Season

Videos should feature a significant innovation in an energy source or application; display freshness and originality; and have a pleasing composition and drama. The spirit of the competition is for communicating science, engineering and technology for educational and journalistic purposes.

Entries will be screened for compliance with the rules and evaluated based on the following criteria:

Visual Impact: The video successfully displays the energy innovation and the science behind it. The entry demonstrates artistic talent and use of the fundamentals of video design.

Effective Communication: The video successfully explains the innovation and the science behind it effectively and clearly. The entry exhibits sound knowledge and application of the energy innovation and reflects accurate science, engineering, or technological principles. The presentation is clear and all of the parts are integrated.

Freshness/Originality: The video is unique and uses creative video techniques and/or resources to illustrate the energy innovation and/or to tell the story. It has an individual voice, vitality and energy

HOW TO SUBMIT A VIDEO

It’s easy.  You can just use your account on youtube or vimeo.  Upload your video there, then copy the embed code into our submit form.  (If you don’t have an account, they’re easy to create. Here are the links: YouTube, Vimeo)

A FEW MORE SUGGESTIONS ON PRODUCING AN “ENERGY INNOVATION” VIDEO THE JUDGES WILL LOVE:

Telling the Story:

Stay focused! Ever hear of an elevator speech? It’s an art form! Communicate your idea smartly and succinctly, as if someone is listening to you during a quick elevator ride! Your video needs to communicate one idea really well! Think beginning, middle, and memorable end!

Be clever! Grab your audience right from the start! If you’re channel surfing you know that a TV show has about a nanosecond to either lure you in or bore you into moving on. So keep it moving! Think more “show and tell,” and less narration.

Be safe in whatever you are shooting.

Video Quality

You don’t have to buy or rent an expensive camera. But your mobile phone video won’t cut it.
Your video should be at least 640 x 480 pixels in size. If you can get at least 1280 x 720 pixels, that’s much better.

Audio Quality

Your video may rock, but if we can’t hear the people you interview or your voice- over because it is drowned out by background music … game over.

Lighting

Outdoors, good. Indoors with focused lighting, also good. Try to stay away from fluorescent lights in big rooms. And you’ll know when you look through the viewfinder: If features are dark and grainy, throw on some more light or change locations.

Image is Everything

Ever watch a live local news story and some idiot is jumping around behind the reporter making faces or yelling stuff? If you don’t want the audience drawn to that kind of distraction, take control of your setting. Make sure everything in your shot is meant to be there, so the judges will focus on your message. Don’t let your audience get distracted by “stuff” that doesn’t belong.

Steady, there

Keep your shots steady and when it’s appropriate, USE A TRIPOD! Seasick judges are not happy judges! This is NOT to say every frame of video has to be static! But when there’s movement, make sure you want the shot to look that way.

Don’t even think about…..

Just grabbing any random video you see on an Internet site and using it. The judges will need to know the video is yours, or that you have permission to use it. If you have questions take a closer look at the Terms of Service.

Judges

Judges will include representatives from The National Science Foundation (NSF), Discover Magazine, NBC News, and Planet Forward.