2016 Student Production Awards
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
NATAS has no student chapters, but it does offer student memberships.
STUDENT AWARDS
Students listed on the entry form for Student Production Awards must have been enrolled in an accredited high school/vocational school within the Chapter boundaries at the time of production and completion of his/her piece within the eligibility period.
NATAS STUDENT PRODUCTION AWARD
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES
NATAS is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and related media and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry, best known for the coveted Emmy® Award.
THE MID-ATLANTIC CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES PRESENTS THE
NATAS STUDENT PRODUCTION AWARDS STANDARD RULES AND REGULATIONS
PURPOSE: To recognize outstanding student achievements in production by conferring awards of merit in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The presentation of these awards is intended to be an incentive for the continued pursuit of excellence by those studying media and journalism and to focus public attention on outstanding cultural, educational, technological, entertainment, news and informational achievements by high school students.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Programs or program segments conceived, produced and executed by students at a high school or technical/vocational school within the Chapter’s designated award area are eligible for student award consideration.
- Returning students who previously worked as professionals are not eligible.
- No professional services may have been employed in the production of the entry.
- Faculty involvement can only be advisory.
- Entrants must be enrolled as a full-timestudent as of the entry deadline.
- Students may enter work that was produced as a class assignment, extra-curricular assignment or in conjunction with their academic experience.
- Students who perform professional work may enter their work in the professional awards competition, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.
- No entry may be > submitted to more than one Chapter’s awards.
- The entry does not need to have been broadcast, cablecast or webcast to be eligible.
- Entries must be submitted as they were originally transmitted.
- There may not be any post-broadcast changes, except edits for time, as noted on the category descriptions that follow.
- There is no limit to the number of entries a school may submit in each category.
- Pornographic, violent, defamatory or offensive material is not accepted. The interpretation of the Awards Committee is final and absolute.
- Ineligible entries may be disqualified during any phase of the competition.
STUDENT PRODUCTIONS: Students are not considered peer professionals and as such, their regional student productions are not eligible for Emmy® award recognition. If material is produced as part of a class, for which school credit is received, they are considered a student. If they are paid or working on a project with other “professionals,” and want to enter the Chapter’s Emmy® Award competition, they cannot enter as a student, but instead must pay the appropriate entries fees as an active NATAS member (or non-member). The student is then prohibited from entering subsequent student production categories with other classmates. Student award recipients from any NATAS Chapters’ high school or college competitions may not use the Emmy® name or replica of the Emmy® figure in any form of commercial advertising or promotion for their recognition.
INTENTIONAL FALSIFICATION: The student advisor warrants that they are the party most responsible for verifying the eligibility requirements have been met. The intentional falsification of production credits or entry credits may be the basis for disqualification.
ENTRY ERRORS AND OMISSIONS: The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences assumes no responsibility for the acts or omissions of those individuals or entities submitting entries pursuant to this notice. All submitting entities and/or individuals are advised to review submissions with respect to correct name credits and other information. NATAS shall accept all submissions that are not in conflict with any of its rules and regulations.
JUDGING AND EVALUATION: Programs are judged on three criteria: Content, Creativity and Execution on a 10-point scale (maximum 30 points); and craft entries are judged on two criteria: Creativity and Execution for (maximum 20 points). Judging panels are to be made up of professional peer judges. Judges have the option of including constructive comments or feedback, to be returned to the student’s faculty advisor.
FEES: There is a $30 administrative fee for each entry. There are no individual student entry fees. Membership is not required to submit an entry.
ENTRY SUBMISSIONS: The school where the work was produced must submit each entry and the faculty advisor submitting the entry must sign the entry form. There is no limit to the number of entries a school may submit.
LANGUAGE(S): Entries in English will be judged by English-speaking professionals. Entries in Spanish will be judged by Spanish-speaking professionals. Entries in other languages may be entered. Judging of these entries is subject to the availability of qualified judges who speak the language of the entry. We recommend that entrants in languages other than English or Spanish submit an English-language translation of the narration track.
ORIGINAL MATERIAL: At least two-thirds of an entry must consist of original material, unless previously produced material has been given some unique and creative treatment. Entrants must specifically identify and give credit to all non-original material included in the entry. This includes music use.
AWARDS: A crystal pillar is awarded to school for entries validated by a professor or teacher. Students responsible for the production, as specified in writing by the school, will each receive a certificate. Note: Regional NATAS high school recipients will automatically advance to a national competition. Those honorees will be announced at a live event from The Newseum in Washington, D.C..in the fall of 2016. For more information visit our website: https://emmyonline.org/nationalstudent
RESTRICTION ON THE USE OF EMMY® MARK: Schools may refer to the fact that they are recipients of a NATAS Student Production Award, but may not use the Emmy® name or replica of the Emmy® figure in any form of commercial advertising or promotion.
CHAPTER RULES AND REGULATIONS
CHAPTER BOUNDARIES (DESIGNATED AWARDS AREA):
The Mid-Atlantic Chapter accepts student entries from Pennsylvania (except Erie), New Jersey, Northern Delaware and the Steubenville, OH/Wheeling, WV area.
ELIGIBILITY PERIOD: Entries must have been produced in the Mid-Atlantic Region during the eligibility period February 16, 2015 – February 15, 2016.
ENTRY DEADLINE: All entries must be received and uploaded by 8:00pm on Friday, February 26, 2016.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Executive Director Tara Faccenda, tara@natasmid-atlantic.org or 610-859-8886
HOW TO ENTER THE NATAS STUDENT PRODUCTION AWARDS
- The new online system provides everything you need to enter. The entry forms, upload instructions for online judging, payment forms, and membership forms are all available on the site. With our new uploading of entries, you do not have to create DVDs, make copies of the entry form, or ship anything to us!
- Credit card payments are processed through the secure site, and a receipt is automatically sent to you.
- To enter, please go to https://natasstudentawards.org/entry_login.php?c=3
- Then upload your entry. You will need your entry number when you upload. You can also use the link in the confirmation email you receive when you submit your entry through the system.
- Please send an e-mail to tara@natasmid-atlantic.org if you have any problems.
ENTRY UPLOAD FORMAT
SUPPORTED FORMATS: Here is a list of video formats we do support:
- WMV (WMV, WMV2, MSMPEG,VC-1)
- MOV (Sorenson Video 3, H263, H264, animation) (Certain MOV files have audio encoded such that they cannot be transcoded without loss of video sync)
- MPEG4 (mp4, 3ivx, DivX, Xvid, H264)
- FLV (VP6 and Sorenson Spark)
- DV and DVCPro
- 3GP (mobile phones)
- MPEG1 and MPEG2
- AVI (Indeo, Cinepak, Motion JPEG, MPEG)
- F4V (H264)
Since we use the FFMPEG framework for transcoding videos, all other formats supported by FFMPEG can be uploaded too.
NOT SUPPORTED – A few formats we occasionally encounter, but NOT supported are:
- Quicktime (MOV) files that use the Apple ProRes codec (part of Final Cut). This codec also produces extremely large files. We advise to do a rough export from Final Cut Pro.
- Quicktime (MOV) files that actually only contain a raw DV stream (some DV cameras export these). Export these files using either raw DV or H264/AAC Quicktime.
- Quicktime (MOV) files with 24-bit audio.
- DRM protected files from Microsoft (WMV) or the iTunes Store (M4V, MOV).
- CSS encrypted DVD images (VOB).
- WMV videos using the MSS2 video codec (for screencasting)
Review recommended specifications for detailed information regarding preparation of your video for upload.
All entries will be archived by the Chapter until the awards are presented.
PAYMENTS: Handling fees may be paid online using the link in your confirmation email. If preferred, make checks payable to “NATAS Mid-Atlantic” and send to:
NATAS Mid-Atlantic, 85 Overlook Circle, Garnet Valley, PA 19060
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: Online entry forms must be completed and entries uploaded no later than 8:00pm on Friday, February 26, 2016. The earlier you upload, the easier it will be to allow time for adjustments and problems. Please make a genuine effort to start early to avoid getting caught in a pipeline jam.
UPLOADING YOUR VIDEO:
Video Upload Step-by-Step: NOTE: You can only upload 1 video entry at a time.
STEP 1: VERIFY THE ENTRY YOU WILL BE UPLOADING
Make sure you have your e-mail Copy of your Entry. This is where you will reference your Entry ID number and submitter’s e-mail. Both are ESSENTIAL to begin the uploading process. The e-mail also includes a link to upload your video if needed.
On this first page you need to:
- Select the entry category from the drop down box.
- Enter the ENTRY ID Number
EXAMPLE: HS3-04: HS3 is the category and 04 is the entry number.
- Enter your e-mail address that you provided on the entry form.
- Select Box that you agree to the terms of uploading video.
STEP 2: REVIEW VIDEO FILE UPLOAD INFORMATION
After reading through the instructions on the page and confirming your entry information in the box at the bottom, click on Proceed to Upload Video.
- Select your video from your computer files by Browsing, be sure that you are uploading the correct file type.
- Click on UPLOAD
The Screen will change to show a status bar indicating where the video is in the upload process. Wait for video to upload. Depending on the size of your file it should only take a couple of minutes, however, the longer the entry, the longer the upload process.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT CLOSE THE BROWSER UNTIL THE UPLOAD IS COMPLETE.
DO NOT REFRESH THE PAGE OR CLICK THE “BACK” BUTTON ON YOUR BROWSER.
*If you do so, you will need to re-start the upload process.
Video Encoding In-Progress
- Once uploaded, the screen will change for encoding. The status will indicate “processing” until the video is “ready.” (This process will take on average about 2 minutes for each minute of video to complete the 2 encodings but can take considerably longer if the server has a backlog of encoding.)
- You can keep your browser open while the video is processing; or, you can use the link at the bottom of the page to monitor the encoding process (a new tab/page will open in your browser); or, you can close your browser at this point and return later to finish the approval process
- When the status shows “ready,” click on the thumbnail or “click here to play video” link to play the video. Watch all the way through. What you see is what the judges will see.
*If the link does not appear, there was an encoding problem. - After watching your video, click on the “Approve or Disapprove Video” link
Step 3: COMPLETE THE UPLOAD
- If the video uploaded and played properly and you approve, select Approve.
- CLICK FINISH
- If you do not approve- select “Reject and Delete.” Your video will be deleted and you can upload your video entry again.
- You have 3 opportunities to upload and approve your video. Once approved, or you’ve uploaded your video 3 times, you will not be able to upload again.
Please contact the office at tara@natasmid-atlantic.org to have options reset so you can complete the process.
- *IMPORTANT: Your video is NOT available to the judges until you approve it!
You will receive an e-mail confirmation once you have completed the upload and approved your video. Your entry is now ready to be judged.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PRODUCTION PROGRAMMING CATEGORIES
Note: The same material may not be entered in more than one programming category.
H-01. Newscast
For outstanding achievement in a newscast. Post edits are not permitted except for the removal of breaks. Entry will be judged on overall content, presentation, enterprise, writing, format, teases, etc. Time Limit: 30 minutes
H-02. News: General Assignment – Serious News
For outstanding reporting achievement in a presentation of timely news, information and current events. Entries may contain spot news coverage, investigations and feature stories on any newsworthy subject. Coverage of controversial issues is welcome. Entries will be judged on the basis of editorial content and pictorial coverage, which demonstrates awareness of broadcast journalistic standards including accuracy and fairness. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Preference will be given to individual pieces demonstrating reporting and field production. In-studio set-up or anchor link work will not be considered as an asset unless it materially contributes to the editorial content of the individual report. Time Limit: 10 minutes
H-03. News: General Assignment – Light News
For outstanding reporting achievement in a regularly scheduled presentation of timely news, information and current events. Entries may contain spot news coverage and feature stories on any newsworthy subject. Entries will be judged on the basis of editorial content and pictorial coverage, which demonstrates awareness of broadcast journalistic standards including accuracy and fairness. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Preference will be given to individual pieces demonstrating reporting and field production. In-studio set-up or anchor link work will not be considered as an asset unless it materially contributes to the editorial content of the individual report. Time Limit: 10 minutes
H-04. Arts and Entertainment/Cultural Affairs
For outstanding reporting achievement in a presentation of content devoted to cultural or artistic significance, or a compilation of up to three unedited pieces. Time Limit: 10 minutes.
H-05. Music Video
For outstanding achievement in replication, reinterpretation or original material in a music video. Judges will evaluate content, creativity and execution. Time Limit: 5 minutes
H-06. Long Form – Fiction/Non-Fiction
For outstanding achievement in a presentation of a long-form treatment of a single fictional subject. Dramatizations or student originated soap operas or plays are permitted. Content creativity and execution will be important elements in judging the entries. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material, paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Time Limit: Minimum 10 minutes – maximum 30 minutes. If the original presentation ran more than 30 minutes, entrants are permitted to make three edits to bring the entry to time.
H-07. Long Form – Non-Fiction
For outstanding achievement in a presentation of a long-form treatment of a single non-fictional subject. Content creativity and execution will be important elements in judging the entries. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material, paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Time Limit: Minimum 10 minutes – maximum 30 minutes. If the original presentation ran more than 30 minutes, entrants are permitted to make three edits to bring the entry to time.
H-08. Sports
For outstanding achievement in a presentation or compilation of up to three unedited pieces of sports news and information. In-studio set-up or anchor link work will not be considered as an asset unless it materially contributes to the editorial content of the presentation. Judges will particularly look for well-organized material, paying close attention to clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. Time Limit: 10 minutes
H-09. Sports-Live Event
For outstanding achievement in the production of a live or live-to-tape sports event or game. A composite is required and may include examples of: Show Open, Graphics Package, Use of Replays, Inserted Pre-Produced Segments, Use of Statistical or Other Prepared Material, Highlights, Standard Coverage (e.g. Routine Innings or Downs) and any additional material at entrant’s discretion. Time limit: 30 minutes.
H-10 Public Service Announcement (PSAs)- Young Producer’s Award
For outstanding achievement in announcements that effectively focus interest in and marshal support for worthy community or area causes. Spots may be 5-seconds to 2 minutes in length.
CRAFTS CATEGORIES
H-11. Talent
For outstanding achievement in on-camera talent demonstrating the skills of one or more individuals in the areas of news anchoring, reporting, host/moderator, sports play-by-play, analyst, etc. Entries may contain a single example of the craft or a composite of material as originally transmitted. Time Limit: 15 minutes.
H-12. Writing
For outstanding achievement in writing in all forms, including both fiction and non-fiction. This award is designed to encourage clarity of thought as well as creativity. Style and substance both count heavily in determining the winner. Scripts must be fair and accurate and must demonstrate logical organization of editorial content so that a viewer will easily understand the story that is being told. Time Limit: 15 minutes.10