Posted by Nadia Nascimento

New Filmmaker, Devin Dunn from South Africa is currently sitting in first place for IndieMV’s Art of Dying Music Video contest- and wants to keep it that way. With some stiff competition coming from Ruth Anne Rich in second place and GonzoFilmmaker in third place, Devin went through some of his production stills and sent them over to show us that to make a hot looking film- you don’t need a huge budget.

Grab a camera. We’re not expecting a 35 mm film here so keep it simple.

No Tripod? Use what you’ve got. Books stacked up can give you the height you’re looking for. Just don’t try doing a roaming shot.

Film 101- don’t overlook your lighting. Dunn created his own set up which ups the appearance of video’s production value.

The IndieMV contest is open until December 1st- So head back an give a nod to your favorite. We wish all of the amazing videographers the best of luck!

Alright people…this is the last call for your Art of Dying music videos!

We’ve got some amazing pieces that have been battling for the votes,
and following November 15th, the contest will be closed to submissions.
On December 1st, the contest will be closed to all votes and we’ll
announce the winner soon after- handing out a new Macbook and video
camera to the top 2 entries. Just a little seasonal gift from IndieMV
to you for all of your hard work and creative genius.

So get the final shot list down, challenge your inner Coppola, cast
and shoot your brilliance by November 15th, and you’ll make it into
the final voting spree.

Good luck to all…and be sure to check back for more updates!

Posted by Nadia Nascimento

Mitchell Stafiej, a participant for the Card Gone Crazy contest , is on the right track. He has recently announced that should he win the contest, he will donate the $3000 prize money to the Save Darfur Coalition and to help build his site Magic for Darfur (http://www.magicfordarfur.org).

Stafiej has been actively promoting his entry and his site, Magic for Darfur, a non profit organization dedicated to offering aid to the citizens of Darfur in hopes that the organization will grow within the magic community to raise awareness about the crisis and ultimately aid those affected by the genocide.

The Cards Gone Crazy contest asked participants to showcase crazy card games from stunts, tricks, to card creations an is open to votes for one final month before the winners are announced. Participants are encouraged to try any creative means of getting the word out about their submission, and Stafiej’s recent announcement is a great example of encouraging the community to rally behind an entry.

The memelabs team congratulates Stafiej on his amazing incentive and wishes the best of luck to all participants during the upcoming month’s voting spree!

Posted by Jenn Lowther and Nadia Nascimento

Funny, useful, and effective tips to wining video contests.

1. Enroll in speed dating. Talk about your entry with the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes that you meet. Try to enroll in speed dating that’s below your league; your potential partners will be more interested in what you say and will therefore be more likely to vote for you.

2. Create an overly personal and sexual entry. Sell it to the tabloids under a fake name. Shame your family and collect your winnings.

3. Create a ‘making of’ your contest entry and post it on YouTube. Preferably, make it absolutely mortifyingly embarrassing for you; people will take more pleasure in watching it.

4. Create a top ten list detailing why you should win. Post it on Digg.

5. Include Chuck Norris in your entry. Chuck Norris will never get old; Chuck Norris created contests.

6. Get a popular blogger to mention your entry in a daily post - even if it’s making fun of you.

7. Get a keg and throw a party for all of your friends, their friends and their friend’s friends; entry at the door will require a vote for your entry. If you don’t have any friends, visit your local Legion or dive bar and yell ‘FREE BEER!’ Try not to get your ass handed to you by the bouncers on your way out. This will also work with groups of surly teenagers; you can often find them at bus stations.

8. Write a ‘letter to the editor’ of your local newspaper promoting your contest entry and how relevant it is to hot issues in your city. The more of a stretch it is the better!

9. Raffle off a date with you (or your hot sister) to anyone who votes for you. If you are awkward or unattractive and are not blessed with hot siblings, you may want to try giving away your car or some of your Mom’s extra crap.

10. Create an online identity; a really ridiculous but still believable character works best. Get your identity a twitter, MySpace, Facebook, LiveJournal and every other social networking site out there. Get popular (or hated) this may take some time. Then, when the time is right, promote your contest entry and watch your casual readers turn into voters.

11. Accost a local TV news reporter while they are doing a live story on the street and use your live air time to promote your entry. For added effect, rent a large furry animal costume.

12. Hold bake sales. Raise enough money to purchase the company holding the contest, fire its employees and rig it.

13. Offer to donate part of your prize to the punk kids in your neighborhood in exchange for their help. Enlist them to threaten local residents with random dog-shavings and car-paintings if they do not vote for your entry. Or be a Good Samaritan and donate part of the proceeds to charity.

14. Enter yourself into a local beauty pageant, talent show or open mic; use your time on stage to talk about your contest entry. For added effect, threaten your own life with a deadly weapon if audience members do not vote for you.

15. Rent a blimp and a megaphone. You know what comes next.

16. Do something of questionable legality with your contest entry. Ensure that your defense will hold up in court but give people reason to doubt. Word will spread fast.

Memelabs has launched Wind Blows, an infectious new environmental campaign for Western Wind Energy. It’s a video contest, allowing entries up to one minute in length in any video medium. The contest will be judged entirely by votes, and the earlier you get your entries in the longer people have to vote for them!

Voting will open as soon as the first few videos are posted. So make your video now, and get blowing! The winner will receive $10,000 in cold, hard cash. $10,000 to promote environmentally sustainable energy? It makes you feel good in your heart and full in your wallet.