Filmmakers, it's time to shoot something! First-timers, old-timers and everyone in-between, this is the place to sign up for The DV Challenge and see what you can do. It's fun, fast, friendly, and it's free! Doesn't get any better than that.

Challenge starts Thursday, May 19 and films must be submitted to Vimeo or YouTube by midnight PDT on Sunday, June 5. That gives you eighteen days from the time you get the theme to run with it and make something great.

Sound like fun? Then do it! Let's make DVC 20 the best one yet!

EDIT: For those of you who are new to the Challenge and don't know the rules, please check out post #15 in this thread. And then join in the fun! :)

I am in, most definitely. Looking forward to a new challenge. Thanks Lorinda, Dylan.

Im in! Many thanks to everyone for putting the comp together as always. And thanks for the generous deadline, even though, inevitably, I'll leave the whole thing till the last minute again and be running round in a blind panic on June 4th ;)

Now I just have to think of more Lovecraftian horrors to film...

For old times sake, I will give it a shot again.

if i can find the time im in!

I'm going through difficult times, but I will participate, if I'm able to.
Or maybe for the hell of it. Anyway, I'm in. :)

Thank you for organizing this!

Sorry to hear things are bad Andris, but really looking forward to your entry after the very atmospheric piece you came up with in the uwol/dvc charity comp.

I'm in - of course, my freelance one week out of town shoot I'm sure will end up scheduled in this time period, but that will just make it more interesting. First time back since 2004 or 5 or whenver this thing started.

I'm in. To get my lame butt off the freakin' wall of freakin' shame.

My team is in! We can't wait, and we will actually have time to dedicate this go round as well!

Count me in.

I'll give it a try.

New acting class, so I am in!

Wow, quite a turn-out already. This DVC is going to rock. Henry, glad to see you on board. Andris, sorry to hear things are looking down.

Unfortunately I won't get to use some footage I recently shot, I guess. There the drama was all too real, and there were several close calls. I'll post it here anyway, just to show what a pocket camera can do in the right situation (Panasonic premieres ZS3 / TZ7 with AVCHD lite video: Digital Photography Review (http://www.dpreview.com/news/0901/09012706panasonictz7.asp)) -- it was all I had on me at the time!

Libya 2011 on Vimeo

Very compelling footage, Marc! And you're right; you couldn't use any of it in the challenge because of the rule stating that all footage has to be shot within the challenge dates.

It's probably about time we dug out the rules and posted them again. We do stretch them from time to time--mainly the total length of the film and the amount of time given to complete. But these are the basic rules:

The maximum duration of your film is three minutes, plus an additional 20 seconds for credits. You ARE allowed to use part of the additional 20 seconds for your film if you need it. There is no penalty for films shorter than 3 minutes, so you can enter with a 40 second film if you like.

Your film must open with a title reading "thedvchallenge.com presents" Please note the URL is "thedvchallenge.com" and not "dvchallenge.com" You may use any font, in order to make it congruent with the look and feel of your film.

All good stories need a good title! Your film must have a title which must show at the beginning of your film following "thedvchallenge.com presents"! Whenever you email us, please include the title. It makes life so much easier.
Please, do not make the title the same or similar to the theme. If the theme is “cats”, don’t call your movie “Cats”, “The Cats”, or “A Cat”.
Very descriptive titles are good as it helps your film stick out in the judges minds when trying to remember which film is which. Films titled “untitled” will be frowned upon.


WEB VERSIONS
You are entirely responsible for putting your film up on the web. If your film is not available for all to see at the scheduled time, it is not our responsibility and you are out of judging.

We strongly request that one version of the film you submit be on Youtube or Vimeo for quick and repeated viewing, as well as long term archiving so that people will be able to watch it for a long time after the challenge is over.

You are welcome to host your own high resolution version of your film for people who prefer to watch a higher quality version.

We will post up to a total of three versions so the audience has several viewing options.

Please do not post links to your film publicly before we officially release it in the week following the deadline. After the deadline, we encourage you to promote it as much as you can.


DEADLINE
When the theme is announced on a Thursday, the deadline is 11:59:59 PM Pacific Time the following Sunday night (10 days later). We often grant a few extra hours of leeway to those who submit it late into Sunday night, as long as the link is in our inbox by Monday morning.


CONTENT
YOUR FILM MUST BE ALL YOUR OWN MATERIAL, or you must have legal right to use it, such as copyright free music or properly licensed music. You must credit any other artists in your credit roll.

YOUR FILM MUST BE NEW AS OF THE START DATE. You cannot use video shot before the start date of the challenge. You may not submit a film that you shot previously. Some exceptions may be made for royalty free stock footage on a case by case basis. Royalty free music is excluded from this rule.

Photo montages and animation (including stop-motion) are not acceptable as submissions. Films may include photo montages and animation in limited quantity if it is critical to the story.

Visual effects of all types are allowed.

You retain 100% ownership of your film, and are 100% responsible for its content.

I'm signing up.

I hope it's an outdoor theme. Count me in.

Great footage, Marc, look forward to watching your entry as always. With this many DVC vets it should be a fun comp.

I'm so far down the wall of shame, it's redemption time.

I'm in.

I'm really excited about this, can't wait to sink my teeth (brain) into the theme :)

Good afternoon,

If the theme is doable for me I will make an effort to participate.
and I may have a friend to help me out for a change.

Yeah, very much I hope the theme will be doable for me too!
Two of my team are in a hospital right now, so I'm short in hands.

If the theme is doable...

Yeah, very much I hope the theme will be doable...

Doable is kind of an odd theme, you guys, but we will see.

Kidding! :)

Sounds like fun. I'm in.

I'll try and unshackle myself from the wall for this one.

AHHhhhh!


Doable as a theme, now wouldn't that be intriguing!!! LOL

Actually I really mean doable by a one man team, MOI !

I hate waiting for the themes!!!

I'm in! This time for the purpose of wining...or how do you spell that, whining? :) Whichever comes first.

Ive been on the wall of shame a few too many times, I'm in

Hi Lorinda, I have missed quite a few, but I am back in. SIgn me up!

I'm in if I can swing the time (and have a decent idea - or an indecent idea and a few drinks)

Sounds fun!

...a decent idea - or an indecent idea and a few drinks)
Looks like you've come to the right contest, Royston...that sounds like someone else I know around here. ;)

If I counted right we've got 21 so far, which means if no one ends up on the wall we'll have a heck of a round. Which also means we need more folks jumping in--so sign up and join the fun!

p.s. Good to see you back, Bruce! :)

I'm back.

Just finished a 96 minute feature film done in one shot over 3 locations. It'll be nice to be able to edit.

Sign me up

With as much stuff as I have to do over the next few weeks, I highly doubt I'll get off the wall of shame, but I better sign up just in case.

Off to bed...theme announced when I drag my sleepy self back here in the morning. Dylan has come up with a very interesting theme for this one, and where we may not have another challenge until fall or even winter, if you haven't signed up yet, now would be a good time to join me in saying, "I'm in." :)

This sounds like fun, I have shot tons of family stuff and really don't edit much trying to learn Vegas pro but use tsmuxer to join most of my stuff. From what I could see most people kind of know what there doing. My new canon xf100 should be in my hands tomorrow. What happens if I say I'm in and can't make a good video to post. LOL sounds like fun just checking.

What happens if I say I'm in and can't make a good video to post.
Not too much--we just nail you to the dreaded wall of shame and you don't get off until you do complete a challenge. ;)

Gerald, this is the perfect contest for you; it's simply a really fun and safe way to practice making films/videos. If you have questions as you go just ask and we'll help if we can. Come on in!

Lol I'll give it a try. I'm in, thank you.

Yay! Okay, hang on. Theme announcement coming shortly in a new thread.

And for anyone else still deciding, it looks like we'll be leaving the sign up OPEN.

Go for it Gerald! This contest is a great way to learn and a lot of fun as well :)

After a certain amount of brotherly nagging, I'm in too. Cheers for rushing my membership through. Blame Henry of this all goes horribly wrong...

I stand ready to fall on my sword ;)

Looking forward to your entry, George! Yours, too, Henry! :)

thanks, Lorinda, although I think this ones going to be a bit belt and braces ;) Good luck with your own shoot on Sunday. Can't wait to see the results.

Last minute sign up. 3PM HST.