The challenge: 

Use your mobile device to shoot a short video that celebrates something that you or someone else  cares deeply about. Your subject in this mobile moviemaking contest could be an activity, an event, a person, a place, or a thing. Here’s an example by Irish mobile journalist Philip Bromwell:

Contest Details:

Bad news is easy to find. The media is full of reports of war, epidemics, crime, climate change, …and the occasional incoming asteroid. To survive, we need to be aware of  these dangers. But there is another side to reality. When we keep our eyes and hearts open, we discover reasons to  be excited, hopeful, and passionate. This mobile moviemaking contest is about accentuating the positive.

The number of subjects is infinite.  Is there a piece of music that you love, a friend, a hobby,  a hero,  a pet, a sport, a dream? Anything goes as long as it thrills you…and is legal.

Your video can be nonfiction, for example, a documentary, an advertisement, or a blog. Or it can be fiction, for example, a comedy, a thriller, a romance, or a music video.

The video should run five minutes or less.

The deadline is June 30, 2016.

There is NO entry free.  Prizes include video training by Larry Jordan, gear, books, and other good things to be announced in the weeks ahead.

You’ll find the online entry form HERE.

See below for the complete list of contest rules. If you have any difficulty entering, or if you have questions, write info@mobilemoviemaking.com

Contest Rules:

1. EQUIPMENT: Your entry must be shot on a smartphone, tablet, or GoPro—or a combination of mobile devices. You may edit the video using a computer or any other device.

2. DURATION: Your movie must run no more than 5 minutes including title and credits.

3. CONTENT: The video may not promote any commercial entity nor may it denigrate any racial, ethnic, gender, or religious group. In our team’s opinion the video must be rated no higher than PG13 (no nudity and no profane language of the sort bleeped on network TV shows).

4. ORIGINALITY: At least 90% of the visuals must be taken by you or your team. You may use up to 10% stock footage, for example, clips obtained from a stock footage company.

5. COPYRIGHT: You must have written permission for any copyrighted music or other protected material. You should also have written permission from any individuals who can be identified in the video. You will not be required to submit the written permissions at the time of entering your video, but you agree to send us copies of the permissions if we request them.

6. HOSTING YOUR VIDEO: Prior to submitting your entry, you must upload your video to Vimeo.com or YouTube.com and set it to “public.” We prefer Vimeo because posting there avoids commercials.

7. PRIZES: Our guest judge will choose the winners. The criteria will be originality and technical excellence.  The judge’s decision is final.

8. ELIGIBILITY: This contest is open to people of all ages and in all locations except for inhabitants of places that prohibit this kind of competition or places in which U.S. companies are prohibited from doing business. Our team, advisors, and employees of sponsors may not enter this contest. If you are not old enough to make a contract (typically under 18 years of age in the U.S.), send the name of your guardian to info@mobilemoviemaking.com along with the title of your video.

9. OWNERSHIP:  You retain all rights to your video but grant MobileMovieMaking permission to display your video on our site and on our companion sites (e.g., Facebook and our YouTube channel). You also permit us to use your video in MobileMovieMaking promotions.

10.  SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Midnight, June 30, 2016, Pacific Coast Time, USA. We reserve the right to extend the deadline by one month. Winners will be announced 30 days after the final deadline.