And the Winner is…
Over the course of a couple of months, we received hundreds of great entries for the 2006 Videomaker/Sony Short Video contest. This was a challenging year to pick winners-the entries just keep getting better and better every year. So let’s take a look at this year’s winners!
We have uploaded all of this year’s videos to our Web site for viewing at
www.videomaker.com/community/contest-winners/2006/. Be sure to check them out!
Best Comedy – Baby Feeder
Merrick Bahar
Woodbury, NY
Camcorder: Sony DCR-VX100
Editing Software: Newtek Video Toaster
Prize: Pinnacle Studio MediaSuite Titanium ($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.
Best Commercial/PSA – 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 friend…
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.
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.
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.
Best Documentary – Living Stone Village
Andrew Lam
San Jose, CA
Camcorder: Canon XL1
Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro
Tiffen DV Video Essentials Filter Kit, Davis & Sanford Prize: Provista Airlift 18 Tripod and Domke F-804 Super Satchel ($687)
A poignant look at an agency for abandoned children in China culminates with the implied adoption of a child by foster parents.
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.
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.
Best Music Video – SonsofDay – This Place
Max Lopatin
Washougal, WA
Camcorder: Canon XL2
Prize: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
First Prize – Perception
Jeffrey B. Teitler
West Hartford, CT
Camcorder: Panasonic AG-HVX200
Prize: Trilab Digital hotcakes ($2,023)
A
nother 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.
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 53 of the Videomaker Vidcast.
Sidebar: Honorable Mentions
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.
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.
Sidebar: See ’em Online!
We have uploaded all of this year’s videos to our Web site for viewing at
www.videomaker.com/community/contest-winners/2006/. Be sure to check them out!