Categories, Rules, & Entry Forms

Entries for the 2022 competition are due April 10, 2022. Winners will be announced online May 2, 2022.

Entries are judged on creative content and technical considerations. A group of qualified judges is assembled to assess the quality of each entry.

RULES

  1. Each entry must be officially approved and signed by a qualified representative/adviser from its respective high school.
  2. The correct Blue Spark Award Official Entry Form must accompany each entry. Each category specifies and links to its correct entry form.
  3. Entries MUST be created and produced exclusively by STUDENTS enrolled at a high school or home schooled in the state of Tennessee.
  4. Entries MUST reflect ONLY student work.
  5. Each entry must be received by the deadline and submitted according to instructions for its respective category.
  6. Entries violating common standards of taste and/or decency will be disqualified.
  7. Only one entry will be accepted per student or team for all categories except photography. No more than five entries per student will be accepted in the photography category.
  8. Entrants are strongly encouraged to use copyright-free material, follow Fair Use guidelines, or present evidence of permission to use copyrighted material in the entry. Entrants accept that liability for the illegal use of copyrighted material will rest with the entrant, and no liability shall be transferred to the Blue Spark Awards or Middle Tennessee State University. Click here for more information about copyright.

CATEGORIES

CATEGORY 1: NON-FICTION OR DOCUMENTARY FILM

  • A complete story on any subject.
  • Length: 10 minutes or less excluding credits.
  • Video entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or submitted on a labeled flash drive) by the deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for video entry form.

CATEGORY 2: SCRIPTED FICTION VIDEO

  • A short narrative film.
  • Length: 10 minutes or less, excluding credits
  • Video entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or submitted on a labeled flash drive) by the deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries will be judged on story quality and technical accomplishment.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for video entry form.

CATEGORY 3: PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA)

  • A television spot with a message in the public interest.
  • Length: 30 or 60 second TV spot
  • Video entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or received on a labeled flash drive) by the deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for video entry form.

CATEGORY 4: ANIMATION

  • Animation created through any traditional or digital means, including hand-drawn and stop motion.
  • Length: up to 3 minutes, excluding credits.
  • Animation entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or received on a labeled flash drive) by the deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for video entry form.

CATEGORY 5: MUSIC VIDEO

  • Length: Five minutes or less, excluding credits.
  • Video entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or received on a labeled flash drive) by the entry deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Please see this note about Copyright
  • Click here for video entry form.

CATEGORY 6: MULTI-CAMERA PRODUCTION (new category for 2021)

  • 5 to 7 minute sampling of a live multi-camera production (non-news) such as an athletic event, concert, play, magazine show or other non-news production.
  • Video entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or received on a labeled flash drive) by the deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for video entry form.

CATEGORY 7: NEWSCAST COMPILATION

  • Compiled examples of anchoring, stand-ups and package samples (not individual news packages).
  • Length: 5-7 minutes.
  • Video entries must be uploaded and functioning properly on YouTube (or received on a labeled flash drive) by the deadline.
  • Only one video entry per student or team will be accepted.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for Newscast Compilation entry form.

CATEGORY 8: INTERACTIVE MEDIA

  • A functioning website, mobile app, or online or offline game developed by a student or student team.
  • Interactive Media entries must be received or uploaded and functioning properly by the deadline.
  • Click here for Interactive Media entry form.

CATEGORY 9: PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Photographs should be submitted as digital files only. No prints accepted.
  • Dimensions – 1200 pixels across the longest edge
  • Resolution – 72 ppi
File Format
  • Baseline JPEG
Color space – sRGB
  • Photographs may cover any subject matter.
  • Each student may submit up to 5 images.
  • Entries and entry forms must be received by the deadline.
  • Click here for Photography entry form.