Hidden Earth
National Caving Conference

Video Media Competition 2008

The British Cave Research Association invites you to participate in its Video Media competition. The event is part of the caving conference - Hidden Earth. The competition will cover any aspect of caves, mines or potholes. Entries will be screened at the conference and will be judged for their artistic, technical and aesthetic qualities with particular emphasis on artistic originality and innovation. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.

The term 'video media' is intended to encompass all depictions of moving images and sequences of pictures.

This broad definition of 'video' means that, as we introduced in 2006, there will not be separate competition categories for 'films' and 'audio-visual presentations'. However, the judges will be aware of the very different skills involved in these two broad categories and will conduct their judging accordingly. (For details, see rationale below).

Video 'films': These may be submitted in a digital medium such as DVD or on tape (VHS PAL format only). The presentation must be less than 20 minutes long (including titles). Only mono sound playback will be available.
'Audio-visual' presentations: AVs comprising sequences of still images and an audio soundtrack may be submitted on CD or DVD for playback via a computer projector and mono sound channel. The presentation must be less than 20 minutes long (including titles). Although we are not expecting to receive many (if any) traditional AVs using slide projectors, these are still very welcome, provided the entrant supplies all the projection equipment.
Other work: The use of computers means that the distinction between 'films' and 'AVs' is blurred. You may, if you wish, mix moving and still images, or use pan and zoom effects on stills, and be confident that your entry will still be acceptable. You may also wish to consider graphical-based formats such as Microsoft Powerpoint if your artistic statement is powerful enough.

Rationale

An explanation of the changes introduced to this competition for the first time in 2006.

Traditionally, 'films' and 'AVs' were easily definable, the latter comprising a number of slide projectors showing stills and an audio soundtrack. The use of computers means that the distinction between these art-forms is blurred. If we take the view that this competition is to encourage innovation and fresh artistic ideas then it would be a mistake to try to circumscribe what constitutes each art form. Most entrants will probably find that their work still falls into a 'film' or 'audio-visual' genre but they may, if they wish, mix moving and still images, or use pan and zoom effects on stills, and be confident that their competition entry will still be acceptable.

The skills involved in filming and creating AVs are different, so might judging them together in one category be to the detriment of both? In reality, the position is perhaps no different to that of other art prizes: the Turner prize does not distinguish between oil paintings and video installations. For 2006, as an experiment, we decided to combine all video entries into a single competition. We have continued with that concept since. The Hidden Earth judges will award two equal-value 'first prizes' and will give an unspecified number of distinction and merit awards. The judges will award the prizes in a way that best recognises the varied skills of the entrants and the merits of their work. This will probably mean that one prize will go to a 'film-like' entry and one prize to an 'AV-like' entry but, in the absence of sufficiently meritorious entries the judges could award top prizes to two films or two AVs, or to entries that exhibited the characteristics of both. The judges will be particularly looking for artistic originality and innovation as well as considering the technical, artistic and aesthetic qualities of each entry.

We will be allowing longer duration presentations, of up to 20 minutes including titles but, in order to allow us to plan the judging and screening of these, competition entry on the day will be expressly prohibited. And if the presentation is longer than 10 minutes, the judges will be looking for clear evidence that the longer length is artistically necessary!

Important Notes for Entrants

The competition rules are listed below, but the following points should be noted in particular.

All entry forms must be submitted in advance of the conference. If you simply turn up with your entry, on the day, without prior warning, you will not be allowed to enter the competition, although we will try to screen your entry if we can.
DVDs / CD-ROMs must be handed in at the competition desk in the exhibition hall by 12.00 on the Saturday. Alternatively, you may post them at your own risk to arrive two weeks before the conference. If your entry is longer than 10 minutes then it is a requirement that you submit the media four weeks beforehand because we will do preliminary judging of the longer entries in advance.
A DVD player and computer projector will be available for playback. However, if your entry requires a particular media-player package then you are strongly advised to supply this software or to check, in advance, that we are likely to have it. If your software requires fast media access, large RAM or a fast CPU then you are strongly advised to bring your own playback machine.
Although we are not expecting to receive many (if any) traditional AVs using slide projectors, these are still very welcome, provided the entrant supplies all the projection equipment.

Competition Rules

Eligibility. Anyone may enter the competition. The entrant must either have played a key role in the production of the entry or should state if the work is as a result of combined team effort. Winning entries from previous Hidden Earth or BCRA competitions may not be entered.
Subject. The subject matter can be any aspect of cave & mine exploration - this includes, for example, scientific research, rescue and conservation, as well as more artistic and contemplative treatments.
Prizes. The judges will award two equal-value 'first prizes' and will give an unspecified number of distinction and merit awards.
Judging. Judging will be by a panel of three judges, independent of BCRA, whose decision is final. Entries will be judged for their artistic, technical and aesthetic qualities with particular emphasis on artistic originality and innovation. BCRA reserves the right not to award a prize if, in the opinion of the judges, the entries are too few and of insufficient standard to constitute a competition.
Screening. Entries shorter than 10 minutes will be given a public screening. For longer entries (up to 20 minutes) we reserve the right to show just an excerpt in the public screening(s).
Format. Entries should be submitted on DVD or CD ROM. If your digital format is anything other than standard DVD (e.g. MOV, WMV, etc) or it requires a particular media-player package, you should check with the organisers in advance, and be prepared to bring your own playback equipment. Playback will be via a computer projector and mono sound channel. We can accept entries on tape (VHS PAL format only) by prior arrangement. Each presentation must be less than 20 minutes long (including titles). We will do our best to play back your entry, but we cannot accept any responsibility for failure of your media or software to work with our computers.
Loss, Damage and Insurance. Every care will be taken of the entries, but the conference organisers cannot accept responsibility for any damage or loss. The organisers will not be insuring any work and, if required, entrants should make their own arrangements.
Copyright & Reproduction. The copyright of all entries will remain with the authors. The authors should not include any pictorial or sound material for which they do not either hold the copyright or have the express permission of the copyright holder. Entries that do not meet this stipulation will be disqualified. The BCRA reserves the right to reproduce, without payment, stills from the packaging or content of any entry, for the purposes of publicity for future conferences. It may be necessary for some entries to be temporarily retained to allow stills to be printed.

How to Enter

Short entries (less than 10 min.): Completed entry forms (below) should be returned to the Video Competition co-ordinator, at the address below at least two weeks before the conference. The media itself can be deposited on the Saturday of the conference, by 12 noon.
Longer entries (10 to 20 minutes): Completed entry forms and the media must be submitted at least four weeks before the conference.

For 2008, send competition entries in advance to David Gibson, 12 Well House Drive, LEEDS, LS8 4BX. competitions[at]hidden-earth.... If you are reading this form in subsequent years please check with the organisers for the address of the competition co-ordinator and any other changes to the rules.

Entry Form

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