Can I
submit more than one entry?
Yes! Since
this is the first year of the animation competition and we are
unable to estimate the number of entries that will be submitted, we
are allowing entrants to submit any number of animations. In the
future the animation competition may limit the number of submissions
per person.
Do I
have to use the equipment and software sold as part of set #1349,
the LEGO® Studios Steven Spielberg Movie Maker Set?
No! While
this is a wonderful set that has certainly started everyone's
creative ideas flowing, the software and camera is somewhat
limiting. In an effort to raise the production levels as high as
possible, we will allow you to use any software or equipment
available to you.
What
awards will be given?
There are
two categories and two divisions of awards for each category. The
categories are Stop-Motion Animation and Computer-Generated
Animation. The divisions are Conference Attendee Choice Awards
(ChAChA: pronounced "cha-cha") and Conference Organizers Awards
(ChO: pronounced "cho"). The organizers of the conference
(BricksWest) will select one winner from each category, and the
conference attendees will select one will from each category.
The Awards to be given have yet to be determined, but it
will most likely be a LEGO set and/or some stuff from the convention
that you cannot get without winning a category or competition. We
are even contemplating hosting your video for one year, but the
details are not yet worked out. Also, you will have bragging rights
forever that you won the 2002 BricksWest Animation Festival. Pretty
Cool!
Why
aren't the awards better?
What are
you talking about?!?! The Awards will be awesome! Something everyone
will want! I mean, afterall, you pay nothing to enter and the
conference registration (if you attend) will be a minimal expense.
Basically your only expenese is the cost of sending you animation
entries to the BricksWest Animation Festival Committee. Hopefully,
we can even find a sponsor or two that will offer up a couple copies
of their software or hardware.
What is
the minimum and maximum amount of time for the animation?
The video
may last as short as 30 seconds or as long as 300 seconds (or 5
minutes). Animations longer than 300 seconds will be dropped from
inclusion in the fesitival competition. Animations shorter than 30
seconds may be included if time and space at the BricksWest
Animation Festival permits.
What
format must I submit the animation?
We encourage
you to submit the animation on VHS (NTSC). This will allow the
organizers the simplest means of organizing and coordinating
all of the entries. However, we realize that this may pose a
significant technical or equipment issue with some, so we are
allowing the animation to be submitted in any of the formats
below:
VHS
Super VHS
Mini-DV
DV-Cam
CD-Rom
MPEG
Quicktime
DVD
Your animation regardless of format will be transferred onto
VHS (where possible) for public presentation of your animation.
It is also the organizers intention to convert all videos to
Quicktime format to have available on a computer, running in
a common area, during the convening days of the convention.
Notice: The video tapes and the computer files will not be made
available to participants at the end of the convention, so don't
go thinking that you will have a free transcription service
available to you. One organizer is doing this to enhance the
convention participants experience, and there is no way to manage
the needs of the many to convert these files from one format
to another.
Are there
age groups for the competition?
Since this
is the first year for the competition and the number of submissions
is unknown we are going to leave the competition open. If the volume
of entries is high, then the BricksWest Animation Festival
organizers may be forced to split entrants into age categories. This
will be done to be certain the competition is being fair to all age
levels, but only if a large number of entries in each category
requires it.
What is
the deadline for entries?
The
deadline for entries is January 31, 2002. All entries received that
are postmarked after this date will be considered late and will be
returned without consideration. In fact, the envelops will be
unopened and marked "Return-To-Sender."
Will my
entry or entries be returned to me?
Returning
entries require an expense on the part of the BricksWest Animation
Festival organizers. If you are willing to bare this cost then the
BricksWest Animation Festival organizers will not have a problem
returning your entries to you. In order to bare this financial
burden you must send you entries in a returnable, self-addressed
package. For example, if you use the U.S. Postal Service Priority
Mail, you must include a label with your return address and postage
for the return package of the U.S. Postal Service Priority mail.
Since the boxes and mailers are free you do not need to ship the
return Mailer or box.
If you use standard postage rates such
as first class and include your entry in a bubble wrap mailer, then
you must include a second, self-addressed bubble wrap mailer in the
original mailer with the postage included in order for the festival
organizers to return your entry. If you do not include a return
mailer and/or postage, then the entry or entries cannot be returned
to you.
Any entry received "Postage Due" will be returned
immediately. Any entry received that requires additional surcharges
to be paid by the recipient will be returned immediately. Any entry
received by the festival organizers that incurs any charges or fees
whatsoever, the payment of those fees will be required of the owner
of the entry and their property will be held until payment is
received.
Do I
need to send each entry separately through the mail?
No, the
BricksWest Animation Festival organizers will receive multiple
entries in the same package. Please be certain to clearly indicate
on each entry the required information, and attach this information
separately to each entry so as to be certain the information does
not separate from the entry during shipping. For example, a rubber
band may separate from around a video tape that is holding a typed
information sheet and entry form to the video tape. Better would be
to type the information required on an adhesive label and affix it
to the video tape and the video tape box/container.
If you
sumbit your entry on an optical disc (CD-Rom or DVD), make certain
that the optical disc contains information on it that will link it
to an entry form. DO NOT affix a label to an optical disc that
covers only a portion of the label side of an optical disc. The
reason for this is simple. A small label of square, rectangular, or
other shape will serve to unbalance a CD-Rom or DVD while it is
spinning in your drive. This is the same reason you have your tires
on your car periodically balanced. With an unbalanced CD-Rom in a CD
Drive, the information on the optical track cannot be read
consistently and will result in failure of the information (your
animation) from being displayed properly. Sometimes it will
completely make the CD unreadable. If your concerned about any
label, then write on the label side with a permanent marker as much
information as possible to distiguish you CD-Rom from another entry.
The festival organizers sincerely wish to avoid mixing the
entries amongst the entrants, and to do this, the entrant must take
responsibility for being certain their entry is permanently and
clearly marked.
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