How To Enter

1. Click on the FAQ’s and read the Secrets to Success below. Then check out the Toolbox for the resources to help you produce a successful commercial.

2. All you will have to do is click on Post a Video and follow the directions.

3. Once your video is posted to the site, you and your friends and family will be able to vote on your favorite commercials.

Secrets to Success

If you don’t own it, you need permission to use it.

Your video entry will be disqualified if you use copyrighted material, so be sure you don’t use material you don’t own.

Example #1: Music – by ANYONE. Downloads, CD’s, MP3’s from Limewire, your friend’s band if they’re doing a song they didn’t write and compose. If they did write and compose the song, get their permission, and have them sign a release that you can find by clicking on Toolbox.

Example #2: Logos – Bottle of Coca Cola. It’s OK to show it in a glass with ice. Not OK to show the bottle of Coca Cola with the logo.

Example #3: YouTube Videos - You can’t use them if you didn’t make them. They’re not yours.

Example #4: YouTube Videos on a computer screen that happens to be in the room you’re videotaping are OK! Items in the background are generally not easily seen on video and you don’t have to worry about them. This includes PEOPLE in the background of anything you tape with your video camera.

Get permission to show people’s faces by using the release forms provided in the Toolbox

Example #1: A photo of your best friend – get both them and their parent to sign a release. You can the release you need by clicking on Toolbox.

Example #2: Your MOM is in the video. Get her to sign the release form. You can find the release you need by clicking on Toolbox.

Use a real video camera.

Your cell phone is not a real video camera. If you shoot your commercial with your cell phone, it won’t look as good as one shot with a real video camera. Your cell phone is OK, but you want this to look as good as possible so you can win, right?

Get permission to show a place of business.

Example: You’re filming in front of or in the local Chinese restaurant. Get them to sign a release form for their business.

Keep your native files.

Whatever camera you use (DVCam, MiniDV, Hi8, VHS, DVD) please keep your original files/footage. This way if you win, we can easily air your commercial.

Go for it.

Remember, you are trying to reach your peers. What would make you think twice about littering or driving with an unsecured load? How would you communicate that in 15 or 30 seconds?