Commercial Film Challenge - FAQs

GENERAL FAQs:

What is the FilmEmerge Commercial Film Challenge?
It is a Filmmaking competition that matches filmmaking teams with local businesses. Filmmakers compete to see who can make the best commercial. Businesses will get a :60 second web commercial made to promote their business.

How much does it cost?
FREE for Filmmaking teams.
$145 donation from Local Businesses.

Who decides the creative direction of the commercial?
The filmmaking teams and businesses must collaborate but the filmmakers will have final creative control of the commercial.

How are the local businesses and filmmaking teams matched up?
A random drawing to match filmmakers with the registered businesses will take place the prior to start of the competition.

LOCAL BUSINESS FAQs:

What will be the delivered format of the :60 second commercial I receive?
Quicktime file, or DVD

What publishing rights do I have for the commercial?
The business owner has the right to publish the commercial on free broadcasting websites like Youtube, facebook, and their business website.

I don't want to participate in the Commercial Film Challenge, but I am interested in having a commercial made for my business. How do I go about that?
You can contact a FilmEmerge representative and we could arrange a commercial to be made for you.  The advantage to participate in the Commercial Film Challenge is that the production cost of the commercial will be significantly less expensive.

How should I prepare before meeting the filmmaking team that will shoot my commercial?
Decide what features of your business you want to show case in the commercial.

What are the requirements from the business for the making of the commercial?
The business is required to have a open line of communication with the filmmaker who is making their commercial and provide any materials to the filmmaker that would best represent the business.

FILMMAKER FAQs:

Who judges the commercials?
Three professional who work in the commercial industry will be selected to judge the commercials.

What criteria will be used to judge the commercials?
The judges will have a predetermined list for voting of commercials. The judging criteria will cover areas such as:

Concept
Is the commercial or concept unique?

Quality of Craft
Focuses on the filmmaking process and technical execution. This includes the appearance and quality of the captured image, editing, the sound design and audio integration, the performances, lighting, 
and all the aspects that account for a memorable viewing experience. Quality of Craft means more than just a pretty looking commercial and it doesn't necessitate that it be cutting edge or trendy.

Overall Experience
Demonstrating that a commercial can be more, or less, that the sum of its parts, the Overall Experience encompasses content, structure, visual design, functionality, as well as the intangibles that provoke viewer response.

What format must the commercial be submitted in?
MiniDV, Quicktime file, DVD

How will the commercial we make be promoted?
The commercial will be promoted by the business via online free websites.  If the business owner wants to use the commercial for other promotional purposes other than online websites the business owner will have to have written approval from FilmEmerge and additional cost may be required from the business.  In this case the Filmmaker will be compensated.

What are the prizes?
The filmmaking team with the best commercial will be given $500 scholarship/cash prize. 2nd place receives $100 cash. 3rd place receives $50 cash. Additional specialty recognition prizes will also be awarded. Based upon a minimum of 50 filmmakers.