Find Beauty Challenge

Justina Chen Headley, local author of three excellent works of YA Fiction (Nothing But the Truth [and a few white lies]; Girl, Overboard; North of Beautiful) has announced a contest in honor of her newest title, North of Beautiful!



From Justina's blog:

Tell the world what you find to be Truly Beautiful! Just upload a 90-second video describing what real beauty means to you...and you could win yourself an iTouch! PLUS, for every uploaded video, I'll donate $10 (up to $1,000) to Global Surgical Outreach, an amazing group that helps kids with cleft lips and palates in the third world.

Here's what to do:

1. Record a 90-second video essay about what's truly beautiful to you!
   
2. Upload the video onto YouTube.
   
3. Then...send a link to north@marthabee.com. (Martha Brockenbrough--tech guru and my friend of much wonderosity--will link your video to the North of Beautiful YouTube channel.)
   
4. Tell all your friends to RATE your video.

The Official Rules for the NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL: FIND BEAUTY CHALLENGE:

1. The Top 5 videos will be chosen by YOU based on the most views and highest ratings. So be sure to tell all your friends to vote for you! Any ties will be broken by the North of Beautiful team.
   
2. The North of Beautiful team will score the five finalists on A) 40 percent emotional appeal (humor, pull-on-the-heartstrings, incites activism, etc.); B) 40 percent content (clean, widespread appeal across audiences, plot – if applicable, scriptwriting – if applicable); and C) 20 percent professionalism (smooth transitions, stable video, non-jarring editing cuts, constant audio levels).
   
3. All videos must contain original content. Your entry indicates you understand this and have the legal rights to distribute your video.
   
4. Any videos deemed inappropriate by the North of Beautiful team will be removed. Please don't upload anything that wouldn't, say, be shown on television during prime-time hours, or anything you wouldn't want to watch with your first-grade teacher. So no nudity, profanity, or racial slurs.
   
5. The contest will run from 12:01 a.m. Feb. 1, 2009 until 11:59 p.m. Mar. 30, 200. Anything submitted before or after the deadline can't be considered.
   
6. Justina will donate $10 for every uploaded video (for a maximum of $1,000) to Global Surgical Outreach to help fund facial surgeries for kids in the third world.
   
7. The Find Beauty Challenge is open to people over 14.
   
8. The Grand Prize winner will receive one iPod Touch. 3 runners up will receive fabulous gifts, such as an autographed collection of Justina's novels, other free books, etc."

C-SPAN StudentCam

Like making movies? How about documentaries?

Want a chance at winning $250-$5,000?

From their website:

"This Year's StudentCam Topic:
A message to the new President:

What is the most urgent issue for the new president to address after taking office, and why?

Students are asked to create a short (between 5 and 8 minutes) video documentary that explores an issue of national significance that they believe is in need of urgent attention from the new president of the United States.

Your documentary should include more than one point of view. YOU MUST USE C-SPAN PROGRAMMING TO ENHANCE YOUR DOCUMENTARY. Videos that do not use C-SPAN programming will be disqualified."

They are also on FaceBook.

Good Luck!

Half-Blood Prince International Teaser Trailer *NEW*

I'm completely in love with the last bit between Harry & Hermione!



We blogged the last trailer, if it's slipped you mind.

King of the Macabre

So, if good ol' Edgar Allan Poe (you know him, right?), were alive today, he would be approaching his 200th birthday. If you've got some extra time on your hands or have been looking for an excuse to get in front of (or behind) the video camera, here's a great opportunity to wear a lot of dark clothing, dramatic makeup and surprising red accents (or am I just talking about my Halloween Costume?):

"Help Edgar Allan Poe celebrate his 200th birthday! READ magazine is creating an electronic Poe experience that calls for your genius. All students of literature (age 18 and younger) are welcome. What do you know of this master of macabre? On January 19, 2009, the oft disturbed writer will be 200! Surely that's reason enough to wish him well? The deadline for this Weekly Reader exclusive video contest is November 21, 2009. Respond with your ghoulish video tribute. Some images that might inspire you: ravens, floorboards, beating hearts, Baltimore, horror, Lenore, red death. 3-5 winners will receive publication of their Poe video tribute in READ magazine's electronic issue, a monetary reward, and lots of Poe goodies! Upload your video tributes here."

Here's one to inspire you. Personally, I think it's hilarious. But maybe that's just me again... hmm.

You on MTV?

I'm getting a little over-excited about this whole Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist movie (watch the trailer here), I have to tell you. And after reading Rachel Cohn's newest book (You Know Where to Find Me) I looked up her site and found out about this:

"MTV Wants to Know... Have you had one crazy night you'll never forget? Add Nick or Norah as a friend and upload a fan video with your story. The four fans with the best stories will be featured on-air, in MTV: This Movie is Me: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist promos!"

So yeah. Make a vid. Upload it to their site. You might just find yourself, and your story, ON MTV.

Wow.

Redefining the commercial "experience"

MTV expands "podbusting" techniques to keep viewers engaged through the commercial breaks


It used to be that the commercial break during a television show was the time to get things done - use the bathroom, grab a bite to eat, or get a bit of homework finished. MTV Networks wants to change that attitude and keep YOU, the viewer, glued to your seat through the commercials and soaking in the messages about which products you should buy.

How are they doing this? By blurring the lines between advertising and entertainment ~

At its upfront, MTV will be telling advertisers that these techniques — which are called “podbusting” because they break up commercial pods with content that is almost indistinguishable from the entertainment programming — have greatly enhanced viewer engagement with the commercials and their retention of the ads’ messages.


I'm not so sure I like this trend...what do you think?