The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring an environmental justice video contest that challenges professional or aspiring filmmakers to create videos that capture the faces of the environmental justice movement. The Faces of the Grassroots contest is an opportunity to publicly exhibit creativity with environmental justice stories, and connect with others working to raise awareness of the movement.

“Faces of the Grassroots will help EPA expand the conversation on environmentalism and work for environmental justice,” said Charles Lee, director of EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice. “Participants can make a difference for the historically underrepresented in their community by using motion pictures to show the struggles and triumphs they have endured to advance environmental justice.”

Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or topic.
Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a community a healthier and happier place to live.

Awards will be given to the winning submissions in each category. The videos will also be featured on EPA’s Web site and may be used as public service announcements. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 8, 2010. EPA will announce winners in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Below are the categories and prize money:

Public Service Announcements (30 or 60 seconds) 1st Place – $2,500 2nd Place – $1,500 3rd Place – $1,000 Student Winner – $500 (13-18 years old)

Informational Video (3-5 minutes)
1st Place – $2,500
2nd Place – $1,500
3rd Place – $1,000
Student Winner – $500 (13-18 years old)

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html

Informational video on the contest:
http://www.epa.gov/multimedia/playercontents/video/EJVideoContest/index.html

Panasonic Broadcast is giving users of its AG-HMR10 AVCCAM handheld recorder a chance to win exciting prizes by showcasing their creative work in the new “Shoot It. Share It.” video contest. From today through June 18, 2010, HMR10 users can submit a video demonstrating their interesting use of the handheld recorder for the chance to win prizes, including the Grand Prize of a 65” Viera Plasma Television with built-in SD card slot.

Panasonic’s AG-HMR10 AVCCAM handheld recorder and the AG-HCK10 camera head allow video professionals to capture full 1920×1080 video from long distances or endless point of views. The battery-powered HMR10 records up to 12 hours of high quality HD video on a widely available 32GB SDHC card. Content can be immediately viewed on the handheld’s 3.5″ LCD screen or from an SD card slot-equipped Blu-ray player, laptop PC, plasma television or other device. With an HD-SDI in/out, the HMR10 can also serve as a standalone recorder for use with HD-SDI capable cameras, switchers and decks. Read the rest of this entry »

Reprinted from an International Documentary Association press release

From the astonishing stories of starvation, persecution, and escape from the world’s worst human rights violator to the surprising inside story of an iconic cult, the International Documentary Association (IDA) presents this year’s DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase.

Screening in Los Angeles and New York City July 31st through August 20th, 2009, IDA’s 13th Annual DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase will present 18 feature films and 10 short films, a collection of some of the best groundbreaking documentary films from around the world. DocuWeeks™ returns to the ArcLight Hollywood (6360 W. Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles) and the IFC Center (323 Sixth Avenue at West Third Street in New York City) for this annual showcase of documentary films qualifying for Oscar® consideration.

A complete schedule and additional information about each film can be found on the International Documentary Association’s website at www.documentary.org

Imagine if you made a video that was 42 seconds long, and it was part of project that included 41 other directors, who have made 41 other videos. All of which are 42 seconds long. With the likes of Mike Figgis, David Lynch, Gaspar Noe and Abel Ferrara. Well then, you’d probably end up with this video:

Which is a trailer for ONEDREAMRUSH. Check it out here

How does $1,000,000 sound for a 30 second ad? Well if you’re a major production house, it sounds like a small budget. But a cool million for an independent video producer isn’t that shabby.

All you have to do is make a 30 second commercial for Doritos, and if it’s selected, your commercial will air during the Super Bowl, where you will be on hand to watch it. And if your ad is voted the best in the Super Bowl by USA Today, they will pay you one million dollars for your trouble. The five runners up get $25,000 each.

This is by far the largest contest award that I’ve seen for user generated video. And seriously if you’re a Videomaker reader, you’ve already got an edge on 95% of the submissions they’re going to get.

Your 30 second Ad has to be submitted by November 16th, 2008 so get cracking!

Full contest details and entry guidelines can be found on the crashthesuperbowl.com website.