CONTRAST: to compare in order to show unlikeness or differences; note the opposite natures, purposes, etc., of.
   
The theme of this contest is contrast. Entrants must create films which feature at their core an emphasis on the differences between two or more entities, be they people, things, ideologies, or something more abstract. Entrants are urged to go beyond cliche concepts (for example, 'X color' versus 'Y color') and consider more nuanced approaches to thinking about the theme. Contrast can be found at the heart of conflict, determines how people think about themselves and how they relate to others, and is an often touched upon subject in comedy. Storytelling will be weighted heavily in the judging process. Regardless of how you interpret the theme, a strong, well told story with mediocre visuals will serve you better than a well produced film with a weak or uninteresting plot.

Each entry you submit must:

• Be primarily composed of stop-motion animation. 3D, Flash, or other animation techniques may be used to in addition to stop-motion as long as the finished product is at least roughly 50% stop-motion animation.

• Use LEGO or similar building toys as primary elements.

• Contain only images, sounds, music, and story material which you have the rights to distribute -- no copyrighted content to which you do not have the rights may be used.

• Be longer than 30 seconds, and contain more than 30 seconds of stop-motion animation.  There is no maximum time restriction.

Though there is no maximum running time restriction, remember that it is better to focus on quality and attention to detail than to make a very long and ambitious film, but let the quality suffer.  A highly polished 3 minute movie is better than a 10 minute movie that falls apart as it goes because the director ran out of time to do it the right way.  The judging system won't favor a film for simply being longer, but low production values will hurt a longer film when competing against a shorter film that is better made.

   
The deadline for submissions will be Sunday, August 25th, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. GMT. That gives entrants two months to create and submit their films. While a longer deadline would certainly be more conductive to the creation of larger films, past experiences suggest that entrants feel more driven to complete contests with shorter deadlines, and the shorter deadline was chosen for that reason.

Films may be submitted as early as the beginning of July 2013, though they cannot be made public until after the deadline has passed.

 
No trademarked properties which might be confused with commercial enterprises may be used. This means you can not use storylines based on characters from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, or other trademarked series. You cannot base your work on copyrighted material; however, old works that are now in the public domain are acceptable source material.
All material included in films submitted must be original, or content that you have expressed permission to use. If you use content that is not your own, you must be able to provide proof that you have received permission to include it in your film. All music must be credited, even if you made it yourself.

   
Submission will be conducted via the forums.

• Send me a private message on the BiM forums (or send an email to [email protected]) including your name and a link to download the entry. I will accept .avi, .mov, and .wmv formats.  Unlisted YouTube videos are also acceptable.

   
All major aspects of filmmaking will be taken into account in the judging process.  For the purpose of determining rankings and winners, the panel (myself, Sméagol, and CartoonKid98) will judge films on the basis of storytelling (use of the theme as well as the quality of the script) and presentation (animation, cinematography, any effects, and all audio elements).

There are now three prizes- one each for the three highest placing contestants. The first place contestant will select his preferred prize first, second place will choose from the remaining two prizes, and third place will receive the prize that is left over.

Prize 1) One gift certificate code redeemable for $20 of merchandise on Amazon.com.

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Prize 2) One LEGO Star Wars Rebel Trooper Battle Pack (8083)

Prize 3) One LEGO Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite Package containing a DVD, Blu-Ray, and Clark Kent minifigure

Prizes 2 and 3 were generously donated by forum members JonnDthunDer and Pritchard Studios, respectively, so be sure to thank them if you see them around.

*Note, due to shipping considerations we regretfully cannot ship prizes 2 or 3 outside of the continental USA.

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If you have any questions, need clarification on the rules, or just want to discuss the contest, feel free to post in this thread. I've been a part of the brickfilming community for six years now- I've judged a few contests and helped organize others, but this is my first time hosting one alone. This website and its predecessor have done a lot for me... it's about time I gave back a little. Be creative, try something new, and have fun!
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I'll be continuously updating this post with any significant questions I receive.

Q: Should Youtube videos be uploaded as private or unlisted?

A: Youtube videos should be uploaded as unlisted so they are only visible to contest organizers prior to the deadline. If a video were uploaded as private, it would be view-able by your Youtube friends- which is not desirable. The purpose of keeping videos unlisted (or submitting through direct email link) prior to the deadline is to avoid questions of authorship when two entrants have similar concepts/visuals/etc. If films are kept away from the public, we know any similarities are likely a coincidence and not the result of someone drawing "inspiration" from your already released film. TL;DR, make it unlisted.

Q: Once the contest is over, can I release my film on Youtube?

A: Yes. Once the August 25th deadline has passed, all films can be released via Youtube, Vimeo, posting to BiM, or any other method you fancy. Just be sure not to release your film publicly before the deadline.

Q: Is it necessary to credit sound effects the same way you credit music?

A: That depends on the licensing the sound effects are released under. Some creators don't require direct credit for using sound effects, others do. Consult the website you got the effects from for more detail- most should address this question directly. When in doubt, it's best to credit.

Q: We would like to make a joint entry. Can we do that?

A: Yes, collaborative entries are permitted. If I do manage to obtain prizes for the contest, I will likely only have enough for one person per winning position, so be sure to work out how you would deal with that situation should it arise.