Copyright

As stated in the rules of entry, all applicants must obtain appropriate copyright permission for the use of non-original material and submit a copy of the written agreement from the copyright holder with this application. The following are some guidelines to help you with this process:

1. For music, both music and performance rights are usually required. Music composed more than 75 years ago and played live or taped live by a non-professional group, as well as original music, may be free from copyright restrictions.
2. To gain permission to use a picture from a book or newspaper, write the publisher. A second letter may have to be written if the publisher obtained copyright permission from another source.
3. Plan for this process to take time. Use telephone calls to help speed up the process.

Faculty advisors may schedule time to accompany students who wish to edit their videos at the Sprague Technology Center, located at 4414 Holborn Ave., Annandale, Virginia. To make an appointment or to inquire about licensed (copyright cleared) music, please call Llexell Evangelista at 703-503-7421.

Eligibility/Criteria

1. Applicants must be students, K-12, in elementary, middle or high school, who are enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. The entries must be produced under the auspices of the student’s individual school and not an outside program. Videos produced under the auspices of internship programs are not eligible. Both individual and group efforts are acceptable as entries.
2. Fairfax County Public Schools faculty members may provide technical support as an educational forum to assist student productions.
3. Entries must be original productions, produced by Fairfax County students after March 13, 2009 (last year’s competition deadline). High School students can submit entries that were produced last year as long as the entry was produced after March 13, 2009 and they did not graduate in June, 2009.
4. NOTE: Due to the large volume of videos received, each school is limited to no more than three entries per Category.

Rules of Entry

1. The content of all entries must be appropriate for family or general audiences or the entry may be disqualified at the discretion of the judges.
2. Videos must be submitted on VHS or standard DVD format and may not exceed five minutes in length (including titles & credits).
3. Entries must be marked with the title of the production, name and telephone number of the producer, name and telephone number of the faculty sponsor and the exact length of the production.
4. Applicants must obtain appropriate copyright permission and submit a copy of the agreement for the use of any non-original material not covered in the copyright information on the back of this entry form.
5. The decision of the judges is final.
6. Videos that do not meet the eligibility criteria and follow the rules of entry will be disqualified.

Qualified Categories for Submission

These are the categories, which are listed in the registration form.

• Documentary
• Drama/Comedy
• Computer Generated
• Educational
• Music Video
• Multi-Media
• News Program
• Public Service Announcement

Any type or style of video may be entered. Awards will be determined by the judges within each Award Division (based on grade level). A first place award will be given to the overall winner within each Award Division.  In addition, second-place, third-place, and honorable mention awards may be given at the judges’ discretion.

Judging Criteria

1. Content: concept, clear objective, creativity and originality
2. Production technique: sets/effective use of location, lighting, shot composition, camera movement and editing
3. General effectiveness: interest held, appropriate length for subject and talent performance
4. Audio: quality of primary sound, appropriateness of secondary sound and sound mix
5. Graphics and special effects

NOTE: Judges of Video Fairfax are professionals from local television studios and independent video production companies.