I'm such a nerd, when they all leaned into the camera I blushed a little. I am definetely going to enter this, I haven't done much film making so I am very excited to have the oppertunity.

Is a trailer ok as an entry?

I'm not sure whether mine uploaded properly or not. After sitting there for 6 hrs it simply went to a blank white page. Is there supposed to be a confirmation message? Russ?!?... Anyone?!?...

Braininator:

ewhac:
I'm sorely tempted to enter, but the terms of participation are unacceptable:

The Escapist:
Any entry becomes the property of Themis Group, Inc. and will not be returned. Entrants surrender copyright and all interests therein of their submissions to Themis Group, Inc. [emphasis mine]

Nope. Absolutely no way. You can have a world-wide, unlimited, sub-licensable, perpetual, irrevocable license to the submission, but you can't have the copyright.

I seem to recall that last year's comp had a statement saying that the creator of the video would retain full rights to their work if it did not win. Does this still apply?

Having said that, as the winner, giving up full copyright is a major sacrifice, as it pretty much rules out having any supporting material to the video series (eg website, Twitter account, etc). I can understand The Escapist wanting the video to be exclusive to their site, but as an artist I would absolutely want to retain the rights to my work.

Anything submitted to The Escapist for the Film Festival becomes ours but that doesn't mean we are going to use it. If it's good enough to use, we'll be contacting you regardless.

Abroham Wincon:
Is a trailer ok as an entry?

Sure but you want to have substance to show us what a series is going to be like. I've seen lots of great trailers for shows and movies but those shows and movies haven't turned out to be so good.

Spinwhiz:

Abroham Wincon:
Is a trailer ok as an entry?

Sure but you want to have substance to show us what a series is going to be like. I've seen lots of great trailers for shows and movies but those shows and movies haven't turned out to be so good.

Cool thanks

Spinwhiz:
Anything submitted to The Escapist for the Film Festival becomes ours but that doesn't mean we are going to use it. [ ... ]

And therein lies the chief problem. Sure, the winner will make out okay, but there's only one of them, and any number of not-winners, none of whom -- according to the contest rules -- can ever again make use of the material they submitted to the contest.

That's the principal question that remains unanswered -- the disposition of losing entries. All we have to go on are the rules as presented, and the results of that analysis aren't flattering.

If anyone is local to central NC and needs an actress, let me know. ~Barbie

I was just wondering what the escapist's policy on machinima-based works and whether or not they are acceptable for entry in the film festival?

Dr Hank:
I was just wondering what the escapist's policy on machinima-based works and whether or not they are acceptable for entry in the film festival?

You can submit it. It just gets a little tricky when dealing with "parody" laws. We would have to see it to let you know if we can use it or not.

UPDATE: When loading your video, you have not submitted correctly until you see this message: "Thank you! Your video has been submitted! Once the site staff have approved your video, it will appear in our video gallery."

This may take a bit of time to upload but please be patient.

Thanks!
Spinwhiz

Well... I've got an idea. Though what I can do is limited to a crappy $250.00 camera, a laptop, and a knowledge of Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (minus how to do special effects)... Not exactly the capability to make the best content. BUT I'll give it a go with the knowledge that IF it's got the potential, I can amp it up with some guidance and guarantee of work.

But let me get this straight. I use the name "Big Angry Nerd" for my reviews, and I kind of wanted to use the character for the planned project. If I used him in the video, would I never be able to use him in my independent reviews if The Escapist decided such? Winner or not?

Big Angry Nerd:
Well... I've got an idea. Though what I can do is limited to a crappy $250.00 camera, a laptop, and a knowledge of Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (minus how to do special effects)... Not exactly the capability to make the best content. BUT I'll give it a go with the knowledge that IF it's got the potential, I can amp it up with some guidance and guarantee of work.

But let me get this straight. I use the name "Big Angry Nerd" for my reviews, and I kind of wanted to use the character for the planned project. If I used him in the video, would I never be able to use him in my independent reviews if The Escapist decided such? Winner or not?

That would be correct. Use a different name for your submission and video if you want to keep "Big Angry Nerd".

Ah. Many thanks Spin. I guess I'll just use my name then and keep BAN on the side. Maybe I should adjust the name of the series too... Once again. Many thanks.

Spinwhiz:

Big Angry Nerd:
Well... I've got an idea. Though what I can do is limited to a crappy $250.00 camera, a laptop, and a knowledge of Vegas Movie Studio Platinum (minus how to do special effects)... Not exactly the capability to make the best content. BUT I'll give it a go with the knowledge that IF it's got the potential, I can amp it up with some guidance and guarantee of work.

But let me get this straight. I use the name "Big Angry Nerd" for my reviews, and I kind of wanted to use the character for the planned project. If I used him in the video, would I never be able to use him in my independent reviews if The Escapist decided such? Winner or not?

That would be correct. Use a different name for your submission and video if you want to keep "Big Angry Nerd".

Wait, so the screen name you submit it under is copyrighted then too? What do you mean by "use a different name?"

I think so... It's like James Rolfe and his Angry Video Game Nerd character, GameTrailers probably has the rights to the name. So if James ever did something else or lost his contract with them, he couldn't use the AVGN name unless GT let him. So he'd have to use a different handle.

I like the name Big Angry Nerd (makes a great acronym too), and I wouldn't want to to get locked up. Especially with no guarantee that I would even get to make more vids. So I think I'll just use my real name. Though I'm just speculating on all of this Maniac.

Big Angry Nerd:
I think so... It's like James Rolfe and his Angry Video Game Nerd character, GameTrailers probably has the rights to the name. So if James ever did something else or lost his contract with them, he couldn't use the AVGN name unless GT let him. So he'd have to use a different handle.

I like the name Big Angry Nerd (makes a great acronym too), and I wouldn't want to to get locked up. Especially with no guarantee that I would even get to make more vids. So I think I'll just use my real name. Though I'm just speculating on all of this Maniac.

Man this is seeming less and less like a good idea the more I hear the details.

So you can't have a website about the series, even if there are no videos of it on that website, just information about characters and such? And even if we don't win, we can't use the names we used in the video again?

Nukes4president:
So you can't have a website about the series, even if there are no videos of it on that website, just information about characters and such? And even if we don't win, we can't use the names we used in the video again?

Don't know to be honest. I suppose it's all ultimately up to The Escapist. I have a pretty fair feeling that if your not the winner, they'll probably let you and your IP go. I say just go for it.

ManiacRaccoon:

Big Angry Nerd:
I think so... It's like James Rolfe and his Angry Video Game Nerd character, GameTrailers probably has the rights to the name. So if James ever did something else or lost his contract with them, he couldn't use the AVGN name unless GT let him. So he'd have to use a different handle.

I like the name Big Angry Nerd (makes a great acronym too), and I wouldn't want to to get locked up. Especially with no guarantee that I would even get to make more vids. So I think I'll just use my real name. Though I'm just speculating on all of this Maniac.

Man this is seeming less and less like a good idea the more I hear the details.

Nukes4president:
So you can't have a website about the series, even if there are no videos of it on that website, just information about characters and such? And even if we don't win, we can't use the names we used in the video again?

Anything submitted to The Escapist Film Festival becomes property of The Escapist. So, if you want to make sure a name or idea remains yours, then don't submit it. But please understand, if we like your idea, we are going to want YOU to keep creating it, not us. We'll help YOU make it awesome but YOU will be working on it and we'll put a signed contract together with all of the terms and conditions.

It would not benefit us in any way to take peoples' ideas for ourselves and keep the original creator out of the mix. Not to mention, even if you don't win the contract, that doesn't necessarily mean you won't be featured on The Escapist in the future. It doesn't mean you will but it could happen.

Agreed. This is a very, very, very nice offer from The Escapist and one that you probably wont see often in the internet.

Me and some friends brewed an idea for some time, wrote the script, and we've shot most of the film. However, I'm in the editing process and was wondering what the rules on using other's audio-only content was. The film falls under a general parody of many things on the internet and some of the audio is used for less than 10 seconds. Also, none of the pieces have lyrics. Would these pieces be o.k. to include in the film? And on that note, what about music/clips that are more than 10 seconds? Have lyrics? Have video?

Okay, just finished the script for my Video, looks good to me but I just want to double-check to see what is/isn't okay.

Is it okay if my video has:

1. 2 swear words?
2. References too some "arrogant/sue happy celebrities", such as Kanya West and Jack Thompson?
3. Is not about Gaming 100 percent, but is about an icon of Nerd/Gaming culture?
4. Doesn't have a Opening/Closing credits or music because of time restraints?

I know these may seem like dumb questions, but I just want to Double-Check to make sure I don't get kicked out of the contest for something I could easily change.

Thank you for any reply!

{Note: If there's another thread to post questions/help on, can someone please direct me towards it? Thank you.}

I still prefered Russ's fall from last years video :0

I actually have a pretty major question involving the whole "copyright infringement" thing...
As you've probably seen from me on many an occasion, I draw my own special characters, called Kerricks. The project I wish to submit for the festival involves them, but since their overall look bears a passing resemblance to Jigglypuff or Kirby, I'm afraid that that would break the infringement rule and leave me disqualified...is there any way I could know before submitting whether or not I'm in the clear?

I think I've got a pretty sweet idea for a show. However, the basis isn't video games, but it's something pretty widely known in geek culture. Is that o.k.?

Spinwhiz:

Anything submitted to The Escapist Film Festival becomes property of The Escapist. So, if you want to make sure a name or idea remains yours, then don't submit it. But please understand, if we like your idea, we are going to want YOU to keep creating it, not us. We'll help YOU make it awesome but YOU will be working on it and we'll put a signed contract together with all of the terms and conditions.

It would not benefit us in any way to take peoples' ideas for ourselves and keep the original creator out of the mix. Not to mention, even if you don't win the contract, that doesn't necessarily mean you won't be featured on The Escapist in the future. It doesn't mean you will but it could happen.

i see :\ say if i submit an episode 1 to something i want to make, but the escapist do not sign it, would it be possible in anyway to regain rights to that so i can continue to make the series outside of the escapist?

weirdoproductions:

Spinwhiz:

Anything submitted to The Escapist Film Festival becomes property of The Escapist. So, if you want to make sure a name or idea remains yours, then don't submit it. But please understand, if we like your idea, we are going to want YOU to keep creating it, not us. We'll help YOU make it awesome but YOU will be working on it and we'll put a signed contract together with all of the terms and conditions.

It would not benefit us in any way to take peoples' ideas for ourselves and keep the original creator out of the mix. Not to mention, even if you don't win the contract, that doesn't necessarily mean you won't be featured on The Escapist in the future. It doesn't mean you will but it could happen.

i see :\ say if i submit an episode 1 to something i want to make, but the escapist do not sign it, would it be possible in anyway to regain rights to that so i can continue to make the series outside of the escapist?

As the rules state, no. Once the idea has been submitted, it's part of The Escapist but I highly doubt we will use it if it doesn't win. That doesn't mean you can't change the name of the video, the premise and the character's names and call it your own. That why we ask for 1 5 minute video. If that screws up your whole idea and you can't work around it, come up with a different idea.

This is the third year for the Film Festival and we haven't even looked at past entries for any type of idea. If we did, we'd contact you to help us out with it.

Is there a file size limit. Currently the size for my video is over a gigabyte, as it has a lot of effects, coloring, and is at full quality.

What if there are four people working on the video, how would that work with the contract? Everybody must sign it, I suppose, but does everybody get paid differently or does one get paid and we have to split it (I'm such a goddamned kapitalist :p)?