Aaron Hughes, Caledonia, ON, Canada
Camcorder: Canon GL2
Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro
Prize: Hitachi DZHS300A DVD Camcorder

A well-shot piece with good camera angles and tight editing. Aaron uses sound effects and music quite well, changing the sounds as the mood of the video changes.

Steve Crutchfield, Oakhurst, CA
Camcorder: Sony DCR-TRV730
Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro 3
Prize: Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro HDMI capture/output card
Steve’s video of a Yosemite photographer expresses the patience photogs must have to get “just that right shot”, and the work and time it takes to achieve it.

Brian Johnson, Redmond, OR
Camcorder: Canon XL2, GL2
Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro 2
Prize: Sony Media Software bundle
An unassuming and fearless trick-or-treater proves that the old woman behind the door is nothing to worry about… or is she?

Trepedation
Eric Spink, Bronx, NY
Camcorder: Panasonic AG-DVC30
Editing Software: Apple Final Cut Pro
Prize: Varizoom MC100 Package
A fun look at haunted houses with great effect choices and music, along with plenty of choice behind-the-scenes footage.

There are a lot of video contests popping up all over the place, but we are proud to say that Videomaker was one of the first to offer this fun and challenging event. For 20 years, we’ve been inviting readers to expand their horizons, awaken their skills and work all nighters to get a 5-minute-or-less video to us by a (seemingly to some) impossible deadline. For 20 years, you’ve delivered.

As the gear gets easier to use and the skill level of our video producers becomes incredibly astute, it gets harder and harder to judge the videos every year. But after the judging began, we settled in with homemade Thai food and good company and finalized the following videos as our favorites of the 20th Annual Videomaker Short Video contest. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.