best Comedy - Baby Feeder

  Merrick Bahar
  Woodbury, NY
  Camcorder: Sony DCR-VX1000
  Editing Software: Newtek Video Toaster
  Prize: Pinnacle Studio MediaSuite Titanium 10.5 ($130)

  A convenience product of sorts for new parents (though we certainly hope it never makes it onto the shelves of your local ultra-mart), Baby Feeder delivers some honest laughs.

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  Honorable Mention - Dixie Dirt-Boulevards

  Brandon M. Ward
  Knoxville, TN
  Camcorder: Canon XL1 (also used an Elmo Super 8 camera)
  Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro
  Prize: Pinnacle Mobile Media Organizer ($50)

  This music video for regional band Dixie Dirt includes some great color effects and very clean audio.

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  Honorable Mention - Georgia Gas

  Ben Rawnsley
  Plant City, FL
  Prize: Pinnacle Mobile Media Converter ($30)

  An animated PSA created on spec, Georgia Gas suggests some quick but valuable tips on cutting your energy usage in 30 seconds.

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  Best Educational/Instructional Video - Alien Earths

  Brad McLain, Lisa Curtis and Paul Dusenbery
  Boulder, CO
  Camcorder: Canon XL2
  Editing Software: Adobe Premiere
  Prize: Miraizon Cinematize 2 DVD Extraction Software ($70)

  A unique trailer for a traveling exhibit (www.alienearths.org) used kids from a local theater troupe for talent, and also includes some NASA assets.