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Calling All Aspiring Ad Makers
Doritos is inviting creative minds to come up with their next TV ad and competition judge, Matilda Brown, shares some handy hints with us
When you're sitting in your seat at the cinema, or kicking back on your lounge, waiting to watch an old favourite or a much hyped new release, what is in your hand? Odds are it's the fan favourite - your choice of snack food, be it popcorn, chocolate or the humble corn chip.
It isn't a big leap that a confectionery company should back a film competition.
Doritos Australia is currently running a contest, where applicants are given the chance to create a 29 second advert about their product, and thereby win a potential $50,000 prize?
You're eyeing that bowl of Nacho cheese flavoured goodness in a different way now, aren't you?
The 2010 Doritos Make an Ad, Make a Fortune competition is being held for the second time, giving aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to not only win big, but to make a name for oneself in an even bigger industry.
Amongst the judges for this year's competition is fellow filmmaker, writer and actor Matilda Brown, who was a finalist in this year's Tropfest for her short film, How God Works and has a role in the current season of Underbelly: The Golden Mile. She's also daughter of powerhouse Australian film industry couple, Bryan Brown and Rachel Ward.
Matilda Brown believes that commercials hold their own appeal and unique challenges for filmmakers. "The thing that I love about commercials is the challenge of telling a story and engaging an audience in 30 seconds," she explains. "There's no time to develop characters or back-story, so you have to be clever, quickly. Commercials are about simplicity. There are acute parameters when filming commercials that you don't necessarily encounter on a film shoot."
Brown recommends this competition as a chance of a lifetime for people who have got ideas and want to showcase them to the nation. "This year round, the competition is notably bigger and better," she enthuses. "The major prize has increased - with up to $50,000 to be won, as well as editing packages and Sony Bloggie Pocket camcorders up for grabs too. Plus the chance to have your vision viewed by millions of people doesn't come around too often!"
Last year, over 2,000 entries were forwarded from all over the state, but there could only be one winner. So how might you get ahead of the competition this year? Brown has a few tips that could give you that upper hand, and substantially increase the quality of your work.
"If it makes me laugh, chances are I'm going to remember it and probably end up quoting lines from it to my friends too. I'm looking for clever concepts that are backed up with good visuals. Don't dismiss the importance of set design, costume, cast, and editing style too. And remember, it's for TV, so try and make it look as good as you can!
"Advertisements don't have to be live action either," she says. "As long as the concept is creative and original, it doesn't really matter if they're animated or include real, living breathing actors and characters."
Joining Brown on the judging panel is renowned advertising duo Paul Nagy and Mike Spirkovski, and radio/television host and comedian Merrick Watts.
And should you need one more tidbit to go by, FILMINK has it for you. Brown's favourite flavour is Nacho Cheese... just thought you should know.
If you're keen on putting in your own entry to the competition, further information about deadlines, judging criteria, competition rules and other handy guidelines are available at the competition website.