Online Video Contests

Online video contests provide a great opportunity for filmmakers to practice their craft, potentially earn money and win awards for their work. Companies often run video contests to help create viral media at little or no cost to them.

If the video contest is run well, it could be a great win-win opportunity for both filmmakers and corporations. Filmmakers get the the opportunity to work with larger companies in the hopes of winning the competition and gaining exposure, while the companies themselves, get opportunity to nurture relationships with emerging filmmakers and receive free advertising. It’s not a bad collaborative idea.

The video contest itself will create its own buzz by bringing together a large network of ambitious filmmakers as well as the filmmaker’s own network. If the company running the program really advertises their video contest well, you’ll stand a chance to gain a substantial amount of exposure by simply participating in the event.

Secondly, it’s also nice as a filmmaker not to have to come up with a new concept. If you’ve been suffering from an “ideas block”, these contests are a great way to get your creative juices flowing again. The company will likely provide you with a slogan, a prop, a theme or at least the main concept for the short film or commercial. Your job as the filmmaker is to find your creative angle within that theme and try to add as much production value to your commercial as possible, while at the same time telling the story that the company is having you set out to explore.

Let’s look at a couple of the more popular video contests that have happened recently. Louis Vuitton runs a video contest in association with Wong Kar Wai called the “Journey Awards”. They explore the theme of a “journey” and they give filmmakers the text they want associated with the visuals. All you need to do as the filmmaker, is use your imagination to best incorporate the text into a compelling visual story.

If you win either the Jury Prize or the People’s Choice Award you’ll win $25,000 and your film will be seen in Louis Vuitton stores around the world. Not only that but the jury is made up of some of the most famous filmmakers and business people working today. Wouldn’t it be an honor to have these people see your work? Here is an example of a recent winner.

I like the “Journeys” video competition because it caters to artistic expression. If on the other hand comedy or action is more your thing you might want to consider joining contests such as the Doritos video contest.

Again, this video contest allows filmmakers to compete for the top 6 positions. Each of the top six positions wins $25,000. If, after this, America votes your video as one o the top 3 contenders your video will be aired as one of the Doritos Super Bowl commercials. Not only that, but if your video gets first place on the USA Today ad meter you’ll win 1,000,000. Below you’ll find the winning video from this competition.

If you’re interested in keeping up to date with online video contests there was a website designed specifically for this need. Visit the Online Video Contests website.

Popularity: 2% [?]