Rating

Oops Good Very Excellent

Film title: Good
(1 point) (2 points) (4 points)
(3 points)

Cinematography

• camera angles and shots (low-tilted, establishing, Close-up, Long-

shot, medium shot, tight, birds eye (aerial) etc.)
• camera movement (pan, zoom etc.)
• lighting (External, Internal shots…light source considered)

Screenplay / Script

C • story is easy to understand, is entertaining and has clear

a orientation, problem/s and resolution/s
t • script matches the chosen genre and its conventions (horror,
e comedy, documentary etc.)
g • Use of appropriate storyboard
o Directing/Acting
r
i • appropriate use of facial expressions to enhance characterization
e and convey meaning
s • clearly defined artistic vision for the project and good collaboration
with other team members
• appropriate use of body language, including gestures to enhance
characterization and meaning
• actors sustain their role throughout the film and supported by the
director

Soundtrack

• composition (live music recorded, matches screenplay)

• sound effects (timed appropriately, effective, relevant)

Editing

• transitions (fade, dissolve, ripple etc.)

• special effects (slow motion, sepia, reverse etc.)

Total Score

Criteria- Silent Film

This category seeks to explore the origins of cinema by exploring the critical notion that film
was a more profound art form during the silent period. Many film critics and practitioners
such as Victor Perkins have suggested that cinema was set back several decades in its
development by the advent of sound.

Students are asked to consider the language of film including camera placement to convey
meaning (e.g. The use of a close-up to convey a particular facial expression) and
melodramatic conventions. Please note that films can use non-diegetic sound (soundtrack,
sound effects) but should not include dialogue and sound filmed in sync with visuals.
Students may record sounds and add them to the soundtrack later in the process but the
spirit of this piece is based primarily on conveying meaning, emotions and narrative
coherence through the choice of visual shots.

The following is offered as a guide for this category:

 • Use of appropriate non-diegetic sound
• Non use of non-diegetic sound unless recorded out of sync with visuals
• Original compositions will be judged favourably, with potential opportunity with music
departments
• Films should aim to be no more than 2-3mins in length
• Films placed within a genre and which make use of appropriate generic conventions
• Please note that some of the rubric bullet points are for Teacher use only as it would
be difficult for the judges to assess collaboration & planning
• Maximum group size of 5

Oops Good Very Excellent

Film title: Good
(1 point) (2 points) (4 points)
(3 points)

Documentary Conventions

• Talking head shot construction

• Rule of thirds
• Voice of God
• Appropriate titles
C • Archive Footage
a • Appropriate Handheld camera movement
t • Subgeneric conventions e.g. Commoncraft
e
g Subject Matter
o • The documentary is newsworthy
r • An attempt is made to show more than one perspective
i • An attempt to be informative but also presenting information in an
e engaging manner, which may include a narrative
s • Sense of purpose and target audience

Soundtrack

• Composition (live music recorded, appropriate to the tone of the

documentary)
• Sound Effects (timed appropriately, effective, relevant)

Editing

• Transitions (fade, dissolve, ripple etc.)

• Special Effects (slow motion, sepia, reverse etc.)
• Use of black & white

Total Score

Criteria- Non Fiction Film

In this category, students are encouraged to use their Film/Media skills to raise awareness
(advocate) on behalf of individuals within the local community. Examples of this could
include local NGO’s or individuals with unusual skills. The content should be newsworthy.

Students should be exposed to documentary film conventions as part of the planning. Key
conventions such as the role of the narrator, rule of thirds (composition), archive footage
and handheld camera movement may be explored and used in student filmmaking.
The following is offered as a guide for this category:

• Students are engaging with basic realist conventions (e.g. Cinema Verite, Reality TV)
would be judged favourably including appropriate use of handheld camera movement
• The documentary should be informative, accurate with clear understanding of the
subject matter
• Films should aim to be no more than 2-3mins in length
• Those filmmakers who demonstrate objectivity by showing more than one viewpoint,
will be judged favourably
• Maximum group size of 5

Oops Good Very Excellent

Film title: Good
(1 point) (2 points) (4 points)
(3 points)

Advertising Strategies/Persuasion

• Appropriate use of comedy

• Appropriate use of jingles
• Appropriate use of slogan
• Repetition (Hard Sell)
• Before/After Appeal
• Strong use of narrative
• Direct Mode of Address

Brand Identity

• Clear sense of brand

• Product obvious to target audience
• Sense of purpose and target audience

Soundtrack

• Composition (live music recorded, appropriate to the tone of the

advert)
• Sound Effects (timed appropriately, effective, relevant)

Editing

• Transitions (fade, dissolve, ripple etc.)

• Special Effects (slow motion, sepia, reverse etc.)
• Use of black & white
• Tempo created through use of cuts
• Appropriate use of green screen

Total Score

Criteria- Best Persuasive Advertisement

This category is linked to marketing and advertising and how brands attempt to persuade
audiences to buy their product. Advertising techniques like Unique selling propositions,
persuasive language, repetition, slogans etc should be considered but wherever possible
within an authentic context such as the promotion of an upcoming school event.

Students should be asked to consider audiences and brand identities including the image of
their client. Innovative recent print adverts, TV adverts and internet viral campaigns could
be incorporated, with analysis of persuasive techniques used.

• Films should aim to be no more than 30secs in length and should be concise in their
storytelling
• Prominent feature of product and ‘reason-why’ adverting (e.g. why should we buy it?)
• Clear sense of target audience
• Appropriate narrative structure (e.g. Enigma) linked to brand identity and limited use
of dialogue
• Possible use of ‘personification’ (e.g. Giving a human quality to inanimate objects) as
a marketing technique
• ‘Jingles’ and other sound related advertising conventions should be original
compositions
• Maximum group size of 5

Best Non-English Language Film

This is a particularly open category, which attempts to use filmmaking as the catalyst for
students working in the target language. Genres of any kind are acceptable (see other
categories and rubric for ideas) but submissions must contain English subtitles. It is
expected that given our geographical location in an international city, Mother Tongue
languages (Mandarin/Cantonese) will be embraced whilst the range of languages
represented in the Hong Kong school community are also given opportunity for showcasing.

We would recommend that subject specialists relate their brief to the cultures and
mythology associated with the target language. For instance, a Chinese language film
related to Chinese New Year or a documentary about The French Revolution.

• Maximum group size of 5

• Wherever possible, the themes, narrative etc should be relevant to the target
language
Best Animation

Although an individual category, Best Animation could come from a film in another
category. We have attempted to recognize the growing popularity of this medium and would
expect stop-gap motion submissions although may expect some students to have begun
working with 2D animation? We would envisage that the pre-production process of planning
storyboards would be central to the learning process in this category and it may well lend
itself to an extra curricular activity.

Software applications like SAM animation (Mac and Windows) and Blender is recommended
although students should be reminded that strong storytelling is still central to engaging
animated films. (e.g. Toy Story 3)

The following is offered as a guide for this category:

• We have no expectation that film submissions should be fully animated

• Films should aim to be no more than 2-3mins in length
• Animated films may well be linked to Common-craft conventions and subsequently
entered for 2 categories (Non-fiction film) and be used for informative purposes
• Higher frame rates are preferable to longer, less fluid films
 • Maximum group size of 5

Best Special Effects

Although an individual category, Best Special Effects could come from a film in another
category. Given the number of online tutorials and growing range of post-production
software applications, which offer support in the construction of special effects, we felt this
was an appropriate category to include and mirrors the evolving nature of the film industry
itself.

Many free open-source applications exist for constructing special effects, whilst the Final
Cut pro package offers Motion. Many students use Adobe After Effects and Photoshop. In
previous years students using Chroma Key facilities have been successful in this category.

The following is offered as a guide for this category:

• It is not expected that staff will be leading this area but rather that some students will
be exploring possibilities as part of extra curricular activities or even independent of
school
• Films should aim to be no more than 2-3mins in length
 • Special effects should support the narrative rather than replace it
• This is an open category and we welcome innovative use of special effects. Teachers
are reminded that special effects can be achieved through cinematography as well as
at the editing stage.
• Maximum group size of 5

Best Film

All winning films will be considered for this category. The film which is considered most
sophisticated and demonstrating the most appropriate use of generic conventions,
entertainment, strongest sense of target audience and purpose and possibly the most
authentic with a genuine purpose is most likely to win.

Lower Primary

Best Collaborative Film (Primary)

This category was designed to offer teachers the opportunity to introduce films to younger
students using a structured and teacher-led pedagogical approach. Teachers should clearly
state on their submission form what level of support was provided for students so as judges
can assess work accordingly. Any genres/types of film are acceptable in this category and
the emphasis should be on providing opportunities for students to engage with the film
process in a limited capacity.

• Maximum Group Size 5

• Template software packages like Stop-Gap Motion, which only requires photographs
would be an appropriate approach to this task with students reporting on their
learning from class. This would make use of some emerging documentary
conventions, which could be developed in The Best Non-Fiction Film from year 4
onwards.

Best Fiction Film-

The spirit of this category is very much ‘have a go’ filmmaking in which students between
years 1-3 are simply encouraged to make films. The completion of a short narrative piece is
enough of an achievement in itself but the emphasis is on the students doing as much as
possible. If the teacher is writing the script or providing significant scaffolding then the film
submission should be considered ‘collaborative’ and entered for the other lower primary
category. We would expect that films from this age group may well tend to be single takes
using small Creative or mobile cameras, as editing is unlikely to have been introduced at
this stage. Setting a brief for students to make a short sequence (rather than sequences)
about a favourite toy may offer a catalyst for this category.

• Maximum Group Size 5

• The students are encouraged to use their own toys as a catalyst for filmmaking

HKSFA Check List for Teachers

1. Decide who the contact person will be for your school
and contact iwilliamson@mail.sis.edu.hk with the e-mail
of the contact person.
2.Decide which category/categories your school intends to
enter. Contact all relevant staff. For some Primary
schools it may be possible to contact the nearest school,
which offers Film or Media courses so that senior
students can support your activity.
3. Access training material on www.esfmedia.com (CPD
workshop from the 30th of September)
4.Decide on a timescale and judging criteria (We have
offered you examples in the training day) for the
filmmaking. Promote/celebrate work via assemblies to
raise the profile of filmmaking in your school.
5. Submit DVD copy or files in as high resolution as possible
to be received by Iain Williamson no later than the 1st of
May, 3pm deadline. A single sided A4 page is needed
with each submission with relevant details. (See
www.esfmedia.com) Please note, a maximum of 1 film
per category.
6. A group of objective Film/Media professionals will judge
the entries and you will be notified if your school gains a
nomination. Please note that in the spirit of the Oscars,
the winners will not be announced until the night itself.
(26th of may 2011)
7. A venue is yet to be verified as yet but you will be
contacted with information relating to the venue, start
time etc nearer to the date itself.