So, how do I win Play Now Act Now?
First you’ve got to make a short film, design a digital still image or write a piece of microfiction. Already done the easy bit? Right, well, if you’ve already got committed your creative juices to stone and completed the application form, the next phase is passing the Play Now Act Now Festival Director’s vetting process. Basically the Festival Director is making sure your entry meets all the entry requirements, if that’s the case then your entry automatically proceeds into the monthly competition. Easy as.
Now that you’ve qualified for monthly competition this is when things start to get interesting. Only two entries from each category will survive each monthly competition, winning $100 and a place in the grand final. The two winners each month (in each category) are comprised of:
- One People’s Choice
- One Official Selection
People’s Choice
The People’s Choice will be awarded to the entry that gains the highest vote rating in the month of competition. Online voting takes place only on the Play Now Act Now website, which is measured using a Bayesian average. You can find out more about the Bayesian averga by visiting this page on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayesian_average
Voters can give on a heart rating out of five and only one vote per entry is allowed (this is tracked via your IP address), however voters can vote on as many entries as they like. Participants are encouraged to use their social networks to promote their entries. Post the URL to your entry on your Facebook page, on Twitter or on your blog and get your friends to support you by voting for your short film, digital design or microfiction.
Monthly voting takes place between 09.00 on the first day of the calendar month and closes at 23.59 on the last day of the month. Once the voting has closed (as outlined in the Play Now Act Now Terms and Conditions) the results will be tabulated and the winner announced. Within 5 working of one competition closing and a new competition opening.
In the event of a tie, the Festival Director will rule on the winner. His decision is final.
Official Selection
Every month Play Now Act Now judges will select one entry from each category to proceed to the grand final by official selection in addition to the People’s Choice Winner. Judges at this stage will be comprised of the Play Now Act Now Festival Director, one member of the Metro Screen Executive and a representative of NSW Health. Judges discussions remain confidential, even after the competition has ended and their decisions are final.
How will they reach their decision you ask? A number of factors will be considered, at the top of the list will be how successfully the entry engages with the Play Now signature item of drugs and alcohol and the monthly theme. Judges will ask whether the entrant offered something unique, original and constructive. But the very best entries will be ones that find a way to marry their artistic skills and technique with the signature item.
The grand final
Wow! So you made it to the grand final? First of all, congratulations! You’ve passed two major challenges already to be one of 10 entries in each category represented in the grand final. Now comes the hard bit, winning the whole competition.
The grand final will take place at the Play Now Act Now October showcase event where overall winners will be announced. Each category will feature a 1st place winner, 2nd place, and 3rd place as decided by a Play Now Act Now panel of judges comprised of two young industry professional and one other person to be announced in October. In addition an overall category People’s Choice winner will also be announced.
