The VidOpp Video Contest Community

Win $1,000 and have your video seen by thousands at FVAP.gov, while helping service members and American citizens overseas vote absentee. Many U.S. citizens in the military and away from home may not vote because they think it’s too hard or worry their vote won’t be counted. That’s why we want you to make a video to promote FVAP’s mission and help them — whether it be about a problem faced by absentee voters, the process itself, or the services provided by FVAP.

Your video should convey that it’s easier to cast a vote than one might think. For example, if mailed from a U.S. post office, embassy, or consulate, it’s free to send an absentee ballot hard copy — postage paid. Your video should clearly state FVAP.gov is an educational tool that makes the process easier, helping voters sort through next steps, including early registration and filling out their absentee ballots.

Requirements

Here are the categories you can enter:
1. How to use FVAP’s online FPCA and FWAB tools
2. Explain the absentee voting process and how FVAP.gov makes the process easy
3. PSA-style video geared toward American citizens (nonmilitary) living overseas
4. PSA-style video geared toward service members and their voting age dependants
5. Open category: Be creative!

You can submit as many videos as you like, but each video submitted must be designated for a specific category. For example, you can create and enter separate videos in any of the five categories listed above, but each video may be submitted to only one category. You can create more than one video to be submitted in any given category, but you can’t submit a video to compete in more than one category. You must specify when submitting each video which category you are submitting your entry for.
1. Each video must be 30 to 90 seconds in length and answer one of the questions above. Videos outside of this length requirement window will not be accepted.
2. Videos must be submitted within the time frame listed below.
3. Avoid language that is profane, violent, sexual, harassing, or that personally attacks or targets a person, group, or organization.
4. Use the FVAP.gov logo in your video. You can find the logo at: www.fvap.gov/contest.html Use of the FVAP.gov logo, or any Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) trademark, is limited to your contest video. You may not use the logo or other trademark for any other purpose or in any other context without the express written permission of FVAP.
5. Avoid violating copyright laws or using brand names or logos other than FVAP.gov’s in your video. You agree to indemnify the U.S. Government and FVAP for any claim, demand, judgment, or other allegation arising from your possible violation of someone’s trademark, copyright, or other legally protected interest in any way in your video.
6. Your video may not contain any endorsement, solicitation, commercial, or similar content advocating for or against candidates for office, political issues, services, or products.
7. Your video must be original content for this contest. Do not submit a video that has been submitted elsewhere.
8. The video must be submitted through Challenge.gov and comply with the Challenge.gov terms.
9. Videos must end with the message, “Get more information at FVAP.gov.” This must be printed on a closing slide or scene. Note, for submissions to category 4, videos must end with the message, “Get more information at militaryvoter.mil or FVAP.gov.” This must be printed on a closing slide or scene. Additionally, note that the site militaryvoter.mil is an alias of FVAP.gov and provides the same content.
10. Winners will be required to submit a transcript of their video.
11. Winners will be required to provide the raw file of their video.
Due July 29, 2012 11:00pm EDT

Eligibility

To be eligible you must be a citizen of the United States, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory. Employees of FVAP, their relatives, and FVAP contractors are not eligible to enter the contest. Any video created by Federal employees while on Federal time are considered works of the U.S. Government and are not eligible to win the cash prize. Federal employees outside FVAP can submit videos created outside of work hours and be eligible for the prize.

Judging Criteria

Videos will first be judged on whether they comply with the requirements of the contest. This first round functions as an “elimination” round, as videos that do not comply with contest rules will be disqualified at this stage. Videos that do comply will advance to round two, in which they will be rated by the panel of judges based on the three criteria described below.

Accurate, useful information
Does the video accurately describe the category for which it was submitted, and does it present accurate information that will be useful for absentee voters overseas?

Message / Ease of understanding
Does the video clearly promote FVAP’s mission of educating citizens and uniformed service members at home and abroad and their dependants on the voting process, with the intention to foster voter participation and encourage early voter registration?

Creativity and Entertainment Value
Was the video enjoyable to watch? Did it present the information in an interesting way?

Prize

First Place (5)
$1,000
The best video in each of the five categories will receive $1,000. Individuals are eligible to win more than one category.

Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments below.