Contest rules regarding time length

[capitalP]

I always wondered about some contest rules. Example, when a contest says a video is not to exceed 5 minutes. Does that mean if I go over 5minutes and 1 second I disqualify? Or if I go to 6minutes that's when I disqualify. I've always been confused about that. Every contest I've entered I've always followed the rules but just wondering if 5:30sec would disqualify me. I got this video I'm doing and I'm slightly over 5 minutes, even though I've edited it down so many times, I just can't seem to get it down to 5minutes without the plot being ruined.

 

[Alex H.]

5:00 means 5:00 and not a frame more. If they were going to allow 5:30, they'd say it is not to exceed 5:30.

 

[Steve Laramie]

Its not worth the risk.

 

[capitalP]

Yeah I totally agree. That would suck if I was in the running to win and find out 1second cost me $10,000. Totally not worth the risk. I have to find a way to cut down the story and make it make sense.

 

[Staven]

For the Hobo With A Shotgun Trailer contest we just entered, there was this amazing trailer they chose as one of the Top 5 Finalists. BUT, it ran 4:32secs long and the rules they set forth for the contest was 2 mins and under.

People got PISSED that they chose it even though it didn't follow the rules, especially because many of them had to hack and slash their own trailers to bits just to make the 2min rule. A minor revolt took place, and eventually the organizers of the competition realized they should not have gone against their own guidelines and disqualified the entrant. (*turned out the entrant had also made the trailer for another competition, so there was good grounds to disqualify either way).

Moral of the story, even if the contest allows an entrant to go over, your competition may cause such a ruskus you get axed anyways.

 

[keylight]

Depends on the contest, doesn't it? For some contests I imagine you would be disqualified. For other contests they might force a hard cut to black at 5 minutes. Still others could penalize by subtracting from your score. Lots of options.

Actually, I could see using the hard cut the black at the time limit in several creative ways.....

Are there any specific contest you're wondering about?

 

[capitalP]

For the Hobo With A Shotgun Trailer contest we just entered, there was this amazing trailer they chose as one of the Top 5 Finalists. BUT, it ran 4:32secs long and the rules they set forth for the contest was 2 mins and under.

People got PISSED that they chose it even though it didn't follow the rules, especially because many of them had to hack and slash their own trailers to bits just to make the 2min rule. A minor revolt took place, and eventually the organizers of the competition realized they should not have gone against their own guidelines and disqualified the entrant. (*turned out the entrant had also made the trailer for another competition, so there was good grounds to disqualify either way).

Moral of the story, even if the contest allows an entrant to go over, your competition may cause such a ruskus you get axed anyways.

That's a very cool story. Yeah it sucks for the dude that lost but rules are rules. This story is the exact reason why I want to avoid going over the time.

Are there any specific contest you're wondering about?

Yeah a friend of mine emailed me about this Bing contest. I worked on it last night. Here's my entry. The original cut was 3:33 minutes, but I had to chop 1:33 minutes down. I cut some nice cool dialogue but I think I was able to get enough in there to have a beginning, middle and end.

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/11715853/haunted-first-date

 

[David Jimerson]

For the Hobo With A Shotgun Trailer contest we just entered, there was this amazing trailer they chose as one of the Top 5 Finalists. BUT, it ran 4:32secs long and the rules they set forth for the contest was 2 mins and under.

People got PISSED that they chose it even though it didn't follow the rules, especially because many of them had to hack and slash their own trailers to bits just to make the 2min rule. A minor revolt took place, and eventually the organizers of the competition realized they should not have gone against their own guidelines and disqualified the entrant. (*turned out the entrant had also made the trailer for another competition, so there was good grounds to disqualify either way).

Moral of the story, even if the contest allows an entrant to go over, your competition may cause such a ruskus you get axed anyways.

I would be wary of any contest which disregards its own rules, especially that blatantly.

 

[Noel Evans]

5:00 means 5:00 and not a frame more. If they were going to allow 5:30, they'd say it is not to exceed 5:30.

To capitalP read this response. Its all you need to know. And as David says if comp organisers are going to change the rules to suit one entry dont go near it.