It s Election Season! High School Video Contest Promotes Texas Voting

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1 Christina Gorczynski, Executive Director Office: For immediate release: May 24, 2012 It s Election Season! High School Video Contest Promotes Texas Voting The League of Women Voters of Houston Education Fund is pleased to announce our first annual YOUR VOTE COUNTS video contest. We re asking high school students to grab their gadgets and get creative. Texas voters need encouragement. In a tally of percentages comparing those who are eligible to vote with those who actually cast a ballot, our state ranks last. YOUR VOTE COUNTS invites all Houston-area high school students to produce a 30-second public service video announcement (PSA) addressing the importance of voting, something with an eye-catching perspective that will make civic engagement irresistible. The contest will recognize two winners whose work will be made available for distribution via local broadcast television, cable, and websites. The two top videos will be automatically entered in a League statewide contest. And there are cash prizes as well. Students can work alone or in teams. The deadline for entering is July 1, For full details and for entry applications, log on to the LWV-Houston website at or visit the League s Facebook page at The League of Women Voters of the Houston Education Fund is a non-partisan political organization which works to promote civic responsibility through informed and active participation in government. The League does not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

2 YOUR VOTE COUNTS VIDEO CONTEST WHO CAN ENTER? Create a 30 second video encouraging every eligible person to vote in local, state and federal elections. The YOUR VOTE COUNTS contest is open to all students enrolled in Houston Area high schools (public and private) as well as recent high school graduates (Class of 2012). Students may work alone or in teams. Although adults may play an advisory role, students must conceive the ideas and do the work of producing the video themselves. HOW DO YOU CREATE THE VIDEO? Contestants are free to use any graphic devices they wish - stop motion, animation, or others in the creation of their videos. Entries must clearly relate to the importance of voting - past, present, and future - in a nonpartisan way. Each PSA video can be no longer than 30 seconds. Videos in English or Spanish as well as bilingual videos will be accepted. HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES? Upload your video to YouTube and send the link, application form, and policy agreement to YOUR VOTE COUNTS via to director@lwvhouston.com. Each member of the creative team must fully complete and sign an individual application form and a policy agreement. Entries will not be considered without these forms. Complete entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on July 1, Winners will be announced on or before July 27, Any video submission in violation of the contest rules will be disqualified.

3 HOW WILL JUDGES CHOOSE THE WINNERS? Judges will evaluate the entries on a scale of 1 to 10 for each of the following four criteria: - Overall Impact (educational, inspiring, persuasive) - 40% - 4 points - Memorable Content and Delivery - 20% - 2 points - Clear Message - 20% - 2 points - Creativity - 20% - 2 points WHAT ARE THE PRIZES FOR WINNERS? Three winning entries will be submitted by LWV - Houston to television and cable outlets. Three winning entries will be placed on the LWV - Houston and LWV - Texas websites. Three winning entries will receive praise, publicity, and recognition. The top two winning entries will be entered in an LWV-Texas statewide YOUR VOTE COUNTS contest and thus be eligible for cash prizes. CONTEST CONTACT Address questions and comments about the Video Contest to the Project Chair: Name: Christina Gorcynski address: director@lwvhouston.org

4 Application Form for LWV-Houston YOUR VOTE COUNTS Video Contest Each member of the creative team must complete this simple application and submit it along with the video entry. Please print following information. Name: Team name*: Number of members in the team: Age: Grade: High School: Telephone: Mailing address: My role in the video project: Video URL: By entering this contest, entrants grant permission for their videos to be transmitted by TV, radio, and/or cable as public service announcements, to be added to the LWV - Houston, LWV - Texas, and other websites, as well as any other uses of the video to encourage voter registration and voting. I am or we are the sole creator(s) of the attached PSA video entered in the YOUR VOTE COUNTS contest. I hereby grant permission for LWV - Houston to use this video to promote voting in Texas in any way the organization deems useful. Signature: Date: Parent/Guardian**: Date: *If you are working as an individual, leave this blank and put 1 for the number of team members. **If you are under the age of 18, your parent/guardian must sign the application and policy agreement.

5 POLICY AGREEMENT 1. Videos may not have been entered in other contests or won other awards. 2. Videos must not support or demean any political party or person. 3. Use of images, music, and other works in the public domain may be incorporated into videos. However, materials that infringe on the rights of any third party may not be used unless consent has been obtained. 4. The video must not contain brand names or trademarks except those related to the League of Women Voters or to national nonprofit, nonpartisan programs and organizations. 5. Videos must not contain material that is indecent, obscene, hateful, defamatory, slanderous, or libelous in the views of the judges. 6. Videos must not contain material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual. 7. Videos must not contain any material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to Texas laws or regulations. 8. All individuals captured in the video must have given the videographer consent to be videoed. By signing the below form, I am promising that I have followed the above stated policies. I understand that if my video is found in violation of these policies, it will be disqualified. Signature: Date: Parent/Guardian*: Date: *If you are under the age of 18, your parent/guardian must sign the application and policy agreement.