Production Types
Detailed project Information
The sponsor will need to categorize the project by selecting a Production Type and Project Objective. Sponsors who need help categorizing an project are encouraged to contact the GSMF co-chairs. We retain the right to re-categorize entries if needed. Definitions of the Production Types and Purposes follow:
Production Types
Copyright
Please refer to the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia for copyright guidelines. Under the Fair Use Guidelines, only a portion of copyrighted material is permissible. Please Note: Under the portion limitations, only 30 seconds of a copyrighted piece of music is allowed in a media project. If a media project contains a larger portion of copyrighted material than the portion limitation allows, signature of the copyright holder is required.
Length of Production
Entries may be as long as producers deem fit. Judges will view as much of the entry as needed to ensure a fair appraisal of the work (typically 7 minutes). Title and credits should be at the beginning of each project. Please review the Judging Criteria for more information.
Production Teams
Entries may be produced by an individual student, a group, a class, or a club. The names of all students and teachers who participated in creating the project should be included on the project form. DO NOT INCLUDE LAST NAMES OF ANY STUDENT PARTICIPANT in the project.
About My Project Information (Now included in Digital Registration Form)
GSMF judges feel they can make a better evaluation of a media project if they have some background information and understand the project from the students' point of view. The student will have the opportunity to provide answers to the following questions for each project:
- What inspired you to create this project?
- Describe the steps you took to create your production (How long did it take you to create?).
- What would you like the judges to know about this project?
- What challenges to creating your project did you have, if any?
- What have you learned from producing this media project?
Insights from the Sponsor are also requested in for form of the following questions:
- What did you want your students to learn in the process of producing this project?
- Were there any special circumstances or constraints you would like to make the judges aware of?
Grade Levels
Sponsors will classify each project by grade level. If a group of student producers spans different grade levels, select the highest grade level.
Judging Criteria
Each project will be judged on its own merit. See the Judging Criteria.
Project Media
It is highly recommended that you test your project using a machine outside of your school's/district's network before submission. GSMF is not responsible for lost, damaged or non-functioning entries.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED AS JUDGING RUBRIC FOR GSMF
Each project will be judged on its own merit.
Judges will use the criteria below to evaluate entries.
Judges will view as much of the entry as needed to ensure a fair appraisal of the work.
The sponsor will need to categorize the project by selecting a Production Type and Project Objective. Sponsors who need help categorizing an project are encouraged to contact the GSMF co-chairs. We retain the right to re-categorize entries if needed. Definitions of the Production Types and Purposes follow:
Production Types
- Live Action (includes Video Podcasts) – Full motion productions such as dramas, comedies, documentaries, commercials, news shows, talk shows, interviews, instructional presentations, etc. These productions generally will have on-screen talent in the form of actors, instructors, hosts, and/or narrators. A computer may be used for title, credits and overlays, and may be used in the editing process. Such projects are still “Live Action”.
- Animation – An Animation includes drawn images, clay models, and/or real-life models that are animated to create the illusion of movement. If a piece integrates live action and animation, it falls under the animation production type. Famous examples of integrated animation are the 1945 Gene Kelly film Anchors Aweigh and 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
- Sequential Stills-Regular – A Sequential Stills production is a series of images with text, music, video clips and/or narration added. The order that the stills are viewed is fixed by the producer. Text, music, video clips and/or narration may be added. Often, sequential stills pieces are created in slideshow software like Microsoft PowerPoint.
- Sequential Stills Class Project - K-5 Only - This is a special form of Sequential Stills (see description above) where a teacher provides more guidance to the student(s). For example, entries are classified as Sequential Stills Class Projects when a teacher structures a template and the students produce the content. This production type is intended for younger students just learning how to create media projects.
- Electronic Picture Book – These projects must be original student work that has been scanned into slideshow software or original student artwork that has been created on a computer and imported into some type of slideshow software. (An author page may include a commercially produced school picture of the student.)
- Electronic Photographic Essay – These projects are a slideshow presentation that involves the organization of a number of original photographs on a single theme. Titles and captions may be used.
- Interactive Stills – An Interactive Stills production includes images that are viewed in an order chosen by the viewer. Interactive Stills use navigation buttons and/or menus to enable the viewer to select a path. Text, music, video clips and narration may be incorporated into an Interactive Stills production.
- Website – A website is similar to an Interactive Stills however, it must be available on the Internet until November of the festival year. A live URL must be provided. Important note: A “site map” must be included inside the project envelope. (It may be in either a flow chart or table of contents format that gives the judges information on bringing up the website.)
- Audio Podcast – A podcast is a digital audio program that can be downloaded and played on a computer or digital audio player. A podcast can be a stand-alone item or one of a series, though only one of the series should be submitted. Files should be in mp3 or mp4. RSS files are not required.
All podcast entries must be available for download from the Internet (a live URL must be provided). Enhanced podcasts with images are accepted but will be considered equally with standard podcasts. Video podcasts should be categorized as Live Action. - Project Objectives
- Instructional – The purpose of an instructional piece is to teach something. This goes beyond simply presenting facts. Examples include: tutorials, teaching tools, and interactive games with assessment.
- Informational – The purpose of an informational piece is to inform the audience but not persuade opinions. Informational pieces could briefly cover multiple topics or focus on one or two. Examples include: News Programs, Biographies, Community Calendars, and Personal Websites.
- Documentary – The purpose of a documentary is to document an actual event or topic beyond the scope of a typical news story. It should reflect serious research and present facts objectively without fictional matter.
- Persuasive/PSA – The purpose of a persuasive piece is to present an idea, product, concept, organization or individual in a credible way, so as to change public opinion and/or encourage audience approval, support or participation. Examples include: Advertising, Public Service Announcements, and Movie Trailers. Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are 30 to 60 second messages designed to change public opinion, actions, or feelings.
- Story – The purpose of a story piece is to tell a story, whether serious or lighthearted, fictional or non-fictional. Examples include: Comedies, Dramas, and Student/Family Experiences.
- Entertainment – The purpose of a piece in this category is to entertain and/or amuse the audience in a format other than telling a story. Examples include: Music Videos, Variety Shows, Interactive Games, and Game Shows.
Copyright
Please refer to the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia for copyright guidelines. Under the Fair Use Guidelines, only a portion of copyrighted material is permissible. Please Note: Under the portion limitations, only 30 seconds of a copyrighted piece of music is allowed in a media project. If a media project contains a larger portion of copyrighted material than the portion limitation allows, signature of the copyright holder is required.
Length of Production
Entries may be as long as producers deem fit. Judges will view as much of the entry as needed to ensure a fair appraisal of the work (typically 7 minutes). Title and credits should be at the beginning of each project. Please review the Judging Criteria for more information.
Production Teams
Entries may be produced by an individual student, a group, a class, or a club. The names of all students and teachers who participated in creating the project should be included on the project form. DO NOT INCLUDE LAST NAMES OF ANY STUDENT PARTICIPANT in the project.
About My Project Information (Now included in Digital Registration Form)
GSMF judges feel they can make a better evaluation of a media project if they have some background information and understand the project from the students' point of view. The student will have the opportunity to provide answers to the following questions for each project:
- What inspired you to create this project?
- Describe the steps you took to create your production (How long did it take you to create?).
- What would you like the judges to know about this project?
- What challenges to creating your project did you have, if any?
- What have you learned from producing this media project?
Insights from the Sponsor are also requested in for form of the following questions:
- What did you want your students to learn in the process of producing this project?
- Were there any special circumstances or constraints you would like to make the judges aware of?
Grade Levels
Sponsors will classify each project by grade level. If a group of student producers spans different grade levels, select the highest grade level.
Judging Criteria
Each project will be judged on its own merit. See the Judging Criteria.
Project Media
It is highly recommended that you test your project using a machine outside of your school's/district's network before submission. GSMF is not responsible for lost, damaged or non-functioning entries.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED AS JUDGING RUBRIC FOR GSMF
Each project will be judged on its own merit.
Judges will use the criteria below to evaluate entries.
Judges will view as much of the entry as needed to ensure a fair appraisal of the work.
- Creativity/Originality: Provides fresh, interesting insights into the subject of the production.
- Organization/Purpose: Shows evidence of planning and choice through all parts of the production as it focuses on achieving the program’s purpose.
- Continuity/Structure: Shows that the information or story is paced and developed in a way that keeps viewers interested and helps them understand the meaning.
- Relevancy/Importance: Will anyone care about the content of the production? Is the subject or idea big enough to sustain the entire program?
- Use of Available Resources: What software and equipment were used
- Clarity/Universality/Meaning: Could anyone understand it? Did it tell a unified story or message that provides an insight into the subject or the human condition?
- Energy/Emotion: Does the program heighten viewer attention and interest? Does the program touch human emotions or feelings?
- Residue: When the program is over, does it leave a meaning with the viewer more general or beyond the specific presentation or story you told.
- Technical Quality: Audio, lighting, exposure, camera techniques, composition, special effects, titles, appropriateness of technique, utilization of available equipment, and overall technical quality.
- General Effectiveness: An overall evaluation of the production based on the above points combined with the considered judgment of the evaluator.