The Escapist Presents: Third Annual The Escapist Film Festival - updated 12/11/09

[Woem]

If only I had the equipment necessary to film... anything. Let's hope we see some things as awesome as Doomsday Arcade and Unskippable.

I think in this stage the idea is more important than the glossy finish. So really all you need to get started is a webcam or even a phone with a camera.

 

[Spinwhiz]

I hope something as awesome as Unskippable comes out of this festival. Just wondering, though, is only the overall winner guaranteed a contract, and not the category winners?

Off topic, I think it's hilarious that after having Funk yell at everyone about no porn there's a thread a few updates ahead that is three pages on the merits of including fake breasts with a porn games.

Only the overall winner is guaranteed a contract, that is correct BUT there is always the possibility for multiple contracts due to great work. That is what happened to Unskippable and Doomsday Arcade last year.

Wait, didn't Unskippable win last year?

Yes but Doomsday Arcade was also given a contract.

 

[forsinain42]

I am so entering this! Just one question. You say no copyrighted material but we are allow to use game footage in reviews arnet we?
How about as footage for a machinima?
Thanks!

 

[randommaster]

I hope something as awesome as Unskippable comes out of this festival. Just wondering, though, is only the overall winner guaranteed a contract, and not the category winners?

Off topic, I think it's hilarious that after having Funk yell at everyone about no porn there's a thread a few updates ahead that is three pages on the merits of including fake breasts with a porn games.

Only the overall winner is guaranteed a contract, that is correct BUT there is always the possibility for multiple contracts due to great work. That is what happened to Unskippable and Doomsday Arcade last year.

Wait, didn't Unskippable win last year?

Yes but Doomsday Arcade was also given a contract.

I knew DA didn't win but you just confused me for a second because I thought you said that Unskippable also got a contract even though it didn't win.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

Hey, what do you do with the Waiver?

 

[SharPhoe]

I have a question. You stated that the video cannot be posted anywhere else prior to being entered in the contest. Which, I would assume, takes public sites like YouTube and the like out of the equation.

What if, however, while working with people in other areas on the film, you need to show them footage or parts of the project before it's finished, and you use something like Photobucket to show them? Would that disqualify you?

 

[SharPhoe]

use something like Photobucket

Couldn't you just email it to them?

...*Sigh* Right, I didn't think about that. OK, nevermind, crisis averted.

 

[KValentine]

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

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

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

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

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

Nope. Absolutely no way. You can have a world-wide, unlimited, sub-licensable, perpetual, irrevocable [em]license[/em] 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?

...

Same question. If I want to do a series of a vid after the contest even though I have won no contact, would I still be able to use it in other venues?

 

[ewhac]

If I want to do a series of a vid after the contest even though I have won no contact, would I still be able to use it in other venues?

That would depend on how "comprehensively" The Escapist views their just-acquired-for-free copyright. Escapist may or may not choose to license it back to you...

Copyright extends to more than just instances of a work. Copyright also covers characters and character traits. This is why you can't use Mickey Mouse in an otherwise completely original cartoon without running afoul of Disney.

A long-winded way of saying: The Escapist may choose to assert copyright not just over the video itself, but over the original characters in your video, thereby enjoining you from making any further use of any of it.

The more I think about it, the less I like the deal as presented. (These difficulties would be easily solved if The Escapist would instead accept a liberal license to the submission, rather than the copyright proper.)

 

[Vault Citizen]

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.

 

[Abroham Wincon]

Is a trailer ok as an entry?

 

[leady129]

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?!?...

 

[Spinwhiz]

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

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

Nope. Absolutely no way. You can have a world-wide, unlimited, sub-licensable, perpetual, irrevocable [em]license[/em] 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.

 

[Spinwhiz]

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.

 

[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

 

[ewhac]

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.

 

[Barbie_CakeJumper]

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

 

[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?

 

[Spinwhiz]

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.