Christian Filmmakers

Christian Filmmakers 24-Hour Video Contest

2008 Contest Entries

Remember to rate these YouTube videos and leave comments, and discuss these scores on our forum.

  1. The Lost Sock (WINNER)
    Nathan Webster
    Total Score: 23.5 / 30

    Story 8 / 10
    Cinematography 4 / 5
    Sound 4 /5
    Performance 3.5 / 5
    Editing 4 / 5
    Comments: good framing, flat VO at times, good music, clever story

  2. Illumination
    Joel Smith
    Total Score: 23.5 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 5 / 5
    Sound 4.5 /5
    Performance 4 / 5
    Editing 5 / 5
    Comments: great lighting in open, good edit, well framed, a little derivative, great art direction, unclear story

  3. Cereal
    Justin Snyder
    Total Score: 23 / 30

    Story 7 / 10
    Cinematography 4 / 5
    Sound 4 /5
    Performance 4 / 5
    Editing 4 / 5
    Comments: well written, too many credits

  4. Soundtrack
    Ryan Dunlap
    Total Score: 23 / 30

    Story 7.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3.5 / 5
    Sound 4 /5
    Performance 4.5 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: very clever, some parts hard to hear

  5. Yesterday
    Cole Adema
    Total Score: 21 / 30

    Story 6.5 / 10
    Cinematography 4 / 5
    Sound 3 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 4.5 / 5
    Comments: nice open, framing, music too epic, physical acting good

  6. Do You?
    David M. Cook
    Total Score: 21 / 30

    Story 7 / 10
    Cinematography 4 / 5
    Sound 3.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 4 / 5
    Comments: good framing, long lens, good racks, good sound mix

  7. Backseat Driver
    Ryan Eckerson
    Total Score: 18.5 / 30

    Story 6 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 4 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: good performance by kid, deliberate pacing

  8. Open
    Robin Wilkinson
    Total Score: 18.5 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 3.5 /5
    Performance 3.5 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: good idea, well executed

  9. Locked & Loaded
    Jason Stanford
    Total Score: 18 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3.5 / 5
    Sound 3 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: nice 720

  10. Morning War
    Ridge Mallery 
    Total Score: 18 / 30

    Story 6 / 10
    Cinematography 3.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: good light, sound but badly mixed, good cam

  11. The Reluctant Witness
    Stephen Casson
    Total Score: 18 / 30

    Story 6.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: liked the idea, lighting needed work

  12. The Sock
    Evan Atwood
    Total Score: 17.5 / 30

    Story 6 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 3.5 /5
    Performance 3.5 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: liked the guitar guy, random story

  13. Mismatched Luck
    Geno DiMaria
    Total Score: 17.5 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: good edit at top

  14. Never Cheat on a Super Hero
    John Cosper
    Total Score: 17.5 / 30

    Story 6 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 3 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: harsh light

  15. Who's Your Neighbor
    Alex Hoder
    Total Score: 17 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 3.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: good sound, needs insert shots, music too epic at times, story too vague

  16. Out of Sync
    Stephen Nasby
    Total Score: 17 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: Cool idea, not executed fully, inside joke-ish

  17. Bounty
    Chad Stembridge
    Total Score: 16.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 3.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: ambiguous story

  18. My Daughter's Dates
    Ryan Bruce
    Total Score: 16.5 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: needed tight shots, clever credits

  19. KnightSchool
    Chris Ong
    Total Score: 16 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: fun concept

  20. The Lost Socks
    Dallas Lammiman
    Total Score: 16 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: music too epic, fun idea

  21. Father Who Art - - Trailer
    Jonathan Spaulding
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: music too epic, cliché, stumbles at end

  22. DIVINE APPOINTMENT
    Jordan Greene
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 3 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: lost all momentum near the end

  23. My Boy
    James Huffman
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: clever, needs better VO perf to work,

  24. Flowers
    Luke Holzmann
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 3.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: nice open, good framing, nice edit, not much story

  25. Super Guy!
    Pamela Butler
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: rough sound, flat acting

  26. Yesterday
    Travis Currin
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 3 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: nice edit, random story

  27. Prodigy
    Dustin Hamlin
    Total Score: 15.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: interesting concept but wasn't implemented well, ending was confusing

  28. The Kindness Project
    Sam Siske
    Total Score: 15 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 3.5 / 5
    Comments: clever idea with heart, didn’t like VO edit or performance, nice edit

  29. Homie the Homeschooler
    Daniel Gardner
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: too over the top

  30. Locks, Attorney at Law
    Evelyn Smith
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 3.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: well written but wordy, needs music, good acting by girl

  31. ATTITUDE
    Joel Jost
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: random 720 shot, too long for what it is

  32. Dragon Quest
    Jonathan Williams
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: campy, fun, was this already shot?

  33. The Brother
    Keith Brink
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 5.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: clever idea, not well executed

  34. To Become Like A Child
    Papaya Froh
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: VO driven

  35. Post Boy
    fullmontypictures
    Total Score: 14.5 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 3 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: epic idea without epic production

  36. Skypeman
    Cory Alan Taylor
    Total Score: 14 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: more motion in animation, needs better sound,

  37. Chasing Money
    David Altizer
    Total Score: 14 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: good efx but random

  38. Change of Plans
    Jeremiah Lee
    Total Score: 14 / 30

    Story 5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: VO needs work, idea not executed

  39. The End of an Old Beginning
    Joe Froemming
    Total Score: 14 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: original music but needed some sync sound

  40. The Fall
    Joseph Beard
    Total Score: 13.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: inconsistent sound

  41. Billiard Baseball
    Nathan Mancini
    Total Score: 13.5 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 3 / 5
    Comments: nice cam animation, unclear story

  42. Sundays
    Danielle Moody
    Total Score: 13 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: music didn’t work, dry perf, no driving narrative

  43. Wednesday
    Gene Kizer
    Total Score: 13 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: rough editing, needed a better hook

  44. Solomon
    Jonathan Strawn
    Total Score: 13 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: VO driven didn’t work, nice framing, high shutter distracting, poor VO perf

  45. AG/PM
    Tate Chitwood
    Total Score: 13 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: lighting rough

  46. The Great Gossip
    Stephen Thompson
    Total Score: 13 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 3.5 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: good acting from the kids (although watch the eye darts), not-so-great from the Dad, decent implementation of the concept

  47. Waiting for Love
    Abigail Covington
    Total Score: 12.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: music too epic, story unclear

  48. The Making of - Forever Amore
    Rachael Bradley
    Total Score: 12.5 / 30

    Story 4.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: fun concept but not executed

  49. Rhapsody of an Afternoon
    Evan Ramos
    Total Score: 12 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: sound needs to be much better, needs a stronger finish

  50. The Cheerios Heist
    Victor Collazo
    Total Score: 12 / 30

    Story 3 / 10
    Cinematography 3 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: good natural light, too dry, no real story

  51. Russells Battle
    Rob Oakley
    Total Score: 11.5 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: nice 720 shot, tough to direct kids,

  52. A Tale of Two Schools
    Zachary Timmerman
    Total Score: 11.5 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2.5 / 5
    Comments: needed sync sound

  53. No other gods before me
    Derek Bommel
    Total Score: 11 / 30

    Story 2.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: too quirky and random

  54. A Day in the Life of a Geek
    Joseph Sattler
    Total Score: 11 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: good open, little kid acts well,

  55. The Quest for the Holy Cheerios
    Kevin Miller
    Total Score: 11 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: ADR didn’t work, clever dialog

  56. It only takes one
    Timothy Raatz
    Total Score: 11 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: poor VO performance, good heart

  57. Mr. Martin's Check-up
    Codie Feazel
    Total Score: 10.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: rough jumpcuts, odd casting, fun concept

  58. roadside
    Jon Schroth
    Total Score: 10.5 / 30

    Story 2.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: needs sync sound, no clear story

  59. Found
    Tabitha Groleau
    Total Score: 10.5 / 30

    Story 4 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: dry performance, rough sound,

  60. Only Way Out
    David Daudelin
    Total Score: 10 / 30

    Story 3.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: music too epic

  61. A few tips on How to be a Good Evil Genius
    Luke Adams
    Total Score: 10 / 30

    Story 3 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 1 /5
    Performance 2.5 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: pick 1 font

  62. Ah, To Be A Homeschooler
    Megan Comstock
    Total Score: 10 / 30

    Story 3 / 10
    Cinematography 1 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: bad sound, no light

  63. Trash Reinvented
    John Buckley
    Total Score: 9.5 / 30

    Story 2 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: don’t get it

  64. The Best Day
    Lydia Williams
    Total Score: 9.5 / 30

    Story 1.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 2 / 5
    Comments: sync sound fx don’t work, no story

  65. I Have Kept The Faith
    Tim Habermehl
    Total Score: 9.5 / 30

    Story 2 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: no clear narrative

  66. The Little Kids
    Kwende Kiemle
    Total Score: 9 / 30

    Story 3 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: need more cuts

  67. The Guitar Player
    Trevor Hough
    Total Score: 9 / 30

    Story 2.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2.5 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1 / 5
    Comments: obnoxious credits, ruff edits, random music

  68. Heavenly Cheerios
    Clareesa Jones
    Total Score: 8.5 / 30

    Story 2.5 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1 / 5
    Comments: no clear story, random editing

  69. The Shenanigans
    Joe Shoop
    Total Score: 8.5 / 30

    Story 2.5 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 1 /5
    Performance 2 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: no insert shots, bad sound and FX

  70. KRA Entertainment - Wandering
    Kevin Amundson
    Total Score: 8.5 / 30

    Story 2 / 10
    Cinematography 2 / 5
    Sound 1.5 /5
    Performance 1.5 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: overproduced credits, no real story

  71. Psalms 104
    Hans Jensen
    Total Score: 7.5 / 30

    Story 1 / 10
    Cinematography 1.5 / 5
    Sound 2.5 /5
    Performance 1 / 5
    Editing 1.5 / 5
    Comments: good music, no moving visuals, bad integration of security elements

  72. Going to the clown with Dad
    Kwende Kiemle
    Total Score: 6 / 30

    Story 2 / 10
    Cinematography 1 / 5
    Sound 1 /5
    Performance 1 / 5
    Editing 1 / 5
    Comments: needed shots of dad, no real story

Contest Goals and Guidelines

Our goals for this contest are to (1) have fun, (2) get to know who is good at making Web videos and (3) showcase what Christian filmmakers are doing today. Even if your film doesn’t win, it’ll get seen. And if you win, that’s a bonus!

(Guidelines revised February 6, 2008)

  1. This contest will start March 1, 2008 at 6:00 AM Central Standard Time and end 24 hours later.
  2. Security Elements
    1. At 6:00 AM CST on March 1, 2008, on this web page, a list of "security elements" – props, dialogue, settings, etc – will be revealed. Your job is to include any three of these in your film.
    2. You need to do a good job weaving these security elements into your film in a way that clearly demonstrates that your film was produced (filmed) in these 24 hours. We need to know you didn't cheat. Otherwise, the judges may disqualify your film.
    3. Pre-production work – including writing, storyboards, animated character design, music and sound – can be done before these 24 hours.
  3. Submission Guidelines
    1. Sometime during the 24 hours, you must upload your film entry to YouTube and email a link to your film to the contest administrator, Nathaniel Bluedorn (info@christianfilmmakers.org).
    2. In your submition email, you must explain which security elements you used in your film, and aproximately at what time they appear.
    3. Once your film has been submitted, we will not accept revisions or corrections.
    4. If you experience a YouTube processing delay, you are responsible for providing evidence of this to the administrator’s satisfaction.
  4. Production Guidelines
    1. Your film must be appropriate for a general audience, including children, and support the goals of this contest and web site.
    2. Any category of film is allowed. (Live-action narrative, animation, documentary, etc.)
    3. Your film should be designed and edited with YouTube distribution in mind. You may wish to research what makes a good Web video.
    4. Your film must be no longer than three minutes. If YouTube indicates that your film is over 3:00 in length, it will be disqualified.
    5. Only original films made for this contest are accepted.
    6. Pre-recorded stock footage may not be used.
    7. You must have the right to use all parts of your film. If you use copyrighted material, you may be asked to document your right to use this material.
    8. Entry teams may be any size. But the prize will be given to only one person. This is the person responsible for uploading the winning video. It will be that person’s responsibility to divide the prize.
    9. Multiple entries are allowed.
    10. Production budgets may be any size.
    11. Entries from the contest sponsors are allowed.
  5. Judging and Prizes
    1. Our judges will score each film in five categories: Story (10 points), Cinematography (5 points), Sound (5 points), Performance (5 points) and Editing (5 points).
    2. The film with the highest total score will receive the contest prize. If two or more films tie, a tie-breaker will be decided by the judges. All decisions are final.
    3. The judges’ score for each film will be published at www.christianfilmmakers.org/contest.
    4. The judges are not required to explain their scores or answer questions.
  6. Disclaimer
    1. The views expressed in the videos submitted to this contest, or in the winning video, are not necessarily those of the contest sponsors, administrator, the judges, or the members of this web site.
    2. The contest administrator may update or change these rules at any time before March 1st.

The Security Elements

The security elements for the contest are listed here. You must use three of these elements in your film:

  1. Cheerios
  2. Baseball
  3. Mismatched socks
  4. Guitar
  5. Camera Technique: 720 degree camera pan
  6. Dialog: "Stop these shenanigans!"
  7. Dialog: "That better not be what I think it is."

Make sure to weave these into your story well. We need to know that you created the video within the 24 hours allotted for the contest. Also, remember that you will be judged on how well you have fit the elements into your story.

Your entry must be uploaded to YouTube no later than 6 AM on March 2nd, or it will not be eligible for the contest. For all other rules, requirements, and restrictions, please see the contest guidelines.

We're looking forward to seeing what you produce!

Promotional Resources

Here is stuff you can put on your blog or web page to promote our contest.

  • Christian Filmmakers 24-Hour Contest Press Release (PDF)
    You can use this info on your blog or web site to promote this contest.
  • Christian Filmmakers 24-Hour Contest Graphic – You can copy this graphic and link on your blog or web site.
    Christian Filmmakers 24-Hour Contest

We're in the Press

These blogs and web sites link to us. Leave them a note saying thanks.

Need Help?

Visit this web forum topic to ask questions about this contest.

This contest is modeled after “YouTube Project:Direct” and Apple Insomnia. You may wish to watch the winning videos from these contests for inspiration for our contest.

YouTube Project: Direct

2007 Apple Insomnia Film Festival

Contest Sponsors